African Journal of Soil Science

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-018, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of physical mechanical parameters for use coal from the geotechnical safety aspect

Hysen Ahmeti¹

¹University for Business and Technology; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Infrastructure; Republic of Kosovo, Pristina.E-mail: [email protected]; ORCID: 0000-0001-9348-6238.

Accepted 09 August, 2020

Abstract

Based on the high demand for electricity generation in the Republic of Kosovo and even further, around 7 or 8 million tons of coal is needed per year, which poses in itself an immediate  demand for coal exploitation to meet the demands and needs of the community at large. It is envisaged to perform additional drilling for the definition of layers (Geological-Engineering-Hydrogeological). Indeed this aims to provide a more realistic view of coal exploitation to supply existing power plants, as well as for those power plants that are planned to be built in Kosovo in compliance with the Standards of the European Union. The number of additional drilling was carried out in 2017-2020 which is presented in the Situation Map Figure no.1,  will be subtly analyzed in this paper, along with the extraction of physico-mechanical parameters which were realized with triaxial test, direct test and twisting test. Meanwhile, in the laboratory of genetics at INKOSA Institute [1] to calculate scale heights and slope angles designed according to profile II-II 'Fig.15 to ensure long-term safety during technological operations, geotechnical Eurocodes have been applied to the surface mine by standards. As a consequence, to accomplish an ample analysis of the safety factor, two circular and polygonal shapes were used in relevance to geological layers, the circular shape was applied to the coal cover as well as the polygonal to the coal layer. The calculation carried out by authors is indicated in table 9,10,11

Key work: Physico-mechanical parameters, coal geotechnical safety.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-013, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of integrated soil and water conservation measures on key soil properties in South Gonder, North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia

Mulugeta Demelash¹* and Karl Stahr²

¹Orthodox Church Development and Interchurch Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC), P. O. Box 503, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

²Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation (310), University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.

Accepted 13 April, 2020

Abstract

Land degradation caused by erosion was an environmental threat that hampered agricultural production and the causes include: over cultivation, overgrazing, overpopulation and deforestation. Loss of productive land undermined rural livelihoods and national food security. The major factors discouraged farmers adoption of soil conservation measures were labour shortage, land tenure uncertainty, fitness of structures and the farming system. The study assessed effect of soil and water conservation measures on key soil properties in two micro-watersheds of Farta Wereda of South Gonder. Data analyzed using different soft wares. The results revealed that soil chemical and physical properties: soil organic matter, total N, available phosphorous (P), bulk density, infiltration rate and soil texture found a significant difference between conserved and non-conserved. Soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) did not show significant difference. The non-conserved had the lowest soil organic matter, total N and infiltration rate with highest bulk density, clay content and available P. Soil organic matter content positively correlated with infiltration rate and total N and it negatively correlated with soil bulk density. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) positively correlated with soil pH and available P. The undulating lands were moderately suitable for rain fed agriculture. Hilly and valley lands found suitable for protective forestry and livestock production. Further research shall be conducted for a better understanding for sustainable land use.

Key words: Ethiopia, land evaluation, sustainable development, soil nutrients, watershed management.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-004, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Vegetation composition and soil nutrients status from polyculture to monoculture

B. P. Mishra

Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl- 796004, Post Box No. – 190, Mizoram, India. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 18 April, 2020

Abstract

The study was conducted on status of nutrients in three major types of forests namely, broad-leaved, mixed pine and pine forests in Meghalaya, considering altitude and seasonality as variables. The findings revealed that the change in micro-environmental conditions as influenced by attitude and seasonality has marked effect on status and release of nutrients in the soil of representative forest stands at markedly difference. The ambient and soil temperature was sharply greater at high altitude (Upper Shillong) and values were decreased from broad-leaved to pine forests. The soil temperature was lower than air temperature in all cases. The soil temperature at low altitude (Umroi) during post-monsoon season was higher than pre-monsoon season; however, on the contrary, it was higher during pre-monsoon season in other cases. The light interception decreased from broad-leaved to pine forests, and greater values were recorded at high altitude. The light interception and temperature played a key role in determining relative humidity, and as a result more relative humidity was recorded at high altitude and the values were decreased from broad-leaved to pine forests. The litter thickness and litter accumulation on forest floor at high altitude was about two fold greater than representative forest at low altitude. The values were higher during post-monsoon season, except that more litter thickness was noticed during pre-monsoon season at high altitude; this could be linked with high litter production and low rate of litter decomposition. Soil moisture content was always higher in top-soil, and post-monsoon season showed greater values. Soil pH ranged from 4.6 to 5.8 in top-soil, and from 4.8 to 6.3 in sub-soil. High rate of litter decomposition leads to greater soil pH in top-soil during post-monsoon season. The organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus contents were more in top-soil, with exception that the phosphorus content was generally higher in sub-soil during post-monsoon season. The values for soil moisture, organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were markedly higher at high altitude with respect to forest types and seasonality. Normally, the nutrient poor soil has high C:N ratio, and on account of this fertility of soil decreased from polyculture to monoculture. The finding reveal that the C:N ratio was increased from broad-leaved to pine forests, and more values were observed in sub-soil.

