JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Phosphate sorption by soils is one of the most important processes indicating the buffering power and availability of P for plants. Phosphorus sorption characteristics of eight representative calcareous soil of Isfahan region were evaluated. For this purpose, 3 grams, of < 2-mm soil were equilibrated for 24 hours at 25±l °C in 60 ml of 0.01 M CaCl₂ with varying amounts of P. Sorbed phosphorus was calculated by the difference between P initially added and P remaining in the final solution. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Van Huay equations were fitted to the sorption data.

 All four equations adequately described the relationship between sorbed and solution P, but the Van Huay model was slightly superior. Some phosphorus buffering indices were calculated from the sorption isotherms. These buffering indices were highly related to each other as well as to soil properties. Clay percent showed the highest correlation with buffering indices (r=0.771 to 0.949) followed by calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The quantity of P sorbed at standard concentration of 0.3 µg P/ml (SPR) is reported to the amount that satisfies the phosphate requirement of many crops. This parameter was calculated from Van Huay equation and showed a strong correlation with buffering indices (r=0.807 to 0.990) and soil properties such as clay (r=0.960) and CCE (r=0.809) percents. Regression analysis suggested that clay and CCE percents were the most important soil properties for estimating the buffering power and the standard P requirement of the calcareous soil in Isfahan region.

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Soil organic matter and clay minerals adsorb and immobilize extracellular enzymes of microorganisms and increase soil enzymes stability. This study aims to clarify the relative importance of soil organic matter and clay minerals on the cellulolytic activities of soils. Fluca prepared cellulase was immobilized on some agricultural residues and clay minerals, avicel and a sample of soil. Immobilized exoglucanase and endoglucanase were assayed at different times. Activities of the immobilized enzymes were strikingly dependent on the kind of sorbent. After 20 days of storing in refrigerator at 4^oC, the deactivation of immobilized enzymes on the organic substances (as avicel) was very low but deactivation of immobilized enzymes on the soil and clay minerals was relatively high. On the other hand, the activities of immobilized enzymes on the agricultural residues and avicel were significantly higher than the soil and clay minerals. So it may be concluded that a large part of cellulolytic activity of soil is related to immobilized enzymes on agricultural residues. Coating of the clay minerals, soil and avicel with 4 mmol of Al (OH) x per mg of them significantly increased their immobilization capacity and activities of immobilized enzymes. Activities of immobilized exoglucanase and endoglucanase on the Ca- homoionized soil and clay minerals were significantly higher than the K- homoionized soil and clay minerals. However, these effects may be related to the specific effects of cations on the method of enzyme assay or enzymes activities. These homoionizing-cations effects on the activity of immobilized enzymes on avicel were not significant.

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Excessive application of sewage sludge leads to the accumulation of potentially toxic elements in soils. The objective of this greenhouse study was to examine the DTPA–extractability of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Co in relation to soil pH and to investigate the concentrations of these metals in corn (Zea mayz). The study was conducted using a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications. Sewage sludge was applied at 0, 50, 100, and 200 t/ha on four soils [Langaroud (pH= 4.8), Lahijan (pH= 5.7), Rasht (pH= 6.8), and Isfahan (pH= 7.9)]. Application of sewage sludge significantly increased DTPA-extractable Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni in all soils. The increasing effect was in accordance with sludge level. Langaroud soil had the highest and Isfahan soil the lowest levels of DTPA-extractable metals. Application of sewage sludge increased plant growth and metals in the foliage of corn plants. The metal concentration in corn tissues also increased with decreasing soil pH. Overall, the application of sewage sludge as an organic material, particularly in acid soils, may increase availability of heavy metals, which may, in turn, result in soil pollution. Therefore, addition of sewage sludge to soils should be managed on the basis of the changes in soil heavy metal concentration.

