Since 1936 National Park Service has been charged with preserving Civil War Earthworks while allowing public access. Soil erosion, both natural and human-induced, is a major concern facing the preservation of the earthworks. Currently, the National Park Service is committed to preserving these earthworks for future generations by determining which maintenance activities cause the least soil erosion. This study was undertaken to determine which management practice; burned, mowed, park-forest, forested, or trimmed, best minimized soil erosion. A secondary objective was to determine how several empirical formulas (e.g. Universal Soil Loss Equation) and one field estimate (e.g. erosion pins) compared soil erosion trends for the 5 treatments. A third objective of this study was to gather information regarding the soil development which has occurred during the 135 + years since the earthworks were constructed. Earthworks managed by prescribed burning suffered the greatest erosion rates while the forested earthworks eroded the least. The trimmed and mowed management regimes were not significantly different and would provide adequate erosion protection while the forested treatment had significantly less erosion. Based on the empirical models, erosion was primarily a function of ground cover; on the other hand, rain intensity was highly influential for erosion as measured by the erosion pins. All of the erosion estimation methods concurred that the burned treatment should be avoided due to the high erosion rates while the erosion pins indicated that the park-forest treatment could potentially have erosion problems as well. Soil profile descriptions from the earthworks revealed that A horizon depths on the earthworks were not significantly different then the A horizons found on the relatively undisturbed adjacent forest floor and that subsurface soil structure has begun to develop on earthwork soils. / Master of Science

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Michel D. Ransom / Soil is a dynamic resource that can undergo many changes due to altering conditions (Tugel et al., 2005). With that, humans can have a great effect on the conditions of a landscape and contribute to soil change. As soils change, the function of soils can be altered which would affect the ability of soils to support ecosystem services. The objective of this thesis is to access how management affects dynamic and inherent soil properties in western Kansas soils. Eight sites in Sheridan County, KS mapped as Keith 1-3% slopes (fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Argiustolls) were described and sampled. Of the eight sites, four are in ST (ST) management and four are in no-till (NT) management. All sites have been irrigated under center pivot irrigation systems since the 1970s. Soil samples of the A horizon were taken at each site to analyze total carbon, aggregate stability, bulk density, pH and microbial respiration to assess the impacts of tillage management on dynamic soil properties. Additionally, pedons were described from the ST sites in the irrigated areas as well as outside the pivot track to represent dryland conditions. Particle size data, field descriptions, and the micromorphology of thin sections were analyzed to determine if the classification of Keith soils are affected by irrigation. Significant differences between NT and ST management were seen in microbial respiration, select water stable aggregate sizes, and pH and bulk density at certain depths. It was also found that irrigation did not affect clay illuviation nor carbonate leaching. Overall, it was concluded that inherent soil properties such as soil map unit composition and parent material can have a greater impact on soil change and prevent the recognition of changes in soil properties over a human time scale.

No description available.

Licentiatavhandling (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

Resumo: Os atributos mineralógicos e físicos possuem dependência espacial e a distribuição espacial destes atributos possui relação com as formas do relevo. O objeto deste trabalho foi avaliar os atributos mineralógicos da fração argila e os atributos físicos de um argissolo em curvaturas do relevo, assim como avaliar a correlação entre esses atributos. Uma malha de dimensão 100 x 100 m foi delimitada em uma área caracterizada pela forma convexa e outra pela fôrma côncava. As malhas possuem espaçamento regular de 10 x 10 m e os pontos de cruzamento deste espaçamento determinaram os pontos de coleta das amostras, num total de 121 pontos amostrais georreferenciados em cada malha. Os atributos físicos foram avaliados nas profundidades 0,0- 0,2 e 0,2-0,4 m e os atributos mineralógicos na profundidade 0,0- 0,2 m. Os atributos físicos analisados foram diâmetro médio ponderado, diâmetro médio geométrico, agregados maiores que 2 mm, agregados entre 2 e 1 mm , agregados menores que 1 mm, microporos, macroporos, volume total de poros, densidade do solo, resistência do solo à penetração e teor de água no solo, já os atributos mineralógicos da fração argila