JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Soil physical and chemical properties, and test conditions might affect soil structural stability. In this study, the effects of test conditions as well as intrinsic soil properties on structural stability were investigated for selected soils from Hamedan Province. Mean weight diameter (MWD) and tensile strength (Y) of aggregates were determined by wet sieving method and indirect Brazilian test, respectively. The soil samples were pre-wetted slowly to matric suction of 200 kPa before the wet sieving. The pre-wetted samples were wet-sieved for 5, 10 and 15 min in order to simulate different hydro-mechanical stresses imposed on soil structure. Tensile strength of soil aggregates were also measured at air-dry and 500 kPa matric suction conditions. Short duration shaking (i.e. 5 min) could effectively discriminate the Hamedan soils in terms of structural stability due to their fairly low aggregate stabilities. The soil organic matter content had the highest impact on MWD followed by both clay and CaCO₃ content. The same was true for the Y values i.e. OM played the highest role in mechanical strength of soil aggregates. The highest coefficient of determination (R²) was obtained between Y and the intrinsic soil properties for matric suction of 500 kPa. The organic matter content had an important role in water and mechanically stable soil aggregates. The results indicated that short-duration wet sieving (i.e. 5 min) and measurements of tensile strength at matric suction of 500 kPa could be recommended for aggregate stability assessment in Hamedan soils

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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.

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Despite the existence of highly silty soils in southern Mashhad, there is no information about the aeolian and /or in situ formation of these soils. The main objective of this study was to determine the source of silt generation in this area. Granitic hilly lands in southern Mashhad have been covered by silty deposits. Based on the soil origin, four profiles including a residual soil covered by a silty layer, a residual soil with low amount of silt, a highly silty soil and an alluvial soil as well as a deep profile containing a succession of silty and alluvial materials were studied. Cumulative particle size distribution curve (CPSDC), depth distribution curves of silt/sand ratio (Si/S), Folk inclusive graphic standard deviation, Folk inclusive graphic skewness (SKI) and sand grain morphology analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were determined and used to identify the source of the silty materials. Based on the results obtained, silty (L), residual-silty (R-L), residual (R), alluvial (A) and alluvial-silty (A-L) horizons were identified. CPSDC of L horizons is sigmoidal in shape and is easily distinguishable from that of the other horizons. In contrast, the CPSDC of alluvial and residual horizons is spherical in shape. CPSDCs for R-L and A-L horizons are neither sigmoidal nor spherical, but something in between. The L horizons have the highest SKI (very skewed to fine particles) and the lowest Folk inclusive graphic standard deviation (very badly sorted). In this regard, alluvial and residual horizons are intermediate. Because of the silt addition to R-L and A-L horizons, these horizons have a nearly zero SKI (symmetrical) and the highest Folk inclusive graphic standard deviation (very badly sorted). Particle size distribution histograms of R-L and A-L horizons are bimodal, a mode for sand and a mode for silt, suggesting two different sources. Depth distribution of Si/S, SKI and Folk inclusive graphic standard deviation of highly silty and other horizonz show a drastic change between L horizons and the other horizons-an indication of lithologic discontinuity and difference in origin. In conclusion, despite the possible contribution of granitic parent rocks to silt generation in the area, loess deposits recognized appear to have mostly been transported by aeolian movement.

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For prevention of soil compaction, knowledge of allowable compression stress limit (compaction strength) in soil is important. Pre-compaction stress ( σ_pc) was introduced as soil compaction strength and often used as a criterion for evaluation of soil susceptibility to compaction. In this research, pre-compaction stress was measured for a sandy loam soil with plate sinkage (PST) and confined compression (CCT) tests. To prepare soil samples with different initial compactness, two soil water contents (17 and 19%db) and six pre-loading stresses (0, 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kPa) were used. The effects of soil water content and pre-loading stress on estimated pre-compaction stress were studied using a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications. The σ_pcvalues were significantly influenced by loading combination and soil water content. For PST, pre-load increase and higher soil water content resulted in higher and lower values of σ_pc , respectively. However, predicted σ_pc value increased with higher soil water content for CCT. The results also showed that the σ_pc predicted with PST was accurate, whereas the values obtained with CCT were 4.5 (at 17 %db) and 8.5 (at 19 %db) times higher than the applied pre-loads. Overall, the findings indicated that σ_pc prediction depends on the compression test, and PST could be a suitable method for soil pre-compaction stress (compaction strength) determination in sustainable soil management, i.e., soil trafficability and tillage. The PST method is also suitable to assess the effect of managing factors on pre-compaction stress.

