JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contaminations in soils may be toxic to human, plants and cause groundwater contamination. To achieve maximum TpH- reduction and to establish successfull stable vegetation cover in phytoremediation method, various criteria must be considered to choose the plants carefully. In this study, germination and subsequent growth of seven plants were tested in three soils with different petroleum contamination levels. Contamination treatments consisted of C₀ (uncontaminated soil), C₁ (1:1 w/w, uncontaminated: contaminated soil) and C₂ (1:3 w/w, uncontaminated: contaminated soil). The experimental design was completely randomized split plots with three replications per treatment. The results showed that the presence of TPH in the soil had no effect on seed germination of agropyron, white clover, sunflower and safflower although canola seedlings were sensitive to these compounds and failed to produce dry matter yield (DMY) at the end of trial period. In contrast, seed germination of canola, puccenillia and tall fescue decreased in the petroleum contaminated soils. No reduction was found in DMY of puccenillia in contaminated soils (C₁ and C₂ treatments) compared to control however, the presence of TPH proportional to the contamination levels, decreased dry weight of sunflower and safflower. This reduction in growth and dry weight for tall fescue and agropyron was also observed in C₂ compared to C₁ treatment. Therefore, it seems that though agropyron, white clover, sunflower and safflower germinated well and the presence of TPHs in the soil treatments had no effect on their seed germination, they grew poorly. In contrast, grasses had poor seed germination but their subsequent growth and establishment in the contaminated soils was acceptable for subsequent phytoremediation trials.

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Determination of carbohydrates in soil requires prior extraction and numerous extraction methods were suggested for this purpose. Three methods and five extractants were applied in order to extract carbohydrate fraction in three soil types forest, clayey and saline soils. The extraction methods were: 1) shaken in a plane rotary shaking machine for 16 h 2) heated in steam-bath for 2.5 h and 3) heated in oven for 24 h and extractants included 1) 0.5 M HCL, (2) 0.25 M H2SO4, 3) 0.5 M H2SO4, 4) 0.5 M K2SO4 and 5) distilled water. Carbohydrate content in soil was measured by phenol-sulphuric acid method. The addition of phenol to the extracted solution of HCl caused to milky precipitation. Therefore, this extractant can not be used for carbohydrate extraction in the phenol-sulphuric acid spectroscopic method. The results showed that in all soils and in the shaker extraction method, carbohydrate content was lower than in the oven and steam-bath extraction methods. In the forest and saline soils, the extracted carbohydrate content was not significantly different among the oven and steam-bath methods. For the clayey soil, the carbohydrate content was higher in the oven method than that of the steam-bath method. In all soils, the extracted carbohydrate by 0.5 M H2SO4 extractant was greater than those of other extractants. In the forest and saline soils, the extracted carbohydrate by distilled water was lower than those of other extractants. Using steam-bath method (for the forest and saline soils) and oven method (for the clayey soil) with 0.5 M H2SO4 extracted the highest amount of carbohydrates.

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Tillage systems and organic manures could affect soil physical and mechanical properties. This study was conducted to investigate the impacts of two tillage systems including conventional tillage by moldboard plowing (plowing depth, 30 cm) and reduced tillage by disk plow (plowing depth, 15 cm) and three rates (0, 30 and 60 ton ha-1) of farmyard manure (FYM) on the soil penetration resistance under corn cropping in a split block design with 3 replications. The cone index (CI) decreased with increase of the tillage depth. It is attributable to soil disturbing and loosening of the deeper layers under conventional tillage compared to reduced tillage. This trend, however, was observed only in the first (after treatments’ application and before cropping) and second (the highest rate of vegetative growth) samplings. In the third sampling (after harvest), there were not significant differences between the CI values under two tillage systems in different soil depths. It might be due to soil re-compaction (approaching the pre-tillage state) as well as disappearance of the tillage effects seven month after commencement of the experiment. In fact, the soil mechanical resistance increased with the time indicating soil re-compaction over the growing season. Adding FYM to the surface layer (i.e. 0-10 cm) of ridge soil resulted in significant decrease of soil mechanical resistance compared to control treatment. The CI decreased significantly in the 30 ton ha-1 treatment up to the stage of highest rate of vegetative grow, but the effect on CI was diminished after harvest. However, the decreasing effects of the 60 ton ha-1 treatment on the CI continued to the harvesting time. There were no significant effects of FYM in the soil deeper than 10 cm from the ridge surface and in all of the layers in furrow. The CI did not decrease significantly in the furrow due to negligible effect of manure application for the inter-row position.