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Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is one of the most important chemical characteristics which influences soil quality from different aspects. At the same time, CEC is an input parameter of many computer models being applied in soil science and agriculture. Methods of CEC determination are always time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, developing a model for CEC estimation from other soil properties is essential. The objective of this study was to understand the associations between CEC (as a dependent variable) and sand, silt, clay, organic matter and pH (as independent variables). In this study 464 soil samples from A, B, and C horizons of different soils were used. Results revealed that CEC is negatively correlated with sand (r=-0.389***) and is positively correlated with organic matter (r=0.772***), clay (r= 0.391***) and silt (r= 0.233***). No significant correlation was observed between CEC and pH. Stepwise regression analysis showed that both organic matter and clay enter the model and that coefficients of determination (r²) for the multiple models are higher than those of simple linear correlations. Other parameters could not increase the r² considerably. Correlation analysis on data from A, B, and C horizons revealed that the CEC of organic matter in different horizons are not the same. Separation of Aridisols could not increase the r² of the model and the accuracy of the estimations. Correlation studies in acid soils showed that the contribution of organic matter in CEC is much higher than that of clays.

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A factorial experiment with two levels of Zn (0 and 1.5 mg Zn kg^-1), five salinity levels of irrigation water (0, 60, 120 and 180 mM NaC1, and 120 mM NaNO₃) in three replications was conducted. Wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Roshan) was seeded in pots. After plant harvesting, zinc and cadmium concentrations were determined in the shoot. Activities of metal species in the soil solution were predicted using the computer program MINTEQA2. Treating the soil with NaC1-salinized water increased total concentration of cadmium (Cd_T) as well as Cd²⁺, CdC1⁰₂, and CdCl⁺ species whereas, NaNO₃ treatment had no significant effect on Cd_T. Shoot Cd concentrations were positively related to Cd_T and soil solution Cl^- but negatively related to Zn_T. Application of Zn-fertilizer decreased Cd and increased Zn concentrations in shoot, significantly. The results of this experiment showed that Cl^- has an effective role in increasing mobility of soil Cd and its uptake by plant.

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The ability of earthworms in recycling a wide range of organic solid wastes is well established. Only a few earthworm species are suitable for commercial vermicomposting. Two species, Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellus, are common in temperate regions. Samples of earthworms were collected from manure pills and forest litter in North and Northwest of Iran. The samples were maintained in pots under greenhouse conditions. External morphological characteristics of mature worms were used in identifying earthworm species. These characteristics included: total number of body segments, numbers of clitellum and tubercula pubertatis (TP) segments, dorsal and external body color, body size, prestomium and prostomium shape, number of first segment with dorsal pore and patterns of clitellum and TP. All collected samples belonged to the species Eisenia foetida. Under incubation conditions in manure substrate (a moisture of 70% saturation at 24±2^oC), each worm produced 1-2 cocoons daily and each cocoon contained 2-7 worm embryos. The collected earthworm samples showed a good ability in vermicomposting of manure, plant residues, and some organic industrial refuses. The C:N ratio decreased during the vermicomposting process, which indicates the improved stage of decomposition and the vermicompost stability.

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The possibility of using a steel plant by-product (converter sludge) as an iron fertilizer was investigated. This compound consists of 64% Fe oxides. Considerable amounts of elements such as Ca, Si, Mn, P, and K are also present in the sludge. To study the converter sludge, an incubation experiment was carried out on three calcareous soils. Treatments were 0, 4, and 8 percent of converter sludge mixed with soils plus mixtures of 4% converter sludge with elemental sulfur, thiobacillus inoculum and sulfuric acid. Soil samples (400 g) were kept at field capacity and room temperature in capped, aerated plastic containers for two months. Sub-samples were taken at 1, 10, 30, and 60 days of incubation and analyzed for Fe, Mn, Zn, P, and K contents as well as EC and pH. Results showed that converter sludge increased significantly extractable Fe proportional to the rate of sludge used. Sulfuric acid application increased Fe availability significantly, but the availability of this nutrient generally decreased with the incubation time. Application of the sludge also increased the pH slightly at the beginning of incubation. Elemental sulfur and sulfuric acid application increased Fe and Mn availability significantly. Application of the sludge without and with elemental sulfur and sulfuric acid slightly increased availability of P. The results of this study revealed that converter sludge might be used as an iron fertilizer. However, further investigation in greenhouse and field experiments is needed.