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In order to evaluate the interaction effects of nitrogen and organic matter on growth and yield of dryland wheat, an experiment was conducted at the research station of the College of Agriculture, Shiraz University at Bajgah in 2005 and 2006. The experimental design was split plot in which three levels of nitrogen (0, 40, and 80 kg N ha ^-1) were main factors and additive organic matters including liquorice root residue at 15 and 30 Mg ha ^-1, municipal waste compost at 10 and 20 Mg ha ^-1, and wheat residues at 750 and 1500 kg ha ^-1 (all rates equivalent to 50 and 100%) were sub factors. A check treatment (no additive materials) was also included in the experiment. Results indicated that with increasing nitrogen level from zero to 40 and 40 to 80 kg ha^-1, wheat yield increased significantly. Among yield components, number of seeds per spike increased significantly with zero to 40 and 40 to 80 kg nitrogen ha^-1, but number of spikes m^-2 increased significantly only when nitrogen level was increased from zero to 80 kg ha^-1. Compared to check (no additive materials), maximum wheat grain yield (32%) was obtained from 100% compost application. Results of nitrogen and organic matters interaction effects indicated that 100% compost application and increasing nitrogen level from 40 to 80 kg ha ^-1 had no significant effect on dryland wheat yield. This showed the positive impact of compost application on the reduction of nitrogen fertilizer. Thus, it appears that 50% of the required nitrogen fertilizer could be replaced by compost. Applying organic matter increased soil water in both years, however, among organic matters, compost had a more pronounced effect on increasing soil water.

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The forms and dynamics of soil phosphorus can be greatly affected by land use changes, which often involve changes in vegetation cover, biomass production and nutrient cycling in the ecosystem. Present research evaluates the impact of land use change on the amount of total organic and inorganic P, labile, moderately labile and nonlabile P pools in semiarid soils of central Zagros. Samples were collected from surface soils (0-10 cm) of i) of moderately degraded pasture (20-25% plant cover), ii) highly degraded pasture (5-10 % plant cover), and iii) cultivated field (10 years) in Soolegan sub watershed and i) moderately degraded pasture (25-30 % plant cover) and ii) highly degraded pasture (5-10 % plant cover) in Sadat Abad sub-watershed. Significantly (P<0.05) low amounts of total organic P were found following cultivation (23.9%) and overgrazing (18.2 and 40.8 %) in Soolegan and Sadat Abad, respectively. The largest depletion of labile organic P (NaHCO3-Po) (72.3%) and moderately labile organic P (H2SO4-Po plus NaOH-Pi) (24.3%) were observed in cultivated rainfed land in Soolegan. Overgrazing led to decrease in labile organic P (42.1 and 64.4%), moderately labile organic P (13.9 and 35.7%) and nonlabile organic P (NaOH-Po) including moderately resistant and resistant organic P (12.9 and 44.4%) in Soolegan and Sadat Abad, respectively. Our results showed that degradation of natural plant cover cause to depletion in the soil P pools. Decreasing the amounts of moderately resistant and resistant P pools led to a decline in soil productivity and fertility.