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Presence of petroleum contaminants in soil may be toxic to human and organisms and act as a source of ground water contamination hence, remediation of these compounds from environment is vital. In this study, first the feasibility of remediation of two petroleum-contaminated soil samples around Tehran Oil Refinery (oil refinery landfill and agricultural soils) was assessed using landfarming technique during a four month experimental period. The elimination of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) from soils treated through landfarming technique was then investigated in the rhizosphere of agropyron and fescue. The results showed that microbial respiration increased due to landfarming processes in both soils. Urease activity in the landfarming treatment for agricultural soil was 21, 45, 26, and 23% higher than the control at the end of first to the 4th months of experiment, respectively. However, no significant differences were observed between the landfarming and control treatments for landfill soil at the end of experiment. Furthermore, about 50 and 57% reduction in TPH-concentration was observed in the landfarming treatment for landfill and agricultural soils at the end of experiment, respectively. In the phytoremediation study, presence of TPHs in both landfarming and control treatments reduced dry matter yield of the studied plants. Urease activity in the rhizosphere of fescue and agropyron was higher than in the unplanted soil. Degradation of petroleum-compounds in the landfill soil under landfarming treatment was more than 20 and 40% in the presence of fescue and agropyron, respectively. The influence of agropyron on TPH-removal from agricultural soil under the landfarming treatment was also higher than fescue.

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The salt–affected lands in arid regions of central Iran are characterized by low rainfall, low fertility, high evaporation and salinity. The cultivation of salt–affected lands may have a major influence on soil quality. The aim of this study was to determine the response of soil quality indicators to reclamation and cultivation of salt–affected lands occurring in Abarkooh plain, central Iran. Soil quality indicators were evaluated in three land use systems including salt-affected land, wheat, and alfalfa fields. Composite soil samples were collected at 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–40 cm layers and analyzed for soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, carbohydrate, particulate organic carbon in macro-aggregates (POCmac) and micro-aggregates (POCmic), organic carbon mineralization and wet aggregate stability. The cultivation of salt–affected land caused a significant decrease in electrical conductivity at all layers and increased the amount of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, carbohydrate, POCmac, POCmic, and organic carbon mineralization. At all layers, the POCmac/POCmic ratio in the alfalfa fields was higher than that in the wheat fields. The cultivation of salt-affected land caused a significant increase in soil aggregate stability (MWD) at all layers. In most cases, the amounts of soil organic matter and MWD were greater in alfalfa than in the wheat fields, reflecting a better soil quality and thus higher potential for increasing soil organic carbon sequestration in the alfalfa fields

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The petroleum refinery sludge is an important source of environmental pollution. Burning and burying of the sludge may have adverse effects on environment and human health. Thus, other mechanisms for decreasing the toxic effects of hydrocarbon substances in the sludge must be used. In this study, Isfahan refinery sludge was dewatered, air dried and mixed by 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% w/w ratio with two calcareous soils, viz., Mahmoud Abad (Typic Haplocalcids with clay texture) and Bagh Parandegan (Anthropic Torrifluvents with silty loam texture). Different mixtures of soil and sludge were farmed for 21 days and irrigated on a daily basis to field capacity. Then, 100 seeds of Tallfescue (Festuca arundinacea) and Agropyron were planted in polluted soils with 3 replicates in 3 kg pots for 5 months. Result showed that Tallfescue and Agropyron yields decreased in sludge contaminated treatments. In the 40% sludge treatment, Tallfescue decreased the total petroleum hydrocarbons content by 65 percent. The highest degradation for agropyron was in the 30% sludge treatment which showed about 55% reduction in total petroleum hydrocarbons. The 40% sludge treatment resulted in the minimum yields of root and shoot plants. The highest degradation of TPHs occurred in the Tallfescue rhizospher of 40% sludge. Maximum degradation of TPHs on the Agropyron rhizospher was in 30% sludge mixed with Bage parandegan soil, but maximum yield of plant was in 20% sludge. Our study shows that Tallfescue rhizospher is most effective for decreasing TPHs, and that the phytoremediation in soils with more clay can adsorb and fix the toxic components and then at higher levels of pollutions can let the plants grow.

