ABSTRACT SOIL AND WATER ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION Maral, Nuh M. Sc., Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Prof. Dr. G. inci G&ouml / kmen May 2010, 108 pages In Turkey, usage of increasing amounts of fertilizers and pesticides by some unconscious farmers cause soil pollution and soil infertility for the crop production. Usage of water in excessive amounts and/or in poor quality for irrigation creates problems during the plant production. So in this study, soil and water samples were analyzed by using simple and reliable techniques for the soil and water quality in laboratories of METU and Soil Fertilizer and Water Resources Central Research Institute Laboratory in Ankara. The soil and water samples were collected using the standard techniques from Ankara, Bolu, &Ccedil / orum and Kirikkale. According to the soil test results, the textures of the soil samples are found as loam and clay loam. The total salt content of the soil samples are between 0.033 &ndash / 0.063 % (w/w), meaning they are low salinity soils (total salt less than 0.15 % w/w). The pH of the soil samples are between 7.86&ndash / 8.15, they are slightly alkaline. The phosphorus concentrations of soil samples are in a range 4.95 to 35.45 P2O5 kg/da. Some of the soil samples have too high phosphorus content (greater than 12 P2O5 kg/da). The potassium content of soil samples are found between 141&ndash / 286 K2O kg/da, so the soil is efficient for crop production. Lime content of the soil samples is between 1.04&ndash / 2.67 % (w/w) CaCO3. It means all of the soil samples are calcareous but it is not too high for the agricultural production. Organic matter content of soil samples are found between 0.83&ndash / 2.04 % (w/w). This means the soils are limited in their organic matter content for the crop production. Analysis of 22 water samples yielded EC values between 0.384 &ndash / 1.875 dS/m. Water samples have moderate to high-salinity (if EC values between 0.205 and 2.250 dS/m), yet these can be used for the irrigation of the crops. pH values of water samples are found between 7.18-8.10, meaning that they are slightly alkaline. Bicarbonate concentrations of 19 of the water samples are greater than 200 mg/L. These waters may not be suitable for irrigation of ornamental plants. All of the water samples, except water samples from G&ouml / lbaSi, have sodium absorption ratio (SAR) values between 1 and 9. Water samples with low SAR values, except water samples from G&ouml / lbaSi, can be used for irrigation of almost all soils with little danger of developing harmful levels of sodium. The Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) values of water samples Ankara G&ouml / lbaSi and Sincan-1 are greater than 2.50 meq/L and these water samples are not suitable for the irrigation. RSC values of Etimesgut, Sincan-2 and Kazan water samples are positive and lower than the value 2.00 meq /L. All the other water samples have negative RSC values so they are the safe to use for irrigation. It has been observed that development of practical field analysis techniques for all soil and water quality parameters may be possible with exception of micronutrient determination. For determining soil and water quality parameters in the rural areas there is a need to establish a small laboratory with necessary equipment and apparatus and training one or two farmers. With the experience gained in this study, some of these techniques may be adapted to the rural field applications, so soil and water may be tested by the farmers for better yields.

