The Characterization of the Arifiye peat

There is a fortune of the peat resources in Turkey, particularly around Lake Sapanca in Sakarya. There has been increasingly attention to peatlands in technological uses and agricultural applications. The Arifiye peat is a new resource. It needs to be elucidated by characterization of its chemical and physical properties. The objective of this study was to characterize a number of samples collected from fifteen different profiles of the peat (sapric) by measuring cation exchange capacity, water holding capacity, humic acid, fulvic acid, organic matter, organic carbon. In addition, the spectroscopic analysis suggested that the functional groups and molecular structure of the Arifiye peat resemble those of peatlands described previously in the literature

AVAILABLE AMMONIUM AND NITRATE LEVELS OF HIGHLAND SOIL ORDERS IN TURKEY AT DIFFERENT FREEZE-THAW CYCLES

Turkey has diverse climate zones and therefore, number of the freeze-thaw process (FTCS) varies from one region to another. The number is increasing especially in high shear and cold regions and such cycles have significant impacts on available nutrients for plants. The present study was carry out with 5 major soil groups (Vertisol, Chernozem, Andosol, Leptosol and Calcisol) under field conditions to determine the effects of repeated freeze-thaw processes on available nitrogen (ammonium and nitrate) (NH4-N and NO3-N) levels of the soils. Five different nitrogen doses (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg kg(-1)) were applied to 5 major soil groups in three replications. While the first freeze-thaw process usually increased the ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, the second and further freeze-thaw processes usually reduced available N contents of soils for plants. Current findings revealed that available NH4-N and NO3-N levels greatly depended on number of freeze-thaw cycles and increasing number of cycles decreased available soil nitrogen levels for plants, thus required higher nitrogen fertilizer levels to supply sufficient nitrogen during the plant-growth periods

Nutrient concentrations and nutrient ratios of rhododendron ponticum litter along an elevational gradient

WOS:000341557900001Litter is an important component of organic matter replenishment. Rhododendron ponticum L. is an important understory deciduous shrub species of Fagus orientalis Lipsky Forests in the Western Black Sea region. The goal of this study is to determine the effects of altitude and slope on deciduous litter traits. The relationships between litter and soil traits were also investigated with the help of numerical methods. We found that litter and soil traits were significantly changed along the elevational gradient. We also found that C (carbon) and N (nitrogen) concentrations and the C/N ratio of R. ponticum litter were lower than that of other Rhododendron species. The C/N ratios were lower at 400 m, while gradually increasing along the elevational gradient. The C/P ratio of R. ponticum litter was found to be rather high