Gardening of urban areas is often connected with a need of formation of a soil cover -konstruktozem. During its creation, as usual, use soil layers, which are highly contrasted in the physical and chemical properties such as: sand, peat, soil (lowermineral horizons). Similar layers united in a general system have new properties and modes. In the process of their functioning soil constructions are exposed to fast transformation. And, changes of properties concern not only quickly changing phases, but also slowly changing firm phase of soils. Similar evolution of soil constructions conducