Teresa Włodarczyk

Database of Polish arable mineral soils: a review

Abstract The database of Polish arable mineral soils is presented. The database includes a lot of information about the basic properties of soils and their dynamic characteristics. It was elaborated for about 1 000 representative profiles of soils in Poland The database concerns: particle size distribution, organic carbon content, acidity-pH, specific surface area, hydrophobicity - solidliquid contact angle, static and dynamic hydrophysical properties, oxidation-reduction properties and selected biological (microbiological) properties of soils. Knowledge about soil characteristics is indispensable for description, interpretation and prediction of the course of physical, chemical and biological processes, and modelling these processes requires representative data. The utility of simulation and prediction models describing phenomena which take place in the soil-plant-atmosphere system greatly depends on the precision of data concerning characteristics of soil. On the basis of this database, maps of chosen soil properties are constructed. The aim of maps is to provide specialists in agriculture, ecology, and environment protection with an opportunity to gain knowledge of soil properties and their spatial and seasonal variability.

Effects of silicon on growth processes and adaptive potential of barley plants under optimal soil watering and flooding

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was grown in pots with brown loess soil and highly soluble amorphous silicon dioxide as the source of monosilicic acid to examine its influence on plant growth and adaptive potential under optimal soil watering and flooding. The adaptive potential of plants was estimated by the concentration of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (AsP) activities. Application of amorphous silica to the soil increased the Si content in barley shoots and roots and stimulated their growth and biomass production under optimal soil watering. Soil flooding suppressed the growth both of the (−Si)- and (+Si)-plants. The intensity of oxidative destruction estimated by the concentration of TBARs was lower in the roots and leaves of the (+Si)-plants. Soil flooding induced SOD activity in the roots and in the leaves of the (−Si;+flooding) and (+Si;+flooding)-plants, but no significant differences were observed due to the Si treatment. GPX activity in the roots of (+Si)-plants was higher than in the (−Si)-ones under optimal soil watering, but under soil flooding no differences between (+Si)- and (−Si)-treatments were observed. AsP activity was not influenced by Si treatment neither under optimal soil watering nor under flooding. Thus, application of Si stimulates growth processes of barley shoots and roots under optimal soil watering and decreases intensity of oxidative destruction under soil flooding without significant changes in the activities of antioxidant enzymes.

Kinetics of methane oxidation in selected mineral soils

Abstract The kinetic parameters of methane oxidation in three mineral soils were measured under laboratory conditions. Incubationswere preceded by a 24-day preincubationwith 10%vol. of methane. All soils showed potential to the consumption of added methane. None of the soils, however, consumed atmospheric CH4. Methane oxidation followed the Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with relatively low values of parameters for Eutric Cambisol, while high values for Haplic Podzol, and especially for Mollic Gleysol which showed the highest methanotrophic activity and much lower affinity to methane. The high values of parameters for methane oxidation are typical for organic soils and mineral soils from landfill cover. The possibility of the involvement of nitrifying microorganisms, which inhabit the ammonia-fertilized agricultural soils should be verified.

Methane Production and Consumption in Loess Soil at Different Slope Position

Methane (CH4) production and consumption and soil respiration in loess soils collected from summit (Top), back slope (Middle), and slope bottom (Bottom) positions were assessed in laboratory incubations. The CH4 production potential was determined under conditions which can occur in the field (relatively short-term flooding periods with initially ambient O2 concentrations), and the CH4 oxidation potential was estimated in wet soils enriched with CH4. None of the soils tested in this study emitted a significant amount of CH4. In fact, the Middle and Bottom soils, especially at the depth of 20–40 cm, were a consistent sink of methane. Soils collected at different slope positions significantly differed in their methanogenic, methanotrophic, and respiration activities. In comparison with the Top position (as reference soil), methane production and both CO2 production and O2 consumption under flooding were significantly stimulated in the soil from the Middle slope position (P < 0.001), while they were reduced in the Bottom soil (not significantly, by 6 to 57%). All upper soils (0–20 cm) completely oxidized the added methane (5 kPa) during 9–11 days of incubation. Soils collected from the 20–40 cm at the Middle and Bottom slope positions, however, consumed significantly more CH4 than the Top soil (P < 0.001).

Soil profile as a natural membrane for heavy metals from wastewater

Soil profile as a natural membrane for heavy metals from wastewater The effect of intensive irrigation with wastewater on the zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) concentration in soil solution was investigated. The experiment was parallel conducted on two soil profiles. The soil microcosms were watered with purified wastewater and purified wastewater with an the addition of zinc and cadmium. The results indicate clearly that neither intensive overhead irrigation of the soil nor its flooding with these wastewater and exceeded sorptive capacity. The application of treated wastewater and wastewater with heavy metals addition did not appear to pose a threat to the natural environment. In all the cases under analysis, zinc and cadmium concentrations in the soil solution were several-fold lower than the permissible levels.

Effect of Long Storage and Soil Type on the Actual Denitrification and Denitrification Capacity to N2O Formation

Abstract The actual denitrification to N2O and denitri-fication capacity to N2O after flooding of different soil samples stored for over 25 years in air-dry conditions and fresh, air dried samples were compared in our study. Zero N2O release was observed from the stored soils but the fresh soil samples had very low actual denitrification to N2O. NO3- addition significantly increased the amount of N2O (denitrification capacity to N2O) released after flooding, which depended on the length of storage and type of soils and was much higher in stored soils. Prolonged exposure of the soils to drought conditions caused a greater decrease in the Eh value compared with the fresh soil. The total cumulative release of N2O from the stored and fresh soils was correlated with the reduced NO3- and organic C content in soils enriched with NO3-. Some soils showed the capability of N2O consumption. CO2 release depended on the length of storage and type of soils under flooding after pro-longed drought. On average, CO2 release was higher from the stored rather than fresh soils. The organic C content in the stored soils was generally lower than in the fresh soils, probably due to the storage effect. The cumulative CO2 release from the stored soils was well correlated with the organic C while no correlation was observed for the fresh soil samples.

Effect of temperature on oxidative stress induced by lead in the leaves of Plantago major L.

Abstract Fluctuation of the summer day-time temperatures in the mid-latitudes in a range from 16 to 30°C should not have irreversible negative effects on plants, but may influence metabolic processes including the oxidative stress. To test the effect of moderately high temperature on oxidative stress induced by lead in the leaves of Plantago major L.; the plants were incubated in a water solution of 0, 150, 450, and 900 μM Pb (NO3)2 at 20 and 28°C. Plant reactions were evaluated by the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities in leaves after 2, 24, 48, and 72 h. The Pb concentration in the leaves rose with the increase in the Pb content and was higher at 20°C. The increase in stomatal resistance caused by Pb was higher at 28°C. The contents of TBARS increased after 2 h of plant exposure to Pb and the increase was the highest at 900 μM Pb, 28°C. The AsP activity increased up to 50% after 24 h of Pb-treatment at 28°C; the highest increase in glutathione reductase activity was observed after 72 h at 20°C. Thus, the moderately high temperature 28°C compared with optimal 20°C caused a decrease in Pb accumulation in Plantago leaves but amplified the negative effects of lead, especially in the beginning of stress development.