foram largura a meia altura, diâmetro médio do cristal dos óxidos de ferro, da caulinita e gibbsita, substituição isomórfica e área de superfície específica da hematita e goethita. Os teores da goethita e hematita e razão goethita/(goethita+hematita) e razão caulinita/(caulinita+gibbsita) também foram calculados. Os dados foram submetidos às análises estatísticas e geoestatísticas para avaliação da variabilidade espacial e influência das curvaturas nestes atributos. Para avaliação da relação entre os atributos da mineralogia e físicos realizaram-se as análises de correlação simples e espacial. Os atributos físicos e mineralógicos apresentaram-se dependentes das curvaturas do relevo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The mineralogicals and physical attributes have spatial dependence and the distribution of these attributes has relation with the forms of relief. The object of this study was to evaluate the attributes of clay mineralogy and the physical attributes of an argissol in curvatures of relief, as well as assess the correlation between these attributes. A grid size of 100 x 100 meters was defined in an area characterized by the convex shape and another in an area characterized by the concave shape. The grids have regular spacing of 10 x 10 m and the spacing of the points of intersection determine the points of collection of samples, a total of 121 georeferenced sample points in each grid. The physical attributes were evaluated in depth from 0.0 - 0.2 and 0.2 -0.4 m and the mineralogical attributes in depth 0,00-0,20 m. The physical attributes were analyzed: mean weight diameter, mean geometric diameter, aggregates larger than 2 mm, aggregates between 2 and 1 mm, aggregates smaller than 1 mm, microporosity, macroporosity, total porosity, bulk density, penetration resistance and water content in soil. The attributes of minerals were: width at half height, average diameter of crystals of iron oxides and kaolinite and gibbsite and isomorphic substitution and specific surface area of hematite and goethite. The contents of goethite and hematite and ratio goethite / (goethite + hematite) [Gt / (Gt + Hm)] and ratio kaolinite / (kaolinite + gibbsite) [Ct / (Ct + Gb)] were also calculated. Data were subjected to statistical and geostatistical analysis to evaluate the spatial variability and influence of these curvatures on these attributes. To assess the relation between mineralogy and physical attributes simple and spation correlation analysis where made. The physical and mineralogical attributes and depend on the curvature of the relief. There was also the influence of crystallinity of goethite and gibbsite in soil physical. / Orientador: José Marques Júnior / Coorientador: Gener Tadeu Pereira / Banca: Marcílio Vieira Martins Filho / Banca: Zigomar Menezes de Souza / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:37:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 camargo_la_me_jabo.pdf: 1106150 bytes, checksum: d8d5b3f2596351c9b11f923ae4b5fc44 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Os atributos mineralógicos e físicos possuem dependência espacial e a distribuição espacial destes atributos possui relação com as formas do relevo. O objeto deste trabalho foi avaliar os atributos mineralógicos da fração argila e os atributos físicos de um argissolo em curvaturas do relevo, assim como avaliar a correlação entre esses atributos. Uma malha de dimensão 100 x 100 m foi delimitada em uma área caracterizada pela forma convexa e outra pela fôrma côncava. As malhas possuem espaçamento regular de 10 x 10 m e os pontos de cruzamento deste espaçamento determinaram os pontos de coleta das amostras, num total de 121 pontos amostrais georreferenciados em cada malha. Os atributos físicos foram avaliados nas profundidades 0,0- 0,2 e 0,2-0,4 m e os atributos mineralógicos na profundidade 0,0- 0,2 m. Os atributos físicos analisados foram diâmetro médio ponderado, diâmetro médio geométrico, agregados maiores que 2 mm, agregados entre 2 e 1 mm , agregados menores que 1 mm, microporos, macroporos, volume total de poros, densidade do solo, resistência do solo à penetração e teor de água no solo, já os atributos mineralógicos da fração argila foram largura a meia altura, diâmetro médio do cristal dos óxidos de ferro, da caulinita e gibbsita, substituição isomórfica e área de superfície específica da hematita e goethita. Os teores da goethita e hematita e razão goethita/(goethita+hematita) e razão caulinita/(caulinita+gibbsita) também foram calculados. Os dados foram submetidos às análises estatísticas e geoestatísticas para avaliação da variabilidade espacial e influência das curvaturas nestes atributos. Para avaliação da relação entre os atributos da mineralogia e físicos realizaram-se as análises de correlação simples e espacial. Os atributos físicos e mineralógicos apresentaram-se dependentes das curvaturas do relevo... / The mineralogicals and physical attributes have spatial dependence and the distribution of these attributes has relation with the forms of relief. The object of this study was to evaluate