MECHANICAL COMPOSITION AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CALCOMELANOSOLS AND CALCOCAMBISOLS ON THE JABLANICA MOUNTAIN

Differences in mechanical composition of two soil types on hard limestone and its subtypes were investigated in order to get closer look on variability and dynamics of this soil property over long period of pedogenesis of these soils. Soils on hard limestones on Jablanica Mountain were select as a case study. During the field survey campaign on different locations 18 basic soil profiles of calcomelanosols were excavated, with the following subtypes: organogenic (5) organomineral (12) and brownized (1) and 4 soil profiles calcocambisols with a typical subtype. Field survey and laboraotry testing was implemented according standard methods adopted in our country and the Former Yugoslavia. Clay content is generally high and increases from organogenic subtype towards brownized calcomelanosols and calcocambisols subtypes. During the process of evolution of the calcomelanosols into brownized calcomelanosols and calcocambisols, the content of soil organic matter decreases. The fine earth of examined soil samples usually is non-carbonate, but in a limited number of soil samples a very small quantities of CaCO3 were detected. In terms of its soil reaction, the examined soils can be classified into three categories (very strongly acid, moderately acid and neutral). The content of total nitrogen in the examined soils is high and vary in the ranges of 0.211.95% in calcomelanosols and 0.31-0.56% for hor. A and 0.18-0.27 for hor. (B)rz of the calcocambisols. The examined soil samples are with low content of easy available phosphorus and optimal content of potassium

Spatial assessment of the soil organic carbon content under different types of land use in the Ohrid valley

Spatial assessment of key soil properties is a basic prerequisite for the evidence-based decision making and sustainable use and management of soil. The aim of this work was to estimate the spatial distribution of SOC under different types of land use, by the means of Digital Soil Mapping techniques. A site-specific soil data collection for the Ohrid valley was integrated with continuous and discrete datasets of environmental covariates, serving as predictors. The selected test area outlines the variability of factors influencing the SOC content and spatial distribution. Soil sampling locations were randomly distributed within a predefined mesh with a 1-sq.km spatial resolution and further stratified to outline different types of land use within each mash square. Soil samples were collected from 93 locations at three depths, each 20 cm apart, covering the total area of 10 thousand ha of arable land, forestland, and land under natural vegetation. A set of additional environmental dataset was collected, namely the soil map, land use map, geology map, digital terrain model and its derivatives, satellite images, climate data, as well as a set of indices NDVI, SAVI, BI etc., developed from the remote sensing datasets. Multiple linear regression was used for evaluating the regression pattern between the environmental predictors and the target variable. To estimate spatial variability, several regression tree methods were used. The results obtained using this approach have given a better spatial overview of the most vulnerable areas regarding SOC depletion. Out of 21 locations examined, the content of soil organic carbon in the top layer (0-20 cm.) of forestland was on average 6.81%, while at 22 locations examined under grassland, the average content was 4.07%. The arable land, which is under continuous human impact, had the lowest content of SOC of 2.5% under field crops and 2.61% under perennials

CONTENT OF HEAVY METALS IN RIGOSOLS FROM THE AREA OF VELES

The scope of the investigations was to determine the quantity of total forms (Cu, Mn and Zn) and available forms of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) in rigosols from the area of Veles. Digestion of soil samples was performed with concentrated HCl and HNO3 in a 3:1 ratio. The available forms of heavy metals were extracted with the DTPA method. Determination of the content was performed on atomic absorption spectrophotometer Agilent 55. The results of the investigation showed that the total zinc contents in all soil samples were lower than the reference value. Total copper content in 3 soil samples is lower than the reference values, while in 5 soil samples had higher contents than reference value, but much lower than intervention value. Total manganese content is lower than the maximum allowed concentration for agricultural soils. The quantities of available copper are in the ranges of low to very high, of iron and zinc is between very low to medium, while of manganese between low to high

Green manure as a way of organic produced carrot (Daucus carota L. cv. Nantes)