Key words: Altitude, monoculture, nutrient release, polyculture, seasonality, top-soil and sub-soil, vegetation.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-012, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Variations in sludge effects on selected properties of four soil types and vegetable yield

V. M. Ngole

Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Technology, Walter Sisulu University, Nelson Mandela Drive, P/Bag X1 Mthatha 5117, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +27 (0)766843253. Fax: +27 (0)475022725.

Accepted 12 June, 2020

Abstract

This study investigated the degree of modification of selected properties of soils in a semi-arid environment as a result of sludge application, in an endeavour to understand variations in percentage improvement with sludge application rate (SAR). Sludge was applied to a calcic luvisol (luvisol 1), a ferric luvisol (luvisol 2) an arenosol, and a vertisol at different rates and after three months, each soil-sludge mixture tested. Spinach (Spinacea oleracea) was then planted to test sludge effects on spinach yield. Addition of sludge reduced the pH of luvisol 1, luvisol 2, arenosol and vertisol by an average of 0.8, 1.1, 0.4 and 1.0 pH units, respectively. Mean concentrations of phosphorus, total kjeldahl nitrogen, and plant available nitrogen were highest in luvisol 1 (91.1 mg/kg), vertisol (2.3%), and vertisol (718.3 mg/kg) respectively. Concentrations of all plant nutrients increased with SAR in all soils. Percentage increase however varied, being highest in the luvisols at lower SAR, and shifting to the arenosol as SAR increased. Highest spinach yield was obtained from luvisol 2 with mean values of 49.2 gm, 19.7 gm and 179.7 cm² for fresh biomass, dry biomass and leaf area of spinach respectively. Spinach grown on the sludge-amended vertisol had the highest correlation coefficients between leaf area (LA) and SAR (0.92), fresh biomass (FBM) and SAR (0.90) and dry biomass (DBM) and SAR (0.95). Possible causes of the observed differences in sludge effects on the different soil properties are discussed.

Key words: Arenosol, vertisol, luvisol, plant nutrients, sludge application rate.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-010, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bioremediation of pesticides in surface soil treatment unit using microbial consortia

M. Geetha and M. H. Fulekar*

Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India.

Accepted 08 February, 2020

Abstract 

The manufacturing and use of pesticides has been rising tremendously in India. The waste generated by the pesticide industry has become an environmental problem due to the present insufficient and ineffective waste treatment technology involving physico-chemical and biological treatment. The available data indicates that pesticide residues remain in surface soil, leading to toxicity in the soil-water environment. The recent advances in bioremediation technology using microbial consortium has been found effective for treatment of pesticides in soil. In the present study, a Surface Soil Treatment Unit has been designed wherein bioremediation of commonly used pesticides namely chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, and trichlopyr butoxyethyl ester at varying concentration viz. 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg have been carried out using cow -dung microbial consortia under simulated environmental conditions. The bioremediation conditions have been monitored and maintained during the study. The investigation has been extended till the parent compound was converted into intermediates and/or less harmful compounds. These then will further mineralize, from part of the microbial food chain and/or become integrated into the humic fractions. The results presented here highlight the potential of cow-dung slurry consortia for bioremediation of soil contaminated with pesticides in surface soil treatment unit.

Key words: Bioremediation, surface soil treatment unit, pesticides, cow-dung, microbial consortia.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-009, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Remediation of a heavy metal polluted soil using weedy species; Ageratum conyzoides L. and Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Robinson

Otote Tobi Obehi

Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan.P.O. Box 16489, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 April, 2020

Abstract 

This study investigated the remediation potential of Ageratum conyzoides and Chromolaena odorata. The objectives of this research were to: (i) assess the amounts of Pb, Ni and Cr that C. odorata and A. conyzoides remove from polluted soil (ii) Determine which species best accumulated these heavy metals in their shoot. (iii) Assess the extent to which Pb, Ni and Cr affected the growth of these species. The plants species were raised from seeds in a greenhouse using a dumpsite soil containing concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cr) above standard levels. The ability of A. conyzoides and C. odorata to grow and accumulate Pb, Ni and Cr was assessed for ten weeks. The height of these plants was measured on a weekly basis and the concentration of heavy metals was determined at the end of the study. C. odorata and A. conyzoides significantly depleted the amounts of heavy metals in the dumpsite soil. The mean concentration of Pb and Cr were reduced by 17.91% and 24.04% respectively in the dumpsite soil after the growth of A. conyzoides but there was no significant difference in Ni concentration. A significant decrease was observed in the concentrations of the Pb (17.39%), Ni (81.57%) and Cr (54.12%) in the dumpsite soil after the growth of C. odorata. A. conyzoides had a higher translocation factor for Lead (1.34) than for Chromium (0.15), but it was highest for Ni (6.34). C. odorata also had a low translocation factor for both Ni (0.47) and Cr (0.57) compared to Pb (5.83). There was no significant difference in the heights of these species throughout the experiment. Certain plants have the ability to tolerate heavy metal soil contamination without their growths being significantly impaired as was the case with C. odorata and A. conyzoides in this study. C. odorata has a higher capability to remove heavy metals from soil than A. conyzoides. Both species are potential candidates for the bioremediation of Pb and Ni in soils.

Keywords: Ageratum conyzoides, Chromolaena odorata, heavy metals, weedy species, phytoremediation.