Winfried E. H. Blum

Fluorine speciation and mobility in F-contaminated soils

Fluorine speciation and mobility were investigated in Luvisols and Regosols, contaminated during 50 years by an aluminum smelter. Fluorine solubility shows a minimum at pH 6.0–6.5 and is increasing at pH < 6 as well as at pH > 6.5. The high solubility of fluorine under acid conditions can be explained by the occurrence of cationic [AlF]2+- and [AlF2]+- complexes, the increase of fluorine solubility at pH > 6.5 by desorption of free fluoride due to repulsion by more negatively charged surfaces. Therefore, a contamination risk for the food chain and groundwater is low in slightly acid soils, but increases under strong acid as well as under alkaline conditions.

Sustainable Land Management

A 5-year (2001–2005) joint study of research teams from the Palestinian National Authority, Jordan, Israel and Turkey explored the responses to land management of dryland watersheds in each of the respective countries. The study watersheds differed in their land uses and applied management but were unified by apparent land degradation expressed in water-driven soil erosion due to removal of vegetation cover, and causing on-site loss of land productivity and off-site clogging of water reservoirs. The study describes and quantifies the rainfall-vegetation-runoff-erosion and the rainfall-soil moisture-soil organic matter-vegetation chain links associated with specific site and management attributes of the study watersheds, spanning from semiarid to arid drylands and from dry woodland to dry rangeland ecosystems. The effectiveness of trees in controlling soil erosion was reaffirmed while discovering that in-spite of their transpiration trees in drylands need not necessarily reduce soil water storage more than the herbaceous vegetation. It was also found that transforming rangelands to planted forest does not necessarily reduce overall plant biodiversity but does change its species composition; that runoff-harvesting practices become less effective as the inherent site’s aridity increases; that traditional runoff-harvesting U.N. Safriel (*), P. Berliner, A. Novoplansky, and A. Karnieli Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University, Negev, Israel e-mail: uriel36@gmail.com J.B. Laronne Department of Geography, Ben-Gurion University, Negev, Israel I. Moshe Keren Kayemet Le’Israel, Jerusalem, Israel A. Kharabsheh Al-Balqa’Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan A.G. Mohammad Hebron University, Hebron, Palestinian National Authority G. Kusek Agricultural Rural Services, Malatya, Turkey S. Kapur et al. (eds.), Sustainable Land Management, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-14782-1_3, # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011 57 practices (e.g. terraces) are effective but non-traditional ones (i.e., large-scale furrowing) are both simple and effective too.

Soil Protection Concept of The Council of Europe and Integrated Soil Research

Based on an enlarged concept of soil, the competitive use of the six soil functions is identified as the main problem of soil protection. Within the concept of soil protection and remediation, goals, guiding principles and procedures are defined and the actual status of integrated research for soil protection in Europe is discussed under the aspects of the actual advances in soil protection and remediation, the integration and harmonization of concepts and goals, the integration and harmonization of methodological approaches and the integration and harmonization with time.

Lead Fixation by Iron Oxides

t. Ashby, E. C., Smith, ~ . ]3.: J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 86, 4363 (1964) 2. Guggenberger, L. J., Rundle, R. E.: ibid. 86, 5344 (1964) 3. Stucky, G., Rundle, R. E.: ibid. 85, 1002 (1963) 4. Weiss, E.: Chem. Ber. 98, 2805 (1965) 5Paradies, H. H., G6rbing, H. : Angew. Chem. 81,293 (t 969); Angew. Chem., int. Ed. 8,279 (t969) 6. Wibaut, J. P., Proost, W.: Recueil Trav. Chim. Pays-Bus 59, 97I (1940) 7. Ashby, E. C., Backer,-VV. E.: J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 85, t l g (1963) 8. Paradies, H. H. : Chem. Ber. (im Druck)

Function of soils for human societies and the environment

Earth sciences are becoming ever more concerned with how their disciplines, their research and teaching, need to become directly related to environmental and social concerns. The biology of the surface layers and at depth is increasingly important in the geosciences. A knowledge of biological and physical-chemical functions in terrestrial ecosystems (such as biomass production, filtering, buffering and transformation, water routing, and maintenance of biodiversity) that are studied in soil science provides a background for Earth sciences. The papers in this volume address issues of soil formation, soil management, soil protection and the role of biodiversity that must be considered for a sustainable soil use. The papers are aimed at geoscientists in the broadest sense, and others concerned with soil use who will also find chapters relevant to their interests. Soils knowledge used within other Earth sciences is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems, for the solutions of problems in environmental quality and for sustainable use of soils by humans.

Changes in chemistry and mineralogy of forest soils by acid rain

The goal of the present study was a qualitative and quantitative determination of chemical and mineralogical changes in forest soils due to acid atmospheric depositions. In the NE/SE Vienna Woods soil samples were taken at 4 depths (0 to 5 cm, 5 to 10 cm, 10 to 20 cm, 20 to 30 cm) in the contaminated infiltration zone of stemflow (S) of 8 beech trees (Fagus sylvatica), strongly influenced by acid atmospheric depositions (soil-pH 2.8 to 3.0) and in their non contaminated reference areas (R) between trees, where acid imput is much smaller (soil-pH 5.0 to 6.0). The results show that intensive weathering processes took place in the contaminated soil areas, which show higher clay and silt contents and smaller aggregates, as well as clay illuviation. Moreover, in the top of the contaminated soil areas higher contents of Ct and St and of the heavy metals Pb, Zn and Cu could be observed, accompanied by extreme low base saturation (expecially of Ca and Mg) and high Al-saturation (50 to 80% of the CEC). These data were confirmed by analysis of the water saturation extract. Moreover, in the contaminated top soils high amounts of Fe-oxides were found, whereas no “secondary” Al-chlorite (due to its instability at pH-values <4.0) could be traced. The desilification process which took place at the same time could be shown through total element analysis. In the clay-fraction strong weathering led to a loss of layer charge and to the genesis of highly expandable three-layer-silicates which could be determined by X-ray diffraction using n-alkylammonium-chloride technics and other chemical treatments.

Soil, human society and the environment

Abstract Soils, forming the top layer of the Earths crust, are a mixture of mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms. Processes between these components perform vital functions within ecosystems. The soil forms an interface between the geosphere, the biosphere, the hydrosphere and the atmosphere, and is a largely non-renewable resource. Ugolini & Warkentin show the fruitful relationships which geology and soil science have established since the birth of soil science, and how these two disciplines together could contribute to solve future problems. The dynamic soil system delivers functions and services vital for human societies and the environment. Soil is the basis for food and biomass production, and plays a central role as a habitat for biota and as a gene pool. Moreover, it stores, filters, buffers and transforms a large variety of substances, including water, inorganic and organic compounds, and is a major sink and source for greenhouse gases. Soil provides raw materials for human use. It also serves as the basis for human activities (landscape and heritage) and for our technical and socio-economic infrastructure, delivering materials for their implementation and maintenance.

Education for sustainability

Purpose – To describe the development and structure of a new Masters‐level subject entitled “Aspects of sustainability: an international perspective” as a potential model, adoptable by other tertiary‐level educators.Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes the evolution and re‐shaping of a subject designed for postgraduate students from diverse programmes (from science‐based to sociology‐based). It was re‐designed in 2004, in part to support the co‐introduction by Lincoln University of two new, globally innovative Masters degrees, but also as a contribution to the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005‐2014). The two new degrees are taught and awarded jointly by Lincoln University and a partner European University, and thus are based on unique Northern‐Southern hemisphere linkages. We describe the subject content (including its major assignment), and its evaluations by students.Findings – A successful subject has been developed, but it required a step change in its structur...

Influence of Soil Amendments on Heavy Metal Accumulation in Crops on Polluted Soils of Bangladesh

Abstract Pot experiments with soils from three contaminated sites and an additional field experiment were conducted. The aim of the experiments was to test different organic and inorganic soil amendments to heavy metal uptake and to alleviate toxicity in different agricultural crops. Elements in the extracts were measured by plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP‐AES). Cadmium in the extracts was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), with a heated graphite‐tube system (HGA). The results of the experiment were statistically evaluated by the LSD test. Almost all treatments had positive effects on crop productivity or reduced heavy metal uptake. Organic manures especially reduced manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) uptake. Iron (Fe) oxides contained in red mud, a by-product of the aluminum industry, reduced soil to plant transfer of zinc (Zn), Ni, cadmium (Cd), and Cr. The results from these experiments show that it is necessary to select and combine amendments taking into account both site and crop characteristics.

Sediment provenance, soil development, and carbon content in fluvial and manmade terraces at Koiliaris River Critical Zone Observatory

PurposeThe purpose of this study was the investigation of sediment provenance and soil formation processes within a Mediterranean watershed (Koiliaris CZO in Greece) with particular emphasis on natural and manmade terraces.Material and methodsFive sites (K1–K5) were excavated and analyzed for their pedology (profile description), geochemistry [including rare earth elements (REEs) and other trace elements], texture, and mineralogy along with chronological analysis (optical luminescence dating). The selected sites have the common characteristic of being flat terraces while the sites differed with regard to bedrock lithology, elevation, and land use.Results and discussionThree characteristic processes of soil genesis were identified: (1) sediments transportation from outcrops of metamorphic rocks and sedimentation at the fluvial sites (K1–K2), (2) in situ soil development in manmade terraces (K3, K4), and (3) strong eolian input and/or material transported by gravity from upslope at the mountainous site (K5). REE patterns verified the soil genesis processes while they revealed also soil development processes such as (a) calcite deposition (K1), (b) clay illuviation and strong weathering (K4), and (c) possibly fast oxidation/precipitation processes (K3). Carbon sequestration throughout the soil profile was high at manmade terraces at higher elevation compared to fluvial environments due to both climatic effects and possibly intensive anthropogenic impact.ConclusionsSoils at Koiliaris CZO were rather young soils with limited evolution. The different soil age, land use, and climatic effect induced various soil genesis and soil development processes. The manmade terraces at higher elevation have much higher carbon sequestration compared to the anthropogenic impacted fluvial areas.