The two most common varieties of the grass Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.)Torr. in North America use different strategies of clonal growth and have contrasting continental distributions. Variety caespitosa (phalanx form) ranges from central Texas westward to Arizona and California and var. curtipendula (guerrilla form) occurs in a more mesic region over the North American Great Plains. This study sought to determine whether the strategies had an ecological significance and investigated the possible relationship between changes in environmental factors and characteristics of each clonal growth strategy. Varieties showed to be morphologically variable, but the variability did not follow the pattern of the precipitational gradient. The abundance of var. curtipendula was related to soil depth and parent material (limestone types). Abundance of var. caespitosa could not be explained by any environmental factor separately. The performance of clones of the two growth forms in response to changes in resource availability (light and nutrients) and defoliation suggested similarities between the varieties in photosynthetic rate and only showed differences in water potential under extreme conditions. The major differences were related to the proportion of biomass allocated to structures related with seed production versus propagation by rhizomes. Intra-variety genetic variation for several life history traits was detected even with a very small sample size. The caespitose growth form showed more biomass and rate of tiller recruitment after defoliation on average, but responses between genotypes were dissimilar. Varieties also showed levels of plasticity in the allocation to reproductive structures in response to environmental factors. Responses to fire were compared between varieties by experimental burnings with increasing load of artificial fuel. Plants of the two varieties reached similar maximum temperatures although var. caespitosa suffered temperatures considered to be lethal for longer periods of time. Results from this study suggested that, although characteristic of the pattern of clonal growth were not distinctly associated to resource availability or defoliation, distribution of the varieties may be related to a combination of biotic and abiotic factors beyond the factors studied here.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Current research is revealing that stormwater can carry pathogens and that this stormwater is entering wastewater treatment facilities. During periods of intense rainfall, not only can stormwater carry higher amounts of pathogens, but it also increases the flow rate to the wastewater treatment facility. In many instances, the flow rate exceeds the facilities' treatment capacity and can impact treatment performance. The purpose of this study was to identify whether wastewater treatment is impaired during periods of increased rainfall, and to compare current policies that address this issue. The study was conducted using a case study approach to analyze historical precipitation and wastewater treatment data from facilities located in Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Florida. The effluent from the biological nutrient removal system operated at the facilities located in Clearwater was compared to the effluent from the activated sludge treatment system operated by the facility located in St. Petersburg. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify significant differences in either the loading or performance of wastewater treatment facilities under wet and dry flow conditions. In this case, the Clearwater facilities operating below their treatment capacity were better equipped to handle peak wet weather flows and efficiently treat wastewater than the St. Petersburg facility which has a less advanced treatment system and was operating at and above its treatment capacity.

Balm Road Treatment Marsh is a 12 ha constructed wetland treatment system in south-central Hillsborough County, Florida created to improve water quality in Bullfrog Creek and ultimately Tampa Bay. The treatment system was designed to treat runoff from approximately 741 ha of upstream agricultural land prior to discharging into the creek, with the primary goals of reducing sediment and nutrient loads. Water quality data from four sites on Bullfrog Creek were analyzed to determine impacts to ambient water quality and pollutant load reductions downstream. Results were compared to the performance of other wetlands to treat both nonpoint and point source pollution. Impacts to ambient water quality in the creek were found to be minimal, if any, and although significant load reductions were found downstream, they could not be attributed to wetland treatment affects with confidence. In general, nonpoint source pollution, particularly from agriculture, was found to be treated less effectively than point sources. The importance of monitoring the performance of stormwater projects while employing a strategic sample design and including receiving water impacts is highlighted.

Die Broschüre vermittelt einen Überblick über die Versorgung sächsischer Ackerböden mit Mikronährstoffen. Die aktuelle Situation wird mit den Ergebnissen des Monitorings im Jahr 2000 verglichen. Der Versorgungszustand sächsischer Ackerflächen mit pflanzenverfügbaren Mikronährstoffen ist zumeist gut bis sehr gut. Gegenüber dem Jahr 2000 ist ein leichter Rückgang der Elementgehalte bei Cu, B und teilweise bei Zn festzustellen. Leichte Böden (D-Standorte) weisen vereinzelt Mangel auf (Mn, Mo, B). Für die Analyse der pflanzenverfügbaren Anteile ist die CAT-Methode für Kupfer und Zink (und evtl. Mangan) anwendbar. Bor sollte mit der Heißwassermethode analysiert werden, Die Analyse von Molybdän erfolgt am besten mit der Oxalatmethode nach GRIGG. Die Veröffentlichung richtet sich an Landwirte, Berater und Fachbehörden.