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Lintz-Donawitz (LD) converter slag, a by-product of the iron and steel-making industry is produced in large quantities in Isfahan, Iran. The slag contains 52.8 and 2.2% (w/w) CaO and MgO, respectively. To determine the influence of LD slag on the chemical characteristics of three acid soils from Gilan, an incubation study was conducted. The soil samples were collected from 0-30 cm of rice and tobacco fields and a tea garden. Treatments were 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 % (w/w) of converter slag/kg soil. The slag was thoroughly mixed with 500g soil in plastic pots. Soil moisture content was adjusted to near field capacity and changes in pH, EC and AB-DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Zn, P and K were determined at 1, 10, 30 and 60 days. Results showed that soil pH increased with increasing slag rates. Slag increased AB-DTPA-extractable P and Mn, the magnitude increase depend on the amount of slag applied. However, the effect of slag on AB-DTPA-extractable Fe depended on initial pH, initially decreasing at the pH range of 7.4 - 8.5 and then increasing at higher pH levels. Slag decreased AB-DTPA-extractable K especially in highly acid soil. In the present study, soil pH and AB-DTPA-extractable Fe decreased with time, though the effect of incubation time on pH was not significant. The effect of incubation time on AB-DTPA extractable Mn and P was different. Time effect on EC and AB-DTPA-extractable K was not significant. In general, soil chemical characteristics were more affected by slag rates than by incubation time. In conclusion, it seems that converter slag is a suitable amendment for acid soils. It is suggested that the effect of LD converter slag on plant growth and chemical characteristics of acid soils be studied under field conditions.

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To investigate drought tolerant isolates of rhizobial symbioant of lentil (Lens culinaris L.), 12 soil samples were collected from cultivated and non-cultivated area of Golestan, Chaharmahal-O-Bakhtiari and Isfahan provinces. Local cultivars of lentil including Binam Dorosht, Ghazvini and Faridani were planted in each soil sample. After 10 weeks, a total of 324 rhizobial isolates were recovered from root nodules of the lentil plants. Evaluation of the ability of the isolates to grow at different concentration of salt showed that all isolates grew normally on 200 mM NaCl and only 20% was determined as salt tolerant isolats(>400mM). Among the isolates RL249 was classified as superior salt tolerant strain due to growing on 600 mM salt. The drought tolerance of the isolates was also examined, using PEG6000. In general, the salt tolerant isolates were also drought tolerant, however their tolerance to salinity and drought is not related to their geographical origin. In a randomized split factorial design with three replications, the effectiveness of tolerant isolates(RL249 and RL211) and a sensitive strain (RL 77) was compared on two cultivars of lentil (Binam Dorosht and Faridani) under water stress treatments with the consumptions of 50, 75,90 and 98% of soil available water. Although nodulation rate was reduced in both cultivars as the consequence of drought stresses, plants of Binam Dorosht cultivar showed high nodulation rate due to the increased fresh weight of the roots. Despite the fact that RL249 was identified as a superior nodulating and salt/drought isolate, however nodulation efficiency was decreased significantly under water stress treatments with more than 50 % of soil available water.

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Sewage sludge and effluents, as cheap sources of irrigation water and fertilizer, can supply plants with water and nutrients however, contamination of these sources with heavy metals and the possibility of human food chain contamination using these sources should be considered. In this research, the effects of industrial sewage sludge and effluents on concentration of some nurtients, heavy metals and sodium and dry matter yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare) and corn (Zea mays) were investigated. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse using a complete randomized design with four replication. The treatments comprised well water, well water + sewage sludge(50 tons/ha), and three industrial effluents from Iran Polyacryl factory including the cooling tower, the over flow and the factory outlet effluents. Chemical analysis showed the following results: The concentration of the elements in the sludge and the effluents were below the critical contaminating levels. The application of the treatments did not supply enough nitrogen for corn the cooling tower effluent could not supply enough nitrogen for wheat and barley all the treatments supplied enough P for wheat. None of the treatments could supply enough P for corn. The cooling tower, over flow and the factory outlet effluents could not supply enough P for barley, the micronutrient and heavy metal concentrations in the plant tissues using the effluents and the sewage sludge were higher than those for well water the dry matter yield of plants’roots and shoots was highest using well water + sludge and in comparison with the well water, effluents could increase the shoot dry matter yield.

