Water holding properties and soil water types in fine textured Vertisol soils of Thrace region in Turkey

The study was carried out on 16 selected model soil profiles, located on lands covered with soils exhibiting vertic properties in Thrace Region of Turkey. Different horizons and/or sub-horizons of 16 characteristic soil profiles were evaluated in field or laboratory conditions in terms of water holding capacity and water types properties. Total of 105 soil samples were analyzed for routine physical characteristics. Soil water holding capacity was determined applying negative potentials (Ψ) of -0.33 bar, -15.5 bar and -31.5 bar (pF 2.54; 4.2 and 4.5), using a pressure-membrane extraction apparatus. In addition to gravitational, available, unavailable and hygroscopic soil water types, the soil samples were investigated also in terms of crystal-lattice water content. The highest amounts of the listed water types were determined in soils of Büyük Mandira, Türkgeldi and Seymen containing the highest rates of smectite clay mineral. The mass percentage (Pw) rates of the mentioned water types of the investigated profies varied in the ranges of 29.1–66.3%, 10–2.15%, 22.0–32.4%, 6.0–9.0% and 5.6–8.6%, respectively. Though the mass percentages of enumerated water types in the soils of Osmanli and Yeni Mahalle, all owning high sand and lower clay content on the other hand, are between 28.9–40.6%, 6.1–15.5%, 7.4–16.8%, 2.4–4.8% and 1.7–4.4%, respectively

Inherited smectitic nodules in basaltic soils

Four soil pits formed on Tertiary basalts surrounding the Karacadag Mountain (Diyarbakir) were investigated. Clay mineral analyses by XRD, IR and SEM of the four profiles revealed presence of abundant smectite increasing with depth towards the basaltic parent materials. Thin sections of basalts as well as light fractions of the fine sand size minerals (50-100 µm) showed existence of somewhat impregnated pure clays as nodules formed in vesicles. The nodules were proved to be dioctahedral smectite, and their colours under reflected light as stereoscopic magnification and naked eye were red (2.5 YR 5/8). The smectite nodules were determined to be incorporated probably by shrinkage and swelling of the soil matrix, indicating the continual change of physical and chemical properties of basaltic soils. -Author

An assessment of land resource consumption in relation to land degradation in Turkey

WOS: 000165792200003

The anthroscape approach in sustainable land use

The final outcomes of the approach of the anthroscape, seeking to develop a powerful tool for use by the local communities/administrations and relevant bodies for a bottom to top approach, as a quantified entity, means to direct the future land and water use decisions to be taken at lower levels - as farm domains etc. - leading to the development of an Anthroscape Land Quality Class map and the relevant Ideal Land Use Patterns of the Seyhan Anthroscape. These two final products of quantification are sought to be capable in revealing the magnitude and the distribution of the degradation of the selected area, as well as allocating the ideal land use types given for the percentages of the distributions of land except their specific location. In this context, the downstream part of the map will show the abundant degradation arising via the intensive cultivation practices where the class stated in the map reveals the urgent need of an integrated SLWM Programme to revert the lower class C and D ALQCs to higher ALQCs to meet the requirements of the sustainable use of the land. Whereas, the higher ALQC land in the transition or upstream zone stands for higher resilience and lower input requirements to meet the ideal use of the land. The Net Primary Production (NPP) - The remainder of photosynthesis and respiration - which has significance in the global and regional carbon budgets and is a function of the standing biomass (an important component of the carbon cycle and a key indicator of ecosystem performance) was utilized via land cover and management to serve as a supplementary indicator of the Anthroscape and the Anthroscape Land Quality. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

The Anthroscape Approach in Sustainable Land Use

The final outcomes of the approach of the anthroscape, seeking to develop a powerful tool for use by the local communities/administrations and relevant bodies for a bottom to top approach, as a quantified entity, means to direct the future land and water use decisions to be taken at lower levels - as farm domains etc. - leading to the development of an Anthroscape Land Quality Class map and the relevant Ideal Land Use Patterns of the Seyhan Anthroscape. These two final products of quantification are sought to be capable in revealing the magnitude and the distribution of the degradation of the selected area, as well as allocating the ideal land use types given for the percentages of the distributions of land except their specific location. In this context, the downstream part of the map will show the abundant degradation arising via the intensive cultivation practices where the class stated in the map reveals the urgent need of an integrated SLWM Programme to revert the lower class C and D ALQCs to higher ALQCs to meet the requirements of the sustainable use of the land. Whereas, the higher ALQC land in the transition or upstream zone stands for higher resilience and lower input requirements to meet the ideal use of the land. The Net Primary Production (NPP) - The remainder of photosynthesis and respiration which has significance in the global and regional carbon budgets and is a function of the standing biomass (an important component of the carbon cycle and a key indicator of ecosystem performance) was utilized via land cover and management to serve as a supplementary indicator of the Anthroscape and the Anthroscape Land Quality