Human activities that disrupt soil properties are fundamentally changing ecosystems. Soil degradation decreases microbial abundance and activity, leading to changes in nutrient availability, soil organic matter, and plant growth and establishment. Land use and land cover change are widespread and increasing in semiarid regions of the southwestern US, which results in reductions of native plant and microbial abundance and community diversity. Here we studied the effects of soil degradation and amendments (biochar and woodchips) on microbial activity, soil carbon and nitrogen availability, and plant growth of ten semi-arid plants species native to the southwestern US. Results show that woodchip amendments result in poor overall plant growth, while biochar amended soils promoted plant growth when soil quality was reduced. Additionally, amendments had a strong influence on microbial activity, while the presence and species identity of plants did not. Biochar amended soils led to increases in the potential activities of enzymes involved in the degradation of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus rich substrates. Woodchips, caused an increase of potential activity in enzymes involved in the degradation of sugar and proteins. These results show that microbes and plants respond differently to soil treatments and suggest that microbial responses may function as earlier indicators of the success of re-vegetation attempts.

Ο Αμβρακικός κόλπος είναι ο μεγαλύτερος κόλπος της Δυτικής Ελλάδας με έκταση περίπου 405km2. Αποτελεί μια από τις σπουδαιότερες περιοχές της χώρας μας, όπου σύμφωνα με την Κ.Υ.Α. 16.611/93 έχει υπαχθεί σε καθεστώς προστασίας, σε εφαρμογή της διεθνούς σύμβασης Ramsar που αφορά την προστασία και τη διατήρηση των υδρόβιων και παρυδάτιων οργανισμών. Η περιοχή πρόσφατα έχει ενταχθεί στο δίκτυο ΦΥΣΗ 2000 με κωδικό GR2110001 και αποτελεί σημαντικό βιότοπο τόσο για τα υδρόβια και παρυδάτια πουλιά που διαχειμάζουν και αναπαράγονται στην περιοχή όσο και για σημαντικά είδη χλωρίδας και πανίδας. Οι λιμνοθάλασσες του Αμβρακικού κόλπου απαντούν κυρίως στο βόρειο τμήμα. Οι κυριότερες λιμνοθάλασσες είναι το σύμπλεγμα «Ροδιά, Τσουκαλιό, Αυλερή» δυτικά του λόφου της Σαλαώρας και η λιμνοθάλασσα Λογαρού ανατολικά του ίδιου λόφου. Οι δύο από τις τρεις λιμνοθάλασσες, η Τσουκαλιό και η Ροδιά επικοινωνούν μεταξύ τους και διαχωρίζονται από τη Λογαρού με μια στενή λωρίδα γης. Οι παράκτιες λιμνοθάλασσες βρίσκονται μεταξύ ξηράς και θάλασσας και επηρεάζονται τόσο από το θαλάσσιο όσο και από το χερσαίο περιβάλλον. Επηρεάζονται από σε αυξημένες εισροές θρεπτικών από τους ποταμούς και τις ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες που αναπτύσσονται στη λεκάνη απορροής τους. Οι παράκτιες λιμνοθάλασσες είναι αυτόνομα δυναμικά οικοσυστήματα με υψηλή παραγωγική ικανότητα και παρουσιάζουν ιδιαίτερα μορφολογικά και οικολογικά χαρακτηριστικά. Τα κύρια χαρακτηριστικά αυτών των συστημάτων είναι οι συχνές μεταβολές των περιβαλλοντικών παραμέτρων (θερμοκρασία και αλατότητα) που προκαλούν σημαντικές μεταβολές στην αφθονία και την κατανομή των οργανισμών. Η οικολογική έρευνα βασίστηκε στην παρακολούθηση των εποχικών διακυμάνσεων κατά τη διάρκεια της βλαστητικής περιόδου, από τον Μάϊο του 2003 έως τον Μάϊο του 2004, της βλάστησης των υδροβίων μακροφύτων, των θρεπτικών αλάτων και των φυσικοχημικών παραμέτρων του νερού (βάθος, διαφάνεια, θερμοκρασία, αλατότητα, αγωγιμότητα, διαλυμένο οξυγόνο, pH) στις τρεις παράκτιες λιμνοθάλασσες του