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Hamadan province is one of the most important alfalfa (Medicago sativa) producing regions in Iran. However, little is known about P status in this region and no suitable extraction method has yet been introduced. This experiment was carried out to determine the available phosphorus by nine chemical extractants in some soils of the Hamadan region. The treatments consisted of 15 soils and 2 P levels (0 and 200 mg P kg^-1 as Ca(H₂PO₄)₂.H₂O ) in a factorial experiment in a randomized design with three replications. Alfalfa plant were harvested in three cutting. The results indicated that the amount of extractable phosphorus decreased in the following order: Collwell>Bray 2>0.1 N HCl>Bray 1>Olsen>AB-DTPA>Mehlich 1>Mehlich 2 > 0.01 M CaCl₂ The amounts of P extracted by all methods except that by 0.01 M CaCl₂ method, showed significant correlation. The results of correlation studies showed that in the first cutting, Collwel method, in the second cutting AB-DTPA, Olsen, Collwel, Bray 1, Bray 2 and Mehlich 2 and in the third cutting, AB-DTPA, Olsen, Collwel, Bray 1, and Mehlich 2 methods seems to be suitable extractants for assessing available P of soils in Hamadan province.

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Application of sewage sludge on the farmland as a source of crop nutrient had recently received considerable attention. Some management practices may be required to control the accumulation of toxic elements including Pb, Ni and Cd. Sequential extraction gives useful information on plant bioavailability of the elements. The objective of this study was to investigate the cumulative and residual effects of sewage sludge application on the chemical forms and mobility factor of Pb, Ni and Cd. Zero, 25, 50 and 100 Mg ha-1 of sewage sludge were applied for 1, 2 and 3 consecutive years in a split plot design, with three replications. Soil samples were taken from 0-20 cm at the end of the third year of application. Different chemical forms of Pb, Ni and Cd were measured. Results revealed that the soluble form (SOL) of Ni and Cd increased whereas Pb soluble form decreased with increasing levels and years of application. Exchangeable (EXC), carbonate (CAR) and organic (ORG) forms of the three elements increased as levels and years of application increased. Occluded (OCC) form decreased for Pb, Ni and increased for Cd. Residual form (RES) of Pb increased while that of Ni and Cd decreased. A gereral increase was observed for available (DTPA-extractable) concentration of Pb, Ni and Cd. Relative distributions of different chemical forms were in the following order: Pb: OCC > RES> ORG> CAR> EXC> SOL, Ni: RES> ORG> OCC> CAR>EXC> SOL and Cd: OCC> CAR> RES> ORG> EXC> SOL. The comparison of different forms of the metals showed the following orders: soluble Ni>Pb>Cd, exchangeable, carbonate and occluded Pb>Ni> Cd, organic and residual Ni> Pb>cd. Increasing the available (DTPA-extractable) concentration of the elements in such a calcareous soil showed that consecutive application of sewage sludge may increase the available (DTPA-extractable) concentration beyond critical levels. A significant corretation was observed between organic form and available (DTPA-extractable) concentration of the elements.