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Waste tire rubbers are considered one of the environment pollutants. Increased production of these pollutants has led to more serious consideration of ways to reduce the harms caused by their accumulation in the environment. Therefore, the effects of incorporation of waste rubber crushed particles in two sizes of 1-2 and 3-5 mm and the amounts of 0, 5, 10 and 20 Mg ha-1 in a calcareous soil (0-30 cm depth) on some chemical properties of soil was investigated in Isfahan University of Technology research field (Lavark). This experiment was performed using seven treatments along with a non amended control treatment in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 1387. Eight months after incorporation, soil samples were collected for laboratory analyses. Results of ANOVA tables show that soil pH, electrical conductivity, percentage of total nitrogen and DTPA-extractable concentrations of cadmium, lead, copper and iron were not significantly affected by application of rubber particles. Incorporation of rubber particles into the soil significantly increased soil organic carbon and carbon to nitrogen. Increases in the DTPA-extractable Zn in soils treated with 10 and 20 Mg ha rubber particles in fine and coarse sizes were significant in comparison with the control soil. DTPA-extractable Zn content in the soil treated with 10 and 20 Mg ha 3-5 mm waste tire rubbers particles was about two and three times higher than that in the control treatment, respectively. The results of this study showed that in short-time, incorporation of crushed tire rubbers particles had no significant effect on most chemical properties of the soil but increased the available Zn content. In this regard, further studies to monitor the effects of adding waste rubber crushed particles on organic matter mineralization, plant toxicity and physical properties of soil in long-term are recommended.

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The task of modern agriculture is to safeguard the production of high quality food, in a sustainable natural environment under the precondition of pollution not exceeding accepted norms. The sustainability of current land use in agro-ecosystems can be assessed with respect to heavy metal accumulation in soils by balancing the input/ output fluxes. The objectives of this study were to model accumulation rate and the associated uncertainty of Zn in the agro-ecosystems of 3 arid and semi-arid provinces (Fars, Isfahan and Qom). Zinc accumulation rates in the agro-ecosystems were computed using a stochastic mass flux assessment (MFA) model with using Latin Hypercube sampling in combination with Monte-Carlo simulation procedures. Agricultural information including crop types, crop area and yield, kind and number of livestock, application rates of mineral fertilizers, compost and sewage sludge and also metal concentration in plants and soil amendments were used to quantify Zn fluxes and Zn accumulation rates. The results indicated that Zn accumulates considerably in agricultural lands of the studied townships especially in Najafabad (3009 g ha-1yr-1). The major Zn input routes to the agricultural soils (and due to agricultural activities) were manure and mineral fertilizers and the major part of the uncertainty in the Zn accumulation rate resulted from manure source.

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Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element for plants as well as for animals and humans. There is a significant relationship between soils, plants and humans Zn status in a certain agro-ecosystem. The objectives of this study were to assess Zn status of soils in 3 arid and semiarid provinces of Iran and to model the relationship between wheat grain Zn and agro-ecosystem parameters. About 137 soil and wheat samples were collected randomly from the agricultural soils of Fars, Isfahan and Qom and were analysed in laboratory. Modeling the relationship between wheat grain Zn and agro-ecosystem parameters was done using least square based and robust methods. The results indicated that total Zn concentration of soils (range, 21-149 mg kg-1 mean, 75.2 mg kg-1) was in normal ranges. The DTPA-extractable Zn concentrations were below the critical level (0.8 mg kg-1) in 16% of the surveyed fields. The Zn concentration in 80% of wheat grains was sufficient (more than 24 mg kg-1) with respect to plant nutrition (range, 11.7-64 mg kg-1 mean, 31.6 mg kg-1). However, Zn bioavailability for consumers was generally low in more than 75% of the samples. This is because of high phytic acid to Zn molar ratio (more than 15). Soil DTPA-extractable Zn and available P were entered in to most of regression models significantly. Regression analysis showed that most of models fitted to wheat grain Zn concentration and soil Zn and influenced by agro-ecosystem parameters had a weak prediction power, despite their high determination coefficient. This means that factors other than those considered here have a strong influence on the uptake of Zn by wheat in these soils.