Αμβρακικού κόλπου. Διερευνήθηκε επίσης η δομή των μακροφυτικών κοινωνιών που εντοπίστηκαν στις λιμνοθάλασσες του Αμβρακικού καθώς και ο τρόπος με τον οποίο οι αβιοτικοί παράγοντες μπορούν να επηρεάσουν την αφθονία των διαφορετικών φυτικών ειδών. Ειδικότερα μελετήθηκε η σύνθεση των φυτικών οργανισμών, οι εποχικές αλλαγές και η διαδοχή των κυρίαρχων ειδών στις λιμνοθάλασσες σε σχέση με τους κύριους περιβαλλοντικούς παράγοντες. Το σύμπλεγμα των λιμνοθαλασσών αποτελείται από διαφορετικούς βιότοπους ως προς την αφθονία και την ποιοτική και ποσοτική σύσταση των βυθισμένων μακροφύτων. Οι λιμνοθάλασσες Ροδιά και Τσουκαλιό παρουσιάζουν ομοιότητες μεταξύ τους, ενώ η Λογαρού έχει μεγαλύτερη ομοιότητα με τον Αμβρακικό, με τον οποίο η επικοινωνία είναι άμεση. Στη μακροφυτική βλάστηση των λιμνοθαλασσών του Αμβρακικού επικρατούν το αγγειόσπερμο Zostera noltii και το χαρόφυτο Lamprothamnium papulosum, ενώ έχουν καταγραφεί συνολικά 12 είδη υδρόβιων μακροφύτων τα οποία διαχωρίστηκαν με την ανάλυση συστάδων σε έξι ομάδες βλάστησης. Τα κυρίαρχα φυτικά είδη ήταν το αγγειόσπερμο Zostera noltii και το χαρόφυτο Lamprothamnium papulosum στις λιμνοθάλασσες Ροδιά και Τσουκαλιό, ενώ στη λιμνοθάλασσα Λογαρού καταγράφηκαν σε αφθονία τα είδη Gracilaria-bursa pastoris και Acetabularia mediterranea και σε περιορισμένη έκταση η Zostera noltii. Οι περιοχές στις οποίες παρατηρούνται οι μεγαλύτεροι δείκτες ποικιλότητας και αφθονίας των ειδών εντοπίζονται στο νότιο τμήμα της λιμνοθάλασσας Τσουκαλιό. Την άνοιξη του 2004 παρατηρήθηκε αυξημένη παρουσία νηματοειδών φυκών τα οποία χαρακτηρίζονται ως ευκαιριακά είδη και η παρουσία τους αποτελεί δείκτη ευτροφισμού. Η λιμνοθάλασσα Ροδιά παρουσίασε σημαντική μείωση την άνοιξη του 2004 τόσο στο αριθμό των υδρόβιων φυτικών ειδών όσο και στο ποσοστό κάλυψης. Για τον καθορισμό των σχέσεων μεταξύ των περιβαλλοντικών μεταβλητών και των ειδών των μακροφύτων χρησιμοποιήθηκε η ανάλυση κανονικών αντιστοιχιών CCA (CANOCO-Canonical Correspondence Analysis) Οι στατιστικές διαφορές στις μέσες τιμές των περιβαλλοντικών παραμέτρων και των ομάδων βλάστησης υπολογίστηκαν με την Ανάλυση Διασποράς (ANOVA- Tukey’s test) Οι κυριότεροι παράγοντες που φαίνεται να επηρεάζουν τη μακροφυτική βλάστηση στην περιοχή μελέτης είναι το υδρολογικό ισοζύγιο, η αλατότητα, η περιεκτικότητα σε θρεπτικά άλατα και η διαφάνεια του νερού. Η διαφάνεια του νερού ήταν υψηλότερη στις λιμνοθάλασσες Τσουκαλιό και Ροδιά και μικρότερη στη Λογαρού. Το pH στις λιμνοθάλασσες ήταν αλκαλικό και κυμαίνονταν από 7,5 έως 9, και οι τιμές του διαλυμένου οξυγόνου μπορούν να κατατάξουν τα ύδατα των λιμνοθαλασσών του Αμβρακικού στα σχεδόν πλούσια ή πλούσια. Η μεγαλύτερη διακύμανση της αλατότητας παρατηρήθηκε στις λιμνοθάλασσες Ροδιά και Τσουκαλιό ενώ η μικρότερη διαπιστώθηκε στη λιμνοθάλασσα Λογαρού που μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί ως υπερύαλη μιας και η τιμή της συγκεκριμένης παραμέτρου παρουσίασε τιμές που ξεπερνούσαν το 40‰. Παρατηρήθηκε εποχική μεταβολή στις συγκεντρώσεις των θρεπτικών αλάτων του αζώτου μεταξύ των περιόδων παρακολούθησης. Σημειώνεται μείωση της συγκέντρωσης του ολικού ανόργανου Ν κατά τη διάρκεια της άνοιξης του 2004 σε σχέση με την άνοιξη του 2003. Η συγκέντρωση του ολικού ανόργανου Ν είναι χαμηλότερη το καλοκαίρι και το φθινόπωρο. Η λιμνοθάλασσα Ροδιά παρουσιάζει τη μεγαλύτερη συγκέντρωση ολικού ανόργανου αζώτου, ακολουθεί η λιμνοθάλασσα Τσουκαλιό και τελευταία η λιμνοθάλασσα Λογαρού. Οι συγκεντρώσεις των νιτρικών ιόντων εμφανίζονται