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Understanding distribution of soil properties at the field scale is important for improving agricultural management practices and for assessing the effects of agriculture on environmental quality. Spatial variability within soil occurs naturally due to pedogenic factors as well as land use and management strategies. The variability of soil properties within fields is often described by classical statistical and geostatistical methods. This research was conducted to study what factors control the spatial variability of soil nutrients using an integration of principal component analysis and geostatistics in Appaipally Village, Andra Pradesh, India. 110 soil samples were randomly collected from 0-30 cm and prepared for laboratory analyses. Total N, available P, Ca, K, Na, Mg, S, B, Mn, Fe, Zn were measured using standard methods. Statistical and geostatistical analysis were then performed on raw data. The results of PCA analysis showed that 4 PC's had Eigen-value of more than 1 and explained 71.64 % of total variance. The results of geostatistical analysis revealed that three PC's had isotropic distribution based on surface variogram. Spherical model was fitted to all PC's. Ranges of model were 288 and 393 m for PC1 and PC3 respectively. On the other hand the range for PC2 was significantly different (877m). The most important elements in PC2 such as Fe, Mn, and Zn probably had similar range of effectiveness (700-900m). The comparison of PC's distributions indicated that PC1 and PC3 including total N, available Mg, K, Cu, Ca and P, were in accordance with farming plots dimensions and management practices. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the appropriate fertilizers used by farmers. The pattern of PC2 distribution was not consistent with farmer's plots, but had the best concordance with soil acidity. Therefore, the most correlated elements with this PC including Fe, Mn, and Zn are mainly controlled by soil acidity and not affected by management practices. However, spatial variability of these elements in areas lower than critical values should be considered for site-specific management.

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Salinization and alkalization are considered spatiotemporal dynamic soil degradation processes. In order to investigate the effects of agricultural activities on land degradation and soil salinity, Shamsabad area in Qom province was selected. Aerial photos (1955) and satellite images (1990-2002) were used to examine the changes in land use. Soil samples were collected from 25 locations in the study area from 0-50 cm and 51-100 cm depth at each location. For comparative purposes, sampling locations in this study were similar to locations used for salinity study in 1983. For each sample, pH, electrical conductivity (ECe), base saturation percentage, exchangeable sodium, lime and texture were measured. Land use and salinity maps were created by using geographic information system (GIS) softwares. Results revealed an increase of 9.5 times in cultivated lands in 47 years. Increase in agricultural activities in the study area has also intensified the pressure on water resource in the area, lowering ground water tables and degrading water quality. In the 0-50 cm soil depth, the average soil ECe was 6.5 dS/m in 1983, which increased to 10.7 dS/m in 2005. If soil salinity trend and pressure on water resources continue, large part of Shamsabad area is expected to change to desert in near future years.

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Organic fertilizers are the sources of many human-pathogenic microorganisms which potentially threaten the human health. This study was carried out to explore the possible effects of soil and manure types on filtration, transport and fate of manure-borne bacteria through undisturbed soil columns. The manure treatments consisted of cow manure, poultry manure and sewage sludge which were distributed at the rate of 10 Mg ha-1 on the surfaces of intact columns of two sandy clay loam and loamy sand soils. The manure-treated soil columns were leached by tap water with similar unsaturated flux of 4.8 cm h-1 up to four pore volumes (PV). The influent and leachate were sampled at different PVs. Gram-negative bacteria concentrations were determined for the influent and the columns’ leachate. Average influent concentration, average effluent concentration, relative filtration, and transported bacteria fraction during the leaching events were determined. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between the poultry manure and the other two manures in terms of average influent (i.e. manure-released) bacteria concentration. Stable structure and preferential pathways facilitated the bacteria movement in the sandy clay loam soil columns. The loamy sand soil strained 1.45 times more bacteria than the sandy clay loam soil due to its weak structure and blocked-dead pores. Relative contamination of the effluent was higher for poultry manure when compared with the other fertilizers. The low ionic strength of sewage sludge suspension caused the lower filtration of bacteria through the soil columns. The high concentration of soluble organics in cow manure resulted in a relative transport of the bacteria 1.12 times greater than the poultry manure. In general, management of organic fertilizers especially household poultry manure, as a considerable source of pathogenic bacteria, is important to control the environmental risks of pathogenic pollutions. Moreover, the soil texture and structure significantly affected the fate of manure-borne bacteria.

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Magnetic susceptibility (χ) measurements are widely used for the evaluation of soil profile development. Fourteen soil profiles were studied in a relatively wide range of climatic conditions in Fars Province. Citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite (CBD) extraction and micro CT-Scan images were used to evaluate the source of magnetic susceptibility. The results showed that soil samples lost 23 to 91 percent of their magnetic susceptibility after CBD extraction (χCBD), reflecting differences in the source (pedogenic or lithogenic) of magnetic susceptibility. Greater values of the decrease were noticed mostly in well developed soil profiles as well as in soil surface. 22 to 89% of the decrease was observed in frequency dependence of magnetic susceptibility (χfd) after CBD extraction. A significant positive correlation (P<0.01) was obtained between χCBD and χfd in the soil studied. Micro CT-Scan images with a spatial resolution of 33 µm showed lithogenic magnetic Fe oxide (magnetite) grains.