During October 2003 to August 2004 has been study with winter common vetch Vicia satiua L. cv. NS Sirmium. Early spring plowing of plots and "green manure" practicing enabled soil organic fertilization. On the same plots were set up carrot cv. Nantes compared with control. Soil samples were taken before common vetch sowing, after its decomposition and first carrot gathering. Carrot quality is evaluated through chemical analyzing of carbohydrates, protein and vitamin C content. Resulted of "green manuring" soil humus, nitrogen, light available phosphorous and potassium were larger. Number of carrot plants (39.27). dimensions (20.75 cmx2.07 cm), weight (59.88 g) and extracted sap (22.18 ml per plant) after Ist gathering are an average increased and yield per plant as well yield in total. Except extracted sap all investigated mentioned parameters were continue gained after the 2nd gathering (23.22 cmx2.69-dimensions. 62.44 g-weight. 18.45-extracted sap). Carbohydrate content is higher at organic produced carrot (20.15 %/100 g d.m.-total; 7.48 %/100 g d.m). protein either less as well (10.56 %/100 g d.m) and vitamin C significantly 3.41 %/100 g f.m then control 2.47 %/100 g f.m

Green manure as a Tool of organic produced potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Amorosa)

During September 2003 to August 2004 has been done study with winter common vetch Vicia sativa L. cv. MS Sirmium as pre-culture of followed vegetables. After "green manure" practicing on the same plots were set up potato cv. Amorosa. Soil samples were taken before common vetch sowing, after its decomposition and carrot. Carrot quality was established through chemical analyzing of total and soluble carbohydrates, vitamin C and proteins compared with control. Resulted by "green manure" soil humus, soil nitrogen, light available soil phosphorous and potassium are larger. After Ist gathering potato dimensions are characterized with increased average dimensions, yield per plant and yield in total as well. Total carbohydrate content at manure plots is amounted 17.02 %/100 mg d.m. that means 33.45 %/100 g d.m. increasing compared with control ones, while soluble content is 3.24 %/100 g d.m. and recorded 11.72%/100 g d.m. even. Protein content is increased for 4.22 %/100 g d.m. at green manure plots, differs of vitamin C content that is not higher compared with control and corresponded with literature data. Analyzed parameters are increased as result of potato tendency of soil potassium using

Copper monitoring in vineyard soils of the Tikvesh region, North Macedonia

This research studies the copper contents in vineyard soils under vineyards affected by the long-term use of copper-based fungicides and evaluates the extent of this influence on the super accumulation in the main viniculture growing regions in North Macedonia. The soil samples were taken from individual vineyards located in the Tikvesh region, from two depths: 0-30 and 30-60 cm. At the same time, control samples were collected from each of the visited sites. The control samples were taken from untreated nearby locations under natural conditions in order to determine the background concentrations. The available copper (Cu) contents were analysed on soil samples taken from 100 locations, 50 of which represent vineyard soils (organic and conventional farming) and 50 control samples from nearby forests and sites. The main finding is that the average available copper concentrations are significantly higher in soils under vineyards, compared to the background concentration in control samples, especially in these with organic farming where the use of coper-based fungicides is more intensive. A comparison of the copper contents in vineyards to the background concentrations of control samples clearly confirmed the anthropogenic influence. A significantly very high level of copper (10.70-18.77 mg/kg) was measured in the soil samples from organic farming. The control samples contained a significantly lower concentration of copper, between average 1.39-1.62 mg/kg (0-30 cm) and 0.68-0.88 mg/kg (30-60 cm). According to the micronutrient rating as related to a soil test with the DTPA extraction reagent (Jones, 2001) applied in this study, a significant potential ecological risk has been noticed in the agricultural soil samples (organic and conventional production)

The influence of several characteristic on the yield of flax seed Linum usitatissimum L.