αυξημένες την άνοιξη και το φθινόπωρο. Το φθινόπωρο επίσης παρατηρούνται υψηλές συγκεντρώσεις αμμωνιακών ιόντων ενώ οι συγκεντρώσεις των φωσφορικών κυμαίνονται σε πολύ χαμηλά επίπεδα. Σημαντικό ρόλο στη ανάπτυξη των μακροφύτων παίζει ο φώσφορος ο οποίος αποτελεί περιοριστικό παράγοντα. Ο φώσφορος είναι αυτός που ρυθμίζει και τον ανταγωνισμό μεταξύ μακροφύτων και φυτοπλαγκτού και θεωρείται ότι είναι ένας από τους κύριους παράγοντες περιορισμού της φυτοκάλυψης στις λιμνοθάλασσες του Αμβρακικού κόλπου. / Amvrakikos Gulf, situated in Western Greece, is one of the most important areas of the country, protected by the Ramsar Convention, especially for waterfowl populations, and recently has been included to the Natura 2000 Network with code number GR2110001. It is considered to be a very important biotope for flora and fauna and especially for birds that they are nesting and breeding in such type of habitats. The lagoons of Amvrakikos Gulf appear mainly at the north part of it. The most important lagoons are Rodia, Tsoukalio and Ayleri western of Salaora’ s hill and Logarou at the eastern part of the same hill. Two of the lagoons are interconnected and separated from the third by a narrow strip of land. Coastal lagoons, situated between the land and the sea, are influenced by both marine and terrestrial factors and subjected to increased nutrient inputs by rivers and human activities of the catchment area. Coastal lagoons are autonomous dynamic systems with a high productivity potential and a number of common morphological and ecological features. Characteristic features of these systems are frequent fluctuations in the environmental parameters (temperature and salinity) causing severe changes in the abundance and distribution of organisms. The ecological study is based on monitoring data on the seasonal variation during the vegetated periods of 2003-‘04 on submerged vegetation, nutrients, light and physicochemical parameters of water (depth, transparency, temperature, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH), in three shallow coastal brackish lagoons of Amvrakikos Gulf, Ionian Sea. It was studied the species composition, the seasonal variations and the succession of submerged macrophytes in relation to the main environmental factors and the abundance of the different species. The submerged flora in the Rodia and Tsoukalio is dominated by a charophytes, Lamprothamnium papulosum and an important angiosperm Zostera noltii. In Logarou two species of macroalgae Gracilaria-bursa pastoris and Acetabularia mediterranea, are abundant while Zostera noltii occurs with a limited presence. Statistical analyses and ordination methods were performed with statistical package SPSS (V. 12) and PC Ord (V.4). The hydrological regime, depth, water transparency and the fluctuation of salinity seems to be the main factors controlling the abundance of different species in three lagoons. When the salinity changed during the second year of the survey it was observed an alteration of the vegetation. The most important alteration happened at Rodia lagoon on spring 2004. It was also observed changes on the concentrations of nutrients and especially on nitrogen. The concentrations of nitrates were higher in spring and autumn due to inputs from catchments area. On autumn they were observed higher concentrations of ammonium with the exception of phosphates that they were very low something that recorded in similar ecosystems in other areas of the world.

