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

Mersin-Gülnar Mevkiinde Meşe ve Dişbudak Topraklarında Karbon ve Azot İçeriğinin Kıyaslanması

iriş: Mersin'in Gülnar ilçesi 1300-1500 rakımlı Küllin mevkiindeki Quercus cerris ve Fraxinus exce/sior'un 0-10 cm derinliğinden alınan toprak örneklerinin pH değerleri, kireç oranları ile karbon ve azot içerikleri kıyaslanmıştır. Doğal orman ekosistemlerindeki toprakların karbon içeriğinin enlem ve yükseklik ile arttığı ve farklı bitki türlerinin topraklarında C/N oranının büyük ölçüde farklılık gösterdiği bilinmektedir. Gülnar Gezende ormanlarında Q. cerris ve F. exce/sior topraklarının C/N oranları bu yükseklikte ilk kez belirlenmiştir. Materyal ve Metot: Topraklarda pH değerleri pH metre, CaCOs düzeyleri Scheibler kalsimetresi, organik içeriği (%C) Anne metodu, toplam içeriği (%N) Kjeldahl metodu ile belirlenmiştir. Bulgular: İki türün toprakları arasında pH ve azot değerlerinde önemli ayrım yok iken, Q. cerris toprağı orta kireçli, F. excelsior toprağı ise az kireçli bulunmuştur. C/N oranları ve karbon içeriği Q. cerris toprağında F. excelsior toprağına oranla oldukça yüksek olup aralarında istatistiksel olarak önemli ayrım vardır (P<0.05). Sonuç: Karbon içeriğinin Quercus cerris toprağında daha yüksek olması mikroklima, bakı, tür özelliği ğibi faktörlere bağlı olarak Quercus organik maddesinin toprağa daha çok karışmasıyla açıklanabilir.iriş: Mersin’in Gülnar ilçesi 1300-1500 rakımlı Küllin mevkiindeki Quercus cerris ve Fraxinus exce/sior’un 0-10 cm derinliğinden alınan toprak örneklerinin pH değerleri, kireç oranları ile karbon ve azot içerikleri kıyaslanmıştır. Doğal orman ekosistemlerindeki toprakların karbon içeriğinin enlem ve yükseklik ile arttığı ve farklı bitki türlerinin topraklarında C/N oranının büyük ölçüde farklılık gösterdiği bilinmektedir. Gülnar Gezende ormanlarında Q. cerris ve F. exce/sior topraklarının C/N oranları bu yükseklikte ilk kez belirlenmiştir. Materyal ve Metot: Topraklarda pH değerleri pH metre, CaCOs düzeyleri Scheibler kalsimetresi, organik içeriği (%C) Anne metodu, toplam içeriği (%N) Kjeldahl metodu ile belirlenmiştir. Bulgular: İki türün toprakları arasında pH ve azot değerlerinde önemli ayrım yok iken, Q. cerris toprağı orta kireçli, F. excelsior toprağı ise az kireçli bulunmuştur. C/N oranları ve karbon içeriği Q. cerris toprağında F. excelsior toprağına oranla oldukça yüksek olup aralarında istatistiksel olarak önemli ayrım vardır (P<0.05). Sonuç: Karbon içeriğinin Quercus cerris toprağında daha yüksek olması mikroklima, bakı, tür özelliği ğibi faktörlere bağlı olarak Quercus organik maddesinin toprağa daha çok karışmasıyla açıklanabilir

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

DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METAL ACCUMULATION IN WATER, SEDIMENT AND SMARTWEED (POLYGONUM AMPHIBIUM) FROM SARIMSAKLI DAM LAKE (KAYSERI-TURKEY)

In this study, the plant Polygonum amphibium, sediment samples surrounding it and water were collected from Kayseri-Sarimsakli, and their heavy metal contents (Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb and Cd), certain sediment characteristics and C and N contents in the plant organs were determined. The accumulation of heavy metals were ranked as Zn>Cu>Ni>Cr>Pb>Cd in the root and shoot of the plant; Ni>Cr>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd in the sediment; and Cu>Zn>Ni in the water samples. Heavy metals accumulated in the root at a higher concentration than the shoot. The heavy metal concentrations in the water samples were determined to be below the criteria value. Threshold set by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Ni content of the sediment was above the threshold concentration, the Cr was above the low concentration and the other metals were determined to be below the low concentration. It was found that the total organic carbon (TOC) contents of the sediment samples varied between 0.88-2.81%. According to the correlation analysis, there was a negative correlation between TOC and Ni, and no correlation was found with the other metals. Furthermore, a positive relationship was observed between Cr and silt as well as TOC and sand; whereas, a negative relationship was observed between clay and sand