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The use of suitable empirical models for estimation of soil erosion and sediment yield is essential because of nonexistence or shortage of associated data in many watersheds. In the present study, the applicability of the USLE and its different versions Viz. MUSLE-S, AOF, MUSLT, MUSLE-E, USLE-M and AUSLE in estimation of storm-wise sediment yield from standard plots installed in dry farming, ploughed and rangeland treatments was evaluated. To conduct the study, the entire input data were collected from plots installed in three replicates in each treatment in Khosbijan Natural Resources Research Station in Arak Township. The models’ estimates were then compared with the observed sediment data for 12 storm events. Contrary to high correlation among different models’ estimates, the models used in estimation of measured sediment data were found inapplicable. However, significant relationship (r=94.4%) and non-significant relationship with correlation coefficients less than 50% were found between MUSLE-E, and MUSLE-S and MUSLE-E estimates and measured data in rangeland, dry farming and ploughed treatments, respectively.

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Forest future depends on forest stands regeneration. Soil is one of the principal capitals in the forest area. It is important to minimize damages to the forest ecosystem during logging operation. In forestry and forest management, it is significant to know the effect of forest logging damages on regeneration, sapling and soil compaction. This study was carried out in Asalem Beech forest area, in the north of Iran. The forest was harvested by selective cutting method. A systematic and randomized sampling method was used for data collection. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques and binomial distribution were used for data analysis. The results showed 14.5 ± 0.99 percent of regeneration and saplings of forest stands were destroyed and damaged by logging operations with 20 m3/ha intensity per year. 9.12 ± 0.83 percent of saplings were totally destroyed and 5.3 ± 0.63 percent were damaged. These damages were caused due to felling, accumulating, skidding and landing. Soil bulk density in range of 0-10 cm depth, logging and skid trails areas were increased 17.54 and 35.61 percent, respectively. To reduce logging damages and soil compaction in forestry, and manage the forest, we need a suitable organization of timber extraction operation, careful designing and standard construction of skid trails on the basis of logging maps before felling the trees down.

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Optimum management of water use in agriculture results in higher cultivated areas or enhances the share of water for municipal and industrial uses leading to economic development of a country. One of the effective methods in optimum water management is irrigation scheduling by using models which simulate water content in soils. In this study, a previously prepared model for irrigation water scheduling was modified to calculate daily effective rain, soil water content and deficiency. The model was applied for winter wheat field in Bajgah area using 13 years of local meteorological data. Furthermore, the effect of water storage in the soil profile on the amount and frequency of irrigation was examined. This model was written in Visual Basic.Net programming software. The model was run under two assumptions: 1) the effective rain compensates water deficiency of soil down to daily root depth and the excess water is assumed as deep percolation (case I) 2) the effective rain compensates water deficiency of soil down to maximum root depth and the excess water is assumed as deep percolation (case II). The results show that the amount and the frequency of irrigation in case 2 is less than case 1. Average amount and number of irrigation events decreased from 706.8 (mm) and 8 in case I to 569.2 and 6.4 in case II. The average relative percentage of effective rain increased from 45.2 % in case I to 76.9% in case II. The effective rain is 108.9 mm and the amount and number of irrigation events is 9 and 757.7 mm, respectively in case I (at probability level of 80%). The effective rain is 236.7 mm and the amount and number of irrigation events is 636.9 mm and 7.2, respectively in case II (at probability level of 50%). The effective rain is 165.6 mm and the amount and number of irrigation events is 712.6 mm 8, respectively in case I. The effective rain is 292.1 mm and the amount and number of irrigation events is 545.1 and 6, respectively in case II.