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Sewage sludge application on farmland as fertilizer is commonly practiced in many countries. Sewage sludge is rich in macro- and micro- nutrients. However, high concentration of heavy metals in sludge may cause pollution of soil, groundwater and human food chain because of uptake of toxic metals by crops. The objective of this study was to determine residual and cumulative effects of sewage sludge on concentration of Pb and Cd in soil and wheat. Different levels of 0, 25, 50 and 100 Mg ha^-1 of sewage sludge were applied to the soil for four years. To study the cumulative and residual effects of the sewage sludge, applications were repeated on three fourth of each plot in the second year, on one half of plots in the third year and in one fourth of plots in the fourth year. Wheat grown in the plots, after the fourth year, soil samples from the 0-20 cm depth of the different parts of the plots were taken and analyzed. Wheat was also harvested roots, stems and grains were separately analyzed for the heavy metal concentritons. Cumulative sewage sludge application increased OM, CEC, ECe, total and DTPA-extractable concentration of Pb and Cd in soil significantly (P≤ 0.05). Residual sewage sludge in the soil also increased CEC, total and DTPA-extractable concentration of Pb and Cd significantly. Single sludge applications at different rates increased the DTPA-extractable concentrations of heavy metals. In subsequent years with no further sludge application, DTPA–extractable metal concentrations in soil decreased continuously approaching the levels in the control. However, even after four years, DTPA-extractable concentration of Pb and Cd, were still significantly higher in plots which received more than 50 Mg ha^-1 sludge than control. DTPA-extractable concentrations of Pb was closely correlated with total concentrations. Sewage sludge increased concentration of Cd in roots and stems and Pb in grains significantly. Cumulative effects on concentrations of Pb in grains, and Cd in stems were more than residual effects. The results of this study show that cumulative and residual effects of sewage sludge application increased concentrations of heavy metals in soil and wheat.

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The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of early life nutrient restriction and subsequent intermittent lighting schedule on performance in broiler. In a factorial experiment, the effect of three levels of feeding regimes and two levels of lighting schedule were investigated using 480 day-old male Hubbard chicks. The broiler chickens were randomly distributed over two rooms consisting of 4 replicates of 20 birds for each of three treatment groups. From 3 to 12 days of age treatment groups were either allowed ad-libitum access, 90% or 80% to feed. From 12 days of age until 42 days of age all birds were allowed ad-libitum access to feed. The lighting schedule for day 12 onwards in one room was a 23h light (L): 1h dark (D) lighting schedule (CL) and another room with an intermittent lighting schedule (IL, 1L:3D) from 8 AM until 8 PM . The results indicated that feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds reared in the IL schedule were significantly lower than CL , at growth and total period of experiment (p<0.01). IL schedule did not have any significant effect on mean body weight at the end of experimental period and body weight gain at total period of experiment(p>0.05). Relative growth rate and production (PI( in the IL were higher than CL schedule (p<0.01). Feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds given 90 and 80% of ad libitum were significantly lower in comparison with control group (p<0.01). Body weight (gain) at the end of the experiment and growth period and body weight gain in birds fed 80% of ad libitum group were significantly lower in comparison with control and 90% of ad libitum groups. At 5,6 weeks and grower period EPI and relative growth rate in birds fed 80 and 90% of ad libitum were significantly higher in comparison with control. These results indicated that feed restriction and lighting program did not have any significant effect on carcass composition (protein, fat, ash and dry matter), carcass fragment percentage (except for drumstick), abdominal fat percentage, lung , heart, right and left ventricle weight and hematocrit percentage (p>0.05), but proportion of heart weight to body weight and drumstick percentage in birds fed 80 % of ad libitum were higher than the other groups (p<0.05). Lighting schedule and feeding regime did not have any interaction effect, except for relative growth rate (p<0.05). Relative growth rate in birds with feed restriction under IL schedule was higher than birds with feed restriction under CL schedule. Intermittent lighting and feed restriction had synergic, activity effect and positive effect on body weight gain and feed convertion ratio.