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The conventional application of nitrogen fertilizers via irrigation is likely to be responsible for the increased nitrate concentration in groundwater of areas dominated by irrigated agriculture. This requires appropriate water and nutrient management to minimize groundwater pollution and to maximize nutrient use efficiency and production. To fulfill these requirements, drip fertigation is an important alternative. Design and operation of drip fertigation system requires understanding of nutrient leaching behavior in cases of shallow rooted crops such as potatoes, which cannot extract nutrient from lower soil depth. This study deals with neuro-fuzzy modeling of nitrate leaching from a potato field under a drip fertigation system. In the first part of the study, a two-dimensional solute transport model (HYDRUS-2D) was used to simulate nitrate leaching from a sandy soil with varying emitter discharge rates and various amounts of fertilizer. The results from the modeling were used to train and validate an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in order to estimate nitrate leaching. Radii of clusters in ANFIS were tuned and optimized by genetic algorithm. Relative mean absolute error percentage (RMAEP) and correlation coefficient (R) between measured and obtained data from HYDRUS were 0.64 and 0.99, respectively. Results showed that ANFIS can accurately predict nitrate leaching in soil. The proposed methodology can be used to reduce the effect of uncertainties in relation to field data.

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In this work, the effect of raw and modified bentonite and zeolite with trivalent iron on the stabilization of water-soluble and adsorbed arsenic in a calcareous soil was studied. Raw and modified bentonite and zeolite were added to the soil in different weights in a completely randomized block design with three replications and kept to field capacity soil moisture content of 80% for 8 weeks. The concentrations of water-soluble and adsorbed arsenic, water-soluble and absorbed phosphorus in soil and soil pH were measured. Treatments significantly affected the mobility of arsenic and phosphorus in soil. Raw zeolite and bentonite in different levels increased arsenic mobility (about 107 to 325 % and 259 to 350% respectively). Despite the change in surface properties of zeolites modified with iron, this treatment at different levels increased arsenic mobility in soils by about 124 to 246%. Bentonite modified with iron had the greatest effect on reducing arsenic mobility in soil (about 91%). Phosphate mobility was similar to arsenic in different treatments.

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By modifying plants at genetical, physiological and ecological levels, entophytic fungi as the most important soil microorganisms have a pronounced growth-promoting activity and also increase plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. This research was undertaken to evaluate the potential of P. indica to increase barley (Hordeumvulgare L.) resistance to lead (pb). Therefore, a greenhouse experiment with two fungus treatments (non-inoculated and P. indica inoculated) and five levels of pb (0, 25, 50, 100 and 500 mg/kg) with three replications was conducted based on a factorial design. Measurement of shoot and root dry weight showed that the growth of P. indica-colonized plants at all levels of pb treatments was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the corresponding controls. Also, chlorophyll concentration of inoculated plants with P. indica was superior to non-inoculated plants. In addition, the results showed that in contrast to the plant shoot, lead concentration in the root of P. indica-colonized plants was higher than the non-inoculated controls.

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Fluoride (F) is an essential element for humans and animals. The continuous ingestion of fluoride by humans and animals in excessive amounts has damaging effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the uptake of fluoride in spinach and alfalfa in an alkaline soil of Isfahan, Iran. Two plants were planted in lysimeters at Isfahan University of Technology research station site. The treatments consisted of two plants and three concentrations of F. Each treatment was performed in triplicate. All the plants were harvested after 125 days and the total plants' F concentrations were determined. The F concentration in both plants' roots were higher significantly (p<0.05) than the plants' shoots at both treatments. The F concentration in spinach root was 2.5 to 3 times greater than those values in alfalfa root. Totally, the RCFs and SCFs values of F were very low. This showed that these plants did not uptake much fluoride from the soil.

