Soil organic matter mineralization under different temperatures and moisture conditions in Kızıldağ Plateau, Turkey

Drought by climate change in East Mediterranean Region will change soil temperature and moisture that lead to alter the cycling of biological elements like carbon and nitrogen. However, there are few studies that show how sensitivity of soil organic matter mineralization to temperature and/or moisture can be modified by changes in these parameters. In order to study how these changes in temperature and moisture affect soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization, a laboratory experiment was carried out in two depths (0-5 and 5-15 cm) of soils of Onobrychis beata and Trifolium speciosum being common annual plants in Turkey that was taken from Kızıldag Plataeu (Adana city). Some soil physical and chemical properties and as well as rate of carbon and nitrogen mineralizations were determined for both depths of soils. These soils were incubated for 42 days under different field capacities (FC 60, 80 and 100%) and temperatures (24, 28 and 32°C). Cumulative carbon mineralization (Cm), potential mineralizable carbon (C0) and rate of carbon mineralization of all soils were increased with rising temperatures. Rate of carbon mineralization in O. beata soil were lower than T. speciosum soil. NH4-N and NO3-N contents at 42nd day were higher than initial levels of soils and also increased with temperatures and field capacities. In summary, sensitivity of soil organic matter mineralization to temperature was higher at 32°C in upper layer and lower at 24°C in deeper layer of both soils

Comparison of the Effects of Tannin and Azadirachtin on Carbon Mineralization in Soils of Quercus coccifera from Eastern Mediterranean Region

WOS: 000311128800006In this study, organic matter mineralization was studied in the Quercus coccifera (Kermes oak, Fagaceae) soils mixed with Quercus leaves having high tannin content, Melia azedarach (Neem tree, Meliaceae) leaves and fruits having high azadirachtin content, pure tannin and pure azadirachtin. Carbon mineralization of all samples was determined by the CO2, respiration method over 30 days (28 degrees C and 80% of field capacity). Addition of equal (1x) and half (1/2x) amounts of soil carbon containing leaves of both plants to soils separately increased microbial activity The increase in microbial activity was higher in 1x leaves added soil compared with 1/2x leaves added soil and was only significant in lx Melia leaves added soil compared with control (P= 0.05) whereas the difference between the Melia leaves added (1/2x; lx) soils was significant (P <0,001). It was determined that the carbon mineralization rates (%) of Quercus soil mixed with pure tannin and pure azadirachtin showed similar behaviours. When amounts of pure tannin and pure azadirachtin were increased, this rates reduced. Based on the results obtained from the findings of this study, it was determined that microorganisms used tannin and azadirachtin as carbon sources and preferred to use azadirachtin rather than tannin

Influence of Two Different Parent Materials and Plants on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization in a Mediterranean Climate

WOS: 000365459000007The aim of this study is to investigate C and N mineralization of soils with Ceratonia siliqua (Fabaceae) and Pinus pinea (Pinaceae) growing on two different parent materials derived from conglomerate and marl in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Carbon (C) mineralization was measured with the CO2 respiration method at 28 C over 30 days. The nitrogen (N) mineralization was also measured in vitro both in the soils with the two parent materials of Ceratonia and Pinus under controlled conditions (42 days, 28 C and 80% of field capacity). There were significant differences between the two parent materials for both Ceratonia and Pinus in terms of the carbon mineralization ratio (%) in all sampling periods except for July 2012 for Ceratonia. These results might be clarified with the effects of different parent materials and plants. Interactions between incubation time, incubation time x plant were significant (P= 0.007 and P= 0.001 levels), respectively for the microbial respiration. The contents of NO3-N were higher than those of NH4-N in all soils. With these results it might be explained that environmental factors in both soils for NO3-N are quite suitable for the microbial activities of both Pinus and especially Ceratonia.Research and Application Centers of Cukurova University, TurkeyCukurova University [FEF2012D16]This study was funded by the Research and Application Centers of Cukurova University, Turkey under the Project No: FEF2012D16

BIOBED: PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT FROM PESTICIDE CONTAMINATION DURING FILLING AND CLEANING OF SPRAYER

37th International Symposium of Agricultural Engineering -- FEB 10-13, 2009 -- Opatija, CROATIAWOS: 000266236400018Pesticides, which are used to control pests, are harmful for non-target organisms. Especially, during filling and cleaning of sprayer is important for point source contamination of pesticide. In UK, Germany and Sweden, 20-70% pesticide load in surface water catchments is derived from point sources. For protecting environment from pesticide contamination during filling and cleaning of sprayer can he reduced by using biobed, which contains straw, peat, and soil. The effectiveness, cheapness and simplicity of the biobed make it suitable for protecting environment. Generally, numbers of biobed increase year by year in the world. This study presents the information about biobed, its uses in world and Turkey. The first study about biobed was started in 2007 in Turkey.Minist Znanosti Obrazov, Sporta Republike Hrvatske, Same Deutz Fahr Zetelice, Poljonova, Gramip TPS, AGRIA, Agromehanika, INA, Agrogrom, SIP, Stepco, Agromarketin

Is parent material an important factor in soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization ?

WOS: 000451499300008Conversion of rocks and organic inputs to parent material and soil is a dynamic process controlled by physical, chemical and biological factors. Soil samples were taken from different parent materials (gypsum, marl and serpentine) in Ankara, Turkey to observe how the properties of parent material reflect on some soil characteristics. Their carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization were respectively determined by CO2 respiration method and the Parnas-Wagner method under the controlled laboratory conditions for 42 days (28 degrees C, 80% of field capacity). Soil CO2 respiration showed that there were significant differences between each parent material after 42 days of incubation as following: marl > gypsum > serpentine. Soil C mineralization rate in marl was the highest among the other two soils. NH4-N contents and net N mineralization of soils were significantly highest at the 11th day compared to 26th and 42nd days in all soil types (P < 0.05). NO3-N contents were statistically different from each other in the serpentine soil at all of three times (P < 0.05). Generally, no significant differences were found between soils in all N mineralization parameters in each time of incubation. Our findings showed that soil carbon mineralization was affected by the differences in parent materials, their physical and chemical properties such as texture, pH, CaCO3, C and N contents. It can be concluded that response of soil microorganisms in carbon mineralization is more active than in nitrogen mineralization in all soil types due to a low nitrogen content