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The study was conducted to compare the efficiency of diets containing various levels of calcium(0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 percentage) in feeding freshwater crayfish, Astacus leptoductylus. 150 cray fish (10 individuals per tank) with mean weight of about 8-9 gram were stocked in each of 15 tanks, containing 100 L of water. In this research, The results showed that the mean values of some parameters such as weight gain (WG), weight increment rate (WIR), length increment rate (LIR), specific growth rate (SGR), biomass increment (BI), food efficiency rate (FER) and survival rate (SR) of animal fed on different diets were 0.75-1.46gr, 9.8-24.54%, 6.57-15.33% and 0.12-0.29% respectively. However, the diet with high levels of calcium (3-4%) showed the good weight and length increment, but there were no significants difference among these indices using different trial diets. The biomass of crayfish increased with increasing of calcium concentration. So, the highest biomass (11.65gr) of crayfish was observed in the diet containing calcium about 4%. Optimal calcium requirement in the freshwter crayfish was estimated about 3.4% with broken-line regression analysis. The lowest survival rate (30%) was obtained in the diet containing 2% calcium level. There were significant differences among survival rates in various experimental diets (p<0.05). These results indicate that the dietary calcium supplement is nesessary for crayfish. The diets with high levels of calcium had a good efficiency in freshwater crayfish feeding. So it is recommended to use 3-3.5% of calcium in formulated diets for freshwater crayfish

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Concentration of soluble fluoride in groundwater, soil, and some crops in Isfahan region was determined by Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) method. The mean fluoride concentration of water samples in the study area was 0.3 and 0.05 mg L^-1 in the spring and summer, respectively. These values are in an acceptable limit for irrigation, whereas for drinking water, they are in deficiency range. The average and maximum concentrations of soluble fluoride in soil samples were 1.0 and 3.2 mg kg^-1, respectively. In general, the spatial distribution of fluoride in soils showed that fluoride content around major industrial centers such as Isfahan Steel Factory, Mobarakeh Steel Co., and Isfahan oil refinery was higher than other sites. The minimum and maximum fluoride contents of crops were observed in alfalfa as 0.2 and in corn as 4.2 mg kg^-1, respectively. Tomato had the highest mean concentration of fluoride as 3.6 mg kg^-1. The fluoride concentration in plants positively correlated with the fluoride concentration in irrigation water and soil (P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with cation exchange capacity of soil (P < 0.05).

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  Adopting proper agricultural management and conserving soil organic matter are important components of sustainable agriculture. Soil organic matter content is a key attribute in soil quality. Labile organic matter pools can be considered as suitable indicators of soil quality that are very sensitive to changes in soil management practices. This research was carried out to investigate some organic carbon labile pools as an indicator evaluating the effects of different managements on some quality parameters of two calcareous soils. The study was conducted in 2 locations: 1- plots that receiving 0 (C1), 25 (C2), 50 (C3) and 100 (C4) Mg/ha of manure for five years successively with a cropping rotation of wheat –corn every year and plots under three cropping rotations (C5, C6 and C7) at Lavark experimental farm and 2- inquiry research station of Fozveh at different plots with three different cropping rotations (C8, C9 and C10) with a given cropping history recorded for the last 5 years. Soil samples were taken from the center of each plot and the depths of 0-5 cm and 5-15 cm. Their organic carbon, hot water soluble carbohydrate, particulate organic matter (POM), organic carbon and hot water soluble carbohydrate of POM, mean weight diameter of water stable aggregates were determined. Different managements consisting of different levels of manure and types of cropping rotation had significant effects on the soil characteristics measured. The greateast amount of carbohydrate and aggregate stability was obtained in the plots of 100 Mg/ha of manure in Lavak and in alfalfa plots in Fozveh station. Also, the results showed that aggregate stability has a better correlation with hot water soluble carbohydrate in comparison with other soil organic pools. Therefore, the carbohydrate extracted by hot water may be used as an index to assess the impacts of different agricultural management systems on soil quality.