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Proper evaluation of soil erodibility factor is very important in assessment of soil erosion. In this study, soil erodibility factor (K) was assessed in a zone, 900 km2 in area in Hashtrood, located in a semi-arid region in north west of Iran. Soil erodibility factor was measured at the unit plots under natural rainfall events in 36 different lands in the study area from March 2005 to March 2007. Results indicated that the measured soil erodibility factor K is on average 8.77 times lower than the nomograph-based values in the study area. To achieve a new nomograph, correlation between measured soil erodibility and soil physicochemical properties was studied. Based on the results, soil erodibility factor negatively correlated with coarse sand, clay, organic matter, lime, aggregate stability and permeability, while its correlation with very fine sand and silt was positive. Results of principal component analysis of soil properties and multi-regression analysis showed that the soil erodibility factor is significantly (R2 = 0.92, P < 0.001) related to soil permeability, aggregate stability, lime and coarse sand. A new nomograph with a R2 of 92% was developed based on these properties to easily estimate soil erodibility factor in the study area. The soil erodibility factor can be reliably estimated using the nomograph in all regions with the soil and rain properties similar to those in the study area.

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Soil fertility measures such as cation exchange capacity (CEC) may be used in upgrading soil maps and improving their quality. Direct measurement of CEC is costly and laborious. Indirect estimation of CEC via pedotransfer functions, therefore, may be appropriate and effective. Several delineations of two consociation map units consisting of two soil families, Shahrak series and Chaharmahal series, located in Shahrekord plain were identified. Soil samples were taken from two depths of 0-20 and 30-50 cm and were analyzed for several physico-chemical properties. Clay and organic matter percentages as well as moisture content at -1500 kPa correlated best with CEC. Pedotransfer functions were successfully developed using regression and artificial neural networks. In this research, it seemed that one hidden layer with one node was sufficient for all neural networks models. The best regression model consisting of organic matter and clay variables showed R2=0.81 and RMSE=7.2 while best corresponding neural network with a learning coefficient of 0.3 and an epoch of 40 had R2=0.88 and RMSE=0.34. Data partitioning according to soil series and soil depths increased the accuracy and precision of the functions. Compared to regression, artificial neural network technique gave pedotransfer functions with greater R2 and smaller RMSE.

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Fire is widely used to clear farms in Iran, while there is little information regarding the effects of fire on the characteristics, especially mineralogy of soils. The objectives of the present study were to 1) compare some physico-chemical properties of burned and unburned soils and 2) evaluate minerals transformation in top soil layer resulting from increasing temperature. Soil samples were taken from 0-5 and 5-15 cm depths of two burned places, an agricultural soil from Takht-e-Jamshid area and Bamoo forest, in four replications. Physico-chemical analyses were carried out on burned and unburned samples. X-ray diffraction technique was used to identify minerals of clay fraction in 0-5 cm depth burned and unburned soil, and also to compare transformation of minerals (if any) after heating at 300˚C and 600˚C for 2, 4, 8 and 12 h. Burning increased soil pH and sand sized fraction in 0-5 cm, and P and K in both depths of Bamoo forest. Changes in soil properties of agricultural filed were negligible. XRD analyses showed the reduction in the intensity peaks of chlorite and illite after burning. Lower relative quantity of chlorite and illite was observed in various times of 300˚C treatment in comparison to control, while they were not observed in 8 and 12 h of 600˚C. No change was observed in the peak of quartz in forest and field soils after burning and after various heat treatments.

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Geopedology is a systematic approach of geomorphic analysis for soil mapping that construct field operation mainly upon the work in sample area. The main goal of this research is to determine the effect of location of sample area and expert knowledge on credibility of generalization of the results obtained from geopedological approach for similar landforms in south-east of Borujen area. Upon preparation of primary interpretation map of the study area on air photos (1:20,000 scale), and considering different locations of Pi111 unit that encompasses the maximum surface of the study area, the sample area was planned in three different locations. Then, a second-order soil survey was conducted and final soil map was prepared. Also, two different experts were considered to determine the amount of credibility of generalization of the results obtained through geopedological approach for the mentioned unit. Results showed that changing the location of sample area has taxonomic levels (order, subgroup and/or family) and map unit type (complex and consociation) differences in Pi111 unit. In spite of similarity of the profiles selected by the two experts, soil taxonomies of these profiles were different in comparison with representative pedons (at family level). Therefore, the use of landform phases is recommended to increase the accuracy of geopedological results.