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Transport of fluoride and consumption of groundwater with excess fluoride concentrations poses a health threat to millions of people around the world. The objective of this study was to simulate transport of fluoride (F) using HYDRUS-1D model. The study was conducted in lysimeters at Lavark research station site in Isfahan. The treatments consisted of two concentrations of F (157 and 315 mg kg-1). The duration of the study was 125 days. Some of soil physical and chemical properties, soluble F and total F concentration were determined during the study. The results showed the transport of F in calcareous soil profiles. This may be due to the high pH and desorption of F ion as a result of repulsion by the more negatively charged soil surfaces. The highest concentration of total F and water soluble F were observed in the 10 cm surface soil layer. The concentration of F decreased with increased soil depth. The correlation coefficient was significant between the water soluble fluoride and the total fluoride (1% level). Also, the difference between the observed t- value and a critical value on the t distribution is statistically insignificant. It showed that the model simulated successfully water soluble F concentration in the soil profile.

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The sorption and desorption of fluoride by soil can play an important role in the transport of fluoride in soil. The study was conducted on the soil from Isfahan University of Technology research station site (two depths of 0-30 and 30- 60 cm). Fluoride sorption reactions were examined by equilibrating 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 mg L^-1 NaF solution with soils for 23 hr. The desorption experiments were performed using 0.03 mol L^-1 NaCL solutions immediately following the completion of sorption experiments. The sorption isotherms of F were well described by the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The n values for Freundlich isotherm were 0.57 and 0.55 for two depths of the studied soil, respectively. The k_F values for Freundlich isotherm were 0.026 and 0.025 mg ^(1-n) Lⁿ g^-1 for two depths, respectively. Maximum monolayer sorption capacities (q _max) were obtained to be 0.4 and 0.35 mg g^-1 for 1 and 2 layers of the studied soil, respectively. The desorption isotherms of F were well described by the Freundlich model. The fitted model parameters’ (k_F and n) values for desorption branches were larger than these values for sorption branches. Also, the results showed a positive hysteresis (n_desrb sorb and k_desorb >K_sorb). It seems fluoride sorption to be reversible.

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Soil water repellency can affect several soil properties such as aggregate stability. Soil texture and organic matter are two main internal factors responsible for the variability of soil water repellency. Major sources of organic matter in soil include plant residues, and exudates of plant roots and soil microorganisms. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) as an important cool-season perennial forage grass is usually infected by a fungal endophyte (Epichloë coenophiala) which often enhances resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses as well as altering the litter decomposition rate and soil properties. In this study, the effects of endophyte-infected (E+) and endophyte-free (E−) tall fescue residues (in three different levels of 0, 1 and 2%) on soil organic carbon, basal microbial respiration, water-dispersible clay and water repellency index (determined by intrinsic sorptivity method) were investigated in four texturally-different soils in the laboratory. E+ and E− tall fescue residues were completely mixed with moist soil samples and then were incubated at 25 °C. During two months of incubation period, the amended soil samples were subjected to 10 wetting and drying cycles and then, the above-mentioned soil properties were measured. The results indicated that soil organic carbon and water-dispersible clay were greater, while basal soil respiration and repellency index were lower in fine-textured soils. Water repellency index was increased by production of hydrophobic substances (for the rate of 1%) and was reduced by induced greater soil porosity (for the rate of 2%). Presence of endophyte in plant residues had no significant effect on water sorptivity, ethanol sorptivity and water repellency index; nevertheless, E+ residues increased soil organic carbon and decreased water-dispersible clay significantly. Overall, it is concluded that tall fescue residues, especially those with E+, can improve soil physical quality due to improving soil organic carbon storage and water repellency index and decreasing water-dispersible clay (as an index for aggregate instability). These E+ species and the residues have great potential to be used in sustainable soil conservational managements.
 

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