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  Studying soil phosphorus fractions is useful in understanding soil pedogenesis as well as soil fertility. In this reseach, 20 soil samples were taken from different depths of 0-30 and 30-60 cm of upper-slope, mid-slope and lower-slope positions of four toposequences in arid (Jei and Ziar in Isfahan) and semiarid (Farokhshahr and Shahrekord) regions. In each toposequence, the soil depth was relatively low at the upper-slope position and increased toward the lower-slope. The soils in upper-slope and mid-slope were under scarce native vegetation where the soil in lower-slope was under farming activities. Soil phosphorus (P) fractionation was carried out using sequential extraction. The total soil phosphorus was in the range of 302-1135 with an average of 715 mg/kg. About 65-89% of total phosphorus were inorganic, and 11-35% organic. The amount of inorganic and organic P in the soil samples was in the range of 204-897 with an average of 571, and 70-238 with an average of 114 mg/kg, respectively. The amount of total, inorganic and organic P increased from upper-slope toward the arable lands and decreased from topsoil to subsoil in all toposequences. In the studied soils, apatite ( Ca₁₀-P ), aluminum phosphates(Al-P), octacalcium phosphates( Ca₈-P ), iron phosphates (Fe-P), iron oxides occluded phosphates( OC-P ) and dicalcium phosphates( Ca₂-P ) were the major constituents of the soil inorganic phosphates, respectively.

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  Application of slag and converter sludge, major by-products of Esfahan Zob Ahan factory, to enrich two organic amendments for corn nutrition, was investigated. Farm manure and its vermicompost mixed with different rates of slag and sludge were incubated in 3 Kg pots at field capacity moisture and home temperature for three months. The applied rates of slag and sludge were 0, 5 and 10 percent (w/w) of pure iron from these compounds to the organic amendments. Iron sulfate with the above ratios was also examined for comparison. Sub-samples of the incubated materials were taken after 0, 10, 25, 45, 65 and 90 days of incubation and examined for DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. After the incubation, the enriched amendments were applied to a soil sample to grow corn. Three Kg soil samples, taken from Chah Anari experimental farm, Esfahan University of Technology, were mixed with 17 gr of the amendments (50 ton/ha) placed in 3 Kg pots. In each pot two corn seeds (single cross 704) were planted and after 70 days crop yield and concentration of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu in the plant tissues were determined. Results showed that the use of iron sulfate strongly increased DTPA extractable Fe and Mn of the amendments. In enrichment by converter sludge, the best result was obtained in the mixture of 10 percent pure iron with the vermicompost on 60 days of incubation. Treatment of 5 percent pure iron from slag mixed with the manure increased DTPA extractable Fe and Mn with the time, but the 10 percent treatment was not much effective in this regard. The highest rates of iron uptake by the plants occurred in the iron sulfate and 10 percent converter sludge treatments, respectively however, the highest rate of the plant Mn uptake was observed in 5 percent iron from converter sludge mixed with vermicompost. In general, 10 percent pure iron from converter sludge was the most effective enrichment treatment, increasing the plant uptake of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu micronutrients.

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Mineralogy is one of the most influential soil properties that change from upper- to lower slope positions, depending on the climate differences. Such changes affect soil properties such as phosphorus sorption and desorption processes differently. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the clay mineralogy of soils in four toposequences from arid (Isfahan) and semiarid (Chaharmahal Bakhtiari) regions and its effect on soil P release. The soils of three points on each toposequence were sampled as the upper-slope mainly containing parent materials the mid-slope, non-arable lands and the lower-slope, arable lands. Some of soil properties such as clay minerals were determined. Also, trend of P release parameters was studied in four toposequences. Results showed that the amount of clay, cation exchange capacity (CEC), electrical conductivity (EC), and pH of the soils increase down the slope in all toposequences. X-ray diffractograms showed that kaolinite and illite in upper slope and smectite and chlorite in lower slope were the predominant clays. Among the kinetic models examined based on their determination coefficient and standard error, the Elovich equation was chosen to describe the P release kinetics in studied soils. The trend of P desorption rate along the arid toposequences was in the following order: upper-slope < mid-slope < lower-slope. Furthermore, the rate of P desorption in soils of the semiarid toposequences was higher than arid toposequences. Regarding the trend of P rate parameters along the toposequences, it could be concluded that P release rate and the soil capacity to supply P for plants increase toward lower slope.