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Although soil organic matter (SOM) constitutes a small portion of soil bulk weight, it has a tremendous effect on physico-chemical and biological properties of soils. It is also one of the most important indicators of soil quality and its production. Soil organic matter determination is required for soil fertility management and soil pollution purposes. Wet oxidation procedure of Walkley-Black is a routine, relatively accurate and popular method for the determination of soil organic matter, but it involves the use of chromate and high cost of analysis. Therefore, loss-on-ignition (LOI) procedure as a simple and cheap method of SOM estimation which also avoids chromic acid waste has got more attention. The aims of this study were (i) to establish the relationships between LOI method and SOM as determined by Walkley-Black method for four major plains of Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiari province and (ii) to determine the optimal temperature of the LOI. To do this, 205 soil surface samples were randomly collected from 0-25 cm depth of Shahrekord, Farsan, Kohrang and Lordegan plains to determine soil organic matter by Walkley-Black method and LOI procedure at 300, 360, 400, 500 and 550 oC for two hours. To determine the optimum temperature for ignition, 40 soil samples were selected to compare the SOM and CCE before and after ignition for each temperature. Results showed a positive, linear significant relationship existed between LOI and wet oxidation in each plain. Coefficient of determination (R2) of the equations was higher for individual plain than the overall equation. Coefficient of determination and line slope decreased and error (RMSE) increased with increasing ignition temperature. At higher contents of calcium carbonate, the rate of line slope decrease with increasing ignition temperature was more noticeable. This may be due to the destruction of carbonates at higher temperature. A temperature of around 360 oC was identified as optimum as it burned most organic carbon, destroyed less inorganic carbon, caused less clay structural water loss and used less electrical energy.

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Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Var. Speedfeed) is a major forage crop in Birjand Region, and phosphorus (P) plays an important role in its nutritional value. During a field campaign, eighty soil samples from the region were collected and analyzed. Among them, 24 samples varying in physico-chemical properties and available P were selected. Five extractants were used for measuring sorghum available P as follows: 1) 0.5 M NaHCO3, pH=8.5, shaken for 30 minutes (Olsen's method), 2) 0.5 M NaHCO3, pH=8.5, shaken for 16 hours (Colwel's method), 3) 0.0025 M Na2-EDTA, pH=7 (EDTA method), 4) 1 M NH4HCO3, 0.005 N DTPA (Soltanpour and Schwab's method), and 5) Water (Paauw's method). A greenhouse experiment using a completely randomized design was carried out with 24 soil samples, two treatments of 0 and 90 mg P/kg soil and three replicates. Results indicated that all five extractants are suitable for prediction of sorghum available phosphorus, but Olson and Paauw's methods are preferable. The results also show ed that the critical levels of soil phosphorus for sorghum by Olsen, Colwel, EDTA, Soltanpour and Schwab and Paauw methods are 17, 24, 14, 7 and 2.5 mg P/kg soil, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that soil pH, clay percentage and organic carbon significantly affected sorghum available phosphorus.

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Geologic and pedologic controls are the main factors determining the behavior of elements in natural soil environments. In order to assess the role of these factors on content and distribution of selected major and trace elements in soil, six parent materials including: phyllite, tonalite, periditite, dolerite, shale and limestone were selected in Fuman-Masule region. Soil genesis and development of representive residual pedons were studied for each parent material and the total content of Si, Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, Ti, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, V and Zn were compared among them. Enrichment/depletion patters of trace elements were assessed using Ti as reference element. Generally, Cr, Ni, Co and V are highest in soils derived from peridotite (984, 285, 53 and 204 mg/kg, respectively) and dolerite (1023, 176, 39 and 185 mg/kg, respectively). In the same way, Si and Al exhibit the features of parent materials in the sense that the lowest content was observed in soils developed on peridotite, dolerite and limestone. Zinc and Pb are highest in soils derived from shale (106 and 27 mg/kg, respectively). In a given pedon, different elements exhibited different enrichment/depletion patterns moreover, a given element may behave differently not only in soils with different parent materials but also, in some cases, in soils developed on similar lithology. Lead, Zn, Cu and Mn have been generally enriched in most pedons, except in some acidic and strongly leached soils, whereas Co, Cr, Fe, Ni and V have been leached, especially from Dystrudepts and Eutrudepts. The latter elements, however, showed enrichment trend in Hapludalfs and Argiudolls parallel to the development of illuvial B horizons.