the attributes of clay mineralogy and the physical attributes of an argissol in curvatures of relief, as well as assess the correlation between these attributes. A grid size of 100 x 100 meters was defined in an area characterized by the convex shape and another in an area characterized by the concave shape. The grids have regular spacing of 10 x 10 m and the spacing of the points of intersection determine the points of collection of samples, a total of 121 georeferenced sample points in each grid. The physical attributes were evaluated in depth from 0.0 - 0.2 and 0.2 -0.4 m and the mineralogical attributes in depth 0,00-0,20 m. The physical attributes were analyzed: mean weight diameter, mean geometric diameter, aggregates larger than 2 mm, aggregates between 2 and 1 mm, aggregates smaller than 1 mm, microporosity, macroporosity, total porosity, bulk density, penetration resistance and water content in soil. The attributes of minerals were: width at half height, average diameter of crystals of iron oxides and kaolinite and gibbsite and isomorphic substitution and specific surface area of hematite and goethite. The contents of goethite and hematite and ratio goethite / (goethite + hematite) [Gt / (Gt + Hm)] and ratio kaolinite / (kaolinite + gibbsite) [Ct / (Ct + Gb)] were also calculated. Data were subjected to statistical and geostatistical analysis to evaluate the spatial variability and influence of these curvatures on these attributes. To assess the relation between mineralogy and physical attributes simple and spation correlation analysis where made. The physical and mineralogical attributes and depend on the curvature of the relief. There was also the influence of crystallinity of goethite and gibbsite in soil physical.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T15:50:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGMS12DA011.pdf: 7367606 bytes, checksum: b45b1b9688169baaebb35574e8cbd0e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-24 / In the south of Brazil, there are soils presenting darker subsurface horizons than those overly-ing ones, being more representative in Ultisols. Those ones are placed in well-drained areas and do not present sodium saturation. In dark subsurface horizon, these soils shows morpho-logical aspects similar to sombric horizons, initially related to Central Africa. This fact arise the possibility of these soils meet the sombric horizon, as related in Africa. The definition of sombric horizon showed in Soil Taxonomy has been the same for fifty years, without any important modification. In this definition the sombric horizon consists of iluvial humus not associated with aluminum or sodium. In WRB, its definition is almost the same of Soil Tax-onomy. This fact is due to the little research about the genesis of these horizons. In this re-search we analysed the profiles of three Ultisols of the State of Santa Catarina: 1.Typic Som-brihumults (PVa), in Içara, with the source material siltstones intercalated with sandstones; 2.Typic Sombrihumults (PAd), in Rancho Queimado, with the source material granites and granulites; 3. Typic Sombrihumults (PBACal), in Alfredo Wagner, with the source material argillites and siltites. It was also analyzed a profile of Alfisol (TCp) from Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul State, having as source material granites and gneisses. It was added to the study a Dy-strudepts (CH) from Bom Jardim da Serra, Mountainous Area of Santa Catarina, having as source material the basalt. This last soil does not present dark subsuperficial horizon, having been chosen in order to compare results from delta ¹³C analyses with the other soils, since it has grass vegetation for millennia. We carried out physical, chemical, mineralogical and mi-cromorphological analysis. Fractionation studies of the sand and mineralogy by X-ray diffrac-tion aimed to identify lithologic discontinuities. Micromorphological analysis aimed to identi-fy whether there was migration and accumulation of humic compounds in the dark subsurface horizons. Iron and aluminum selective dissolution aimed to identify whether there were pod-zolization processes. Studies of carbon isotopes were intended to examine whether climate change was involved in the genesis of the dark subsurface horizons. Studies were not con-cluded to TCp. For PAd and PBACal, results indicated buried soils. For PVa, results sug-gested the migration of clay-humic compounds. In Ultisols there was aluminum accumulation in the dark subsurface horizon. Results of carbon isotopes have not identified to be the organ-ic matter from different vegetation of the current. Soils did not attend the requests of classifi-cation from WRB and Soil Taxonomy to fit as sombric horizons. It is proposed to Soil Tax-onomy and FAO the requirement elimination of the humus-illuvial no-associated to aluminum occurrence as a criterion to fit those soils as sombric horizons. It is suggested its substitution by the evidence of humus-illuvial occurrence in sombric through thin slide analysis and through the evidence of lithology