This thesis consists of three sections that provide detailed knowledge of nutrient estimation and management in wild blueberry production. The first section investigated the main and interactive effects of long term fertilizer (NPK) enrichments on soil mineral nitrogen, organic nitrogen and carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen and carbon, net mineralization and net nitrification in wild blueberry soils. The second section studied the optimization of wild blueberry growth, development, foliar nutrients and harvestable yields by using response surface methodology. The third section examined nutrient estimation technologies using field spectroscopy. The remote sensing data was analysed with a combination partial least squares regression and variable selection algorithms (Chemometric analysis). The results indicated elevated nitrification activity under nitrogen enrichments, mainly performed by heterotrophs, report unusually high levels of dissolved organic carbon (> 150 C ha-1), a fungal dominated soil system and high concentration of soluble organic nitrogen in the crop year of production. Nitrification and high dissolved organic carbon levels were observed in connection with possible nitrogen saturation and potential environmental hazards. The results imply a need for nitrification inhibition measures. Results from field studies examining the main and interactive effects of soil applied N, P and K suggested that applications of nitrogen (35 kg ha-1), phosphorus (40 kg ha-1) and potassium (30 kg ha-1) were required to optimize growth, development and harvestable yields of wild blueberry. Under these fertilizer rates, the corresponding predicted harvestable yield was 4,126 kg ha-1 that is as much as 13% higher than would be produced by commonly used fertilizer rate in the industry. This study presented new leaf nutrient ranges for sprout and crop years for wild blueberry fields in Atlantic Canada. Hyperspectral remote sensing technologies were used for estimating macro and micro nutrients. This study provides critical information on wavelengths important for nutrient estimation in reflectance spectra (400-2500 nm). The results and inferences from this thesis may be employed to improve crop production, increase economic returns and health of soil and sustainability of wild blueberry production in Nova Scotia. / This study was undertaken to examine the response of the wild blueberry plant to soil applied fertilizers and encompasses soil nitrogen and carbon pools, plant growth and development, leaf nutrient concentrations and harvestable yields. In addition, given the vast area in which wild blueberry fields are located, the study also examined the feasibility of assessing plant nutrient status through the use of remote sensing hyperspectral technologies. Our results emphasize the importance of monitoring for soil nitrogen and carbon pools in the context of accelerated nitrogen cycling, nitrogen saturation, the fine-tuning of current leaf nutrient ranges in Atlantic Canada in connection to fertilizer rates, the possibility of estimating leaf nutrient contents by remote sensing technologies all with the aim of optimizing wild blueberry yields. In terms of statistical techniques, this thesis used response surface methodologies with a central composite design as a means of discovering, the main and interactive effects of soil applied fertilizers to determine the most appropriate soil nitrogen levels and leaf nutrient ranges that correlate to the highest harvestable yields. The remote sensing data used to estimate leaf nutrients concentrations, various models that combined chemometrics and response surface methodologies for determining model efficiencies with aim of getting informative wavelengths in wild blueberry fields.