The main objective of three-year experiments was (0 appraise influence of several characteristics on the seed yield of flax - Linum usitatissimum L. The research material is consisting of the following varieties: belan, belinka. duferin , viking and domestic population velusina. We examinate: duration of the vegetation period. the hight of the plants. number of capsules per plant. weight of the seed per plant and appsolute weight of the seed. According from the results which we obtaition between yield of the seed and mention characteristics. Exemption is hight of the plants who show negative value . From the yield of the seed we conclude significant statistical differences on the 0.01% level between be lan, duferin. viking and vclusina comparing with variety belinka which gave the lowest production. Between the others statistical differences does not exist. Collection data has been statistically analysed by method analysis of variance on the two factors experiments and checked by LSD - Test

Distribution of cobalt in soil from Kavadarci and the environs

The results of the study of spatial distribution of cobalt in surface soil and subsoil over of the Kavadarci region, Republic of Macedonia, are reported. From the investigated region (360 km2) in total 344 soil samples from 172 locations were collected. At each sampling point soil samples were collected at two depths, topsoil (0–5 cm) and subsoil soil (20–30 cm). Inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied for the determination of cobalt. Data analysis and construction of the map were per- formed using the Paradox (ver. 9), Statistica (ver. 6.1), AutoDesk Map (ver. 2008) and Surfer (ver. 8.09) software. It was found that for both topsoil and subsoil the median and average values are 15 mg/kg, ranges between 6.7 and 58 mg/kg. The highest content of cobalt is present in the soil from the area of Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks (Pz-Mz) on the western part of the investigated area and Flysch (E) – Eocene upper flysch zone (on the northern part) and the lowest in the soils from the Holocene alluvium of the rivers Crna Reka and Vardar. There are no significant differences between the surface and subsoil in terms of its average quan- tities. It was found that the critically high contents are related primarily to high contents of cobalt in the sam- pling points from the western part of the investigated region. The contents of cobalt are higher in subsoil than in topsoil from which it can be concluded that the occurrence is natural

Geochemical Atlas of Kavadarci and the Environs

The subject of this study is to present the results of a first systematic study of spatial distribution of different chemical elements in surface soil over of the Kavadarci region known for its ferro-nickel industrial activity in the nearest past.There were several investigation of soil, vegetables and fruits produced in this region known but they were mainly concerned with contamination by nickel, iron, cobalt and chromium. Other elements were not determined though it is known that the minerals of many other heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Sb, Se, etc.) are present in iron-nickel ores used for the production of nickel in the smelter plants. The study on the atmospheric deposition of trace metals over the entire territory of the Republic of Macedonia identified the most polluted areas and characterize different pollution sources. However, it was found that the most important sources of trace metal deposition are ferrous and non-ferrous smelters including the area of Kavadarci and its surroundings. For this reason, the goal of this work was to determine the content of 36 major and trace elements in the soil from the the town og Kavadarci and its surroundings and to assess the size of the ferronickel smelter plant situated near the town

Distribution of Cobalt in Soil from Кavadarci and the Environs

The results of the study of spatial distribution of cobalt in surface soil and subsoil over of the Kavadarci region, Republic of Macedonia, are reported. From the investigated region (360 km2) in total 344 soil samples from 172 locations were collected. At each sampling point soil samples were collected at two depths, topsoil (0–5 cm) and subsoil soil (20–30 cm). Inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied for the determination of cobalt. Data analysis and construction of the map were performed using the Paradox (ver. 9), Statistica (ver. 6.1), AutoDesk Map (ver. 2008) and Surfer (ver. 8.09) software. It was found that for both topsoil and subsoil the median and average values are 15 mg/kg, ranges between 6.7 and 58 mg/kg. The highest content of cobalt is present in the soil from the area of Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks (Pz-Mz) on the western part of the investigated area and Flysch (E) – Eocene upper flysch zone (on the northern part) and the lowest in the soils from the Holocene alluvium of the rivers Crna Reka and Vardar. There are no significant differences between the surface and subsoil in terms of its average quantities. It was found that the critically high contents are related primarily to high contents of cobalt in the sampling points from the western part of the investigated region. The contents of cobalt are higher in subsoil than in topsoil from which it can be concluded that the occurrence is natural