discontinuity absence along the toposequence and absence of agric horizon and isotopes of carbon results related to the same vegetation in surface and dark subsurface horizons. In addition, it is still proposed to Brazilian System of Soil Classifi-cation the inclusion of the sombric character, to be taken into consideration in Sub-Group level / Na região Sul do Brasil ocorrem solos que apresentam horizontes subsuperficiais mais escu-recidos que os horizontes sobrejacentes, notadamente na classe dos Argissolos. Estes solos estão situados em locais bem drenados e não apresentam saturação por sódio. Os horizontes subsuperficiais escuros assemelham-se aos horizontes sômbricos relatados inicialmente na África Central. A definição de horizonte sômbrico na classificação dos Estados Unidos é a mesma de há cinquenta anos, sem basicamente ter sofrido modificações. Nessa definição, o horizonte sômbrico é subsuperficial e constituído de húmus iluvial não associado ao alumínio ou sódio. Na classificação da FAO, tal definição basicamente incorporou a da classificação dos Estados Unidos, com pouca alteração. Isto se deve às poucas pesquisas a respeito da gê-nese desses horizontes. Neste trabalho de pesquisa analisaram-se três perfis de Argissolos do Estado de Santa Catarina: 1. O Argissolo Vermelho Alumínico (PVa), de Içara, tendo como material de origem siltitos com intercalação de arenitos; 2. OArgissolo Amarelo Distrófico (PAd), de Rancho Queimado, tendo como material de origem granitos e granulitos; 3. O Ar-gissolo Bruno-Acinzentado Alumínico (PBACal), de Alfredo Wagner, derivado de argilitos e siltitos. Também analisou-se um perfil de Luvissolo Crômico Pálico (TCp), de Bagé/RS que tem como material de origem granitos e gnaisses. Somou-se aos perfis relacionados um Cam-bissolo Húmico (CH) de Bom Jardim da Serra/SC, derivado de basalto. O CH é de região de altitude e sem horizonte subsuperficial escuro, tendo sido escolhido para servir como teste-munha nos resultados referentes às análises de delta 13C dos demais solos, de vez que apresen-ta vegetação de gramíneas há milênios. Efetuaram-se análises físicas, químicas, mineralógicas e micromorfológicas. Estudos de fracionamento da areia e de mineralogia por difração de raios-X objetivaram identificar descontinuidades litológicas. Análises micromorfológicas ob-jetivaram identificar se houve migração e acúmulo de compostos húmicos nos horizontes sub-superficiais escuros. Análises de dissolução seletiva de ferro e alumínio objetivaram identifi-car se ocorreram processos de podzolização. Estudos de isótopos de carbono tiveram por fina-lidade analisar se houve mudanças climáticas implicadas na gênese dos horizontes subsuperfi-ciais escuros. Os resultados foram inconclusivos para o TCp. Para o PAd e para o PBACal indicaram tratar-se de horizontes A soterrados por ação coluvionar. Para o PVa sugeriram haver migração de compostos argilo-húmicos. Nos Argissolos houve acúmulo de alumínio nos horizontes subsuperficiais escuros. Resultados de isótopos de carbono não identificaram ser a matéria orgânica oriunda de vegetação diferenciada da atual. Os solos não enquadraram-se no tipo sômbrico. Propõe-se à classificação dos Estados Unidos e à FAO a eliminação do requisito da ocorrência de húmus iluvial não-associado ao alumínio nos sômbricos. Propõe-se substituir esse requisito pela comprovação da ocorrência de húmus iluvial no sômbrico atra-vés de análises em lâmina delgada e através de evidências de ausência de descontinuidade litológica e ausência de horizonte ágrico e resultados de isótopos de carbono relacionados ao mesmo tipo de vegetação nos horizontes superficial e subsuperficial escuro. Propõe-se ao Sis-tema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos a inclusão do caráter sômbrico, a ser contemplado no nível de Sub-Grupo

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Michel D. Ransom / Many soils in southeastern Kansas are characterized by high clay contents and high shrink-swell potentials. Their vertic properties and claypan characteristics cause soil management to be difficult and pose problems for agricultural, environmental, and engineering uses. Thus, collecting more information and improving our understanding of these soils is an important step towards bettering our soil management techniques. The objectives of this study were to examine the morphology, processes of soil genesis, clay mineralogy, micromorphology, and potassium fixation potential of the soils of interest and how these characteristics varied between and within individual pedons. Ten pedons expected to represent varying degrees of vertic expression were selected. Methods included the use of field descriptions, routine soil laboratory characterization, micromorphological investigations, the determination of clay mineralogy by X-ray diffraction, and the measurement of potassium fixation potential. Field morphology reflected the geologic parent materials available in the region. The fine sediments that compose these clayey soils are primarily provided by the Pennsylvanian and Permian shales and limestones underlying this region and the Flint Hills to the west. Dominant pedogenic processes currently at work are clay illuviation and shrink-swell processes. Silty, non-expansive surface soils at all but sites 6 and 7 are thought to buffer the rapid wetting and drying cycles needed for maximum vertic expression. Four of the soils were dominated by smectitic minerals in the clay fraction while the rest exhibited a more mixed mineralogy. Disruption of illuvial clay features by shrink-swell movement was evident in thin section. Striated b-fabrics dominated the micromorphology except in non-expansive surface soils. K fixation of the soil surface was found to be negative in all soils, thus K fixation potential is considered very low. In subsurface horizons, K fixation generally increased with increasing vermiculite content. In addition to limited quantities of K-fixing clay minerals, naturally high K levels limited the amount of K fixation in this study. The information presented can be used to improve our understanding and management of high clay, vertic and claypan soils in southeastern Kansas.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar a triagem de PHA sintases numa biblioteca metagenômica de solo de Mata Atlântica, empregando duas técnicas de busca: o método de detecção fenotípica e a técnica de PCR. Resultados positivos foram obtidos com este último, empregando iniciadores descritos na literatura e iniciadores descritos neste trabalho. Em 10.67% dos clones da biblioteca foram obtidos amplicons, dos quais 7 foram seqüenciados, apresentando similaridade para os genes phaC dos tipos II e IV. Adicionalmente, 67 clones positivos para a classe III foram obtidos e 4 destes foram seqüenciados. Duas das seqüências obtidas mostraram alta similaridade com o gene codificador da enzima glutamina sintetase tipo I, outro deles para a proteína hipotética conservada pertencente à família de enzimas oxidoredutases e a outra para o componente D do gene hidrogenase-4. A partir da análise dos resultados, iniciadores mais específicos são propostos. Assim, a técnica de PCR foi mais eficiente na detecção de genes da biossíntese de PHA na biblioteca metagenômica estudada. / To perform a PHA synthase screening in a metagenomic library from Atlantic forest soil two search methods were applied: phenotypic detection and PCR. Positive results with PCR were obtained by using primers described in the literature and proposed in this study. Amplicons were obtained in 10.67% of the library, 7 of them were sequenced showing similarity with class II and IV phaC genes. In addition, 67 positive clones for class III were obtained and 4 of them were sequenced. Two of these sequences showed high similarity to the glutamine synthase gene type I, the third one showed similarity to the conserved hypothetical protein of the reductase family, and the forth presented similarity to the component D of the hidrogenase-4. According to the results, more specific primers are suggested. Therefore, PCR was more efficient in the detection of PHA biosynthesis genes in the studied metagenomic library.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar a triagem de PHA sintases numa biblioteca metagenômica de solo de Mata Atlântica, empregando duas técnicas de busca: o método de detecção fenotípica e a técnica de PCR. Resultados positivos foram obtidos com este último, empregando iniciadores descritos na literatura e iniciadores descritos neste trabalho. Em 10.67% dos clones da biblioteca foram obtidos amplicons, dos quais 7 foram seqüenciados, apresentando similaridade para os genes phaC dos tipos II e IV. Adicionalmente, 67 clones positivos para a classe III foram obtidos e 4 destes foram seqüenciados. Duas das seqüências obtidas mostraram alta similaridade com o gene codificador da enzima glutamina sintetase tipo I, outro deles para a proteína hipotética conservada pertencente à família de enzimas oxidoredutases e a outra para o componente D do gene hidrogenase-4. A partir da análise dos resultados, iniciadores mais específicos são propostos. Assim, a técnica de PCR foi mais eficiente na detecção de genes da biossíntese de PHA na biblioteca metagenômica estudada. / To perform a PHA synthase screening in a metagenomic library from Atlantic forest soil two search methods were applied: phenotypic detection and PCR. Positive results with PCR were obtained by using primers described in the literature and proposed in this study. Amplicons were obtained in 10.67% of the library, 7 of them were sequenced showing similarity with class II and IV phaC genes. In addition, 67 positive clones for class III were obtained and 4 of them were sequenced. Two of these sequences showed high similarity to the glutamine synthase gene type I, the third one showed similarity to the conserved hypothetical protein of the reductase family, and the forth presented similarity to the component D of the hidrogenase-4. According to the results, more specific primers are suggested. Therefore, PCR was more efficient in the detection of PHA biosynthesis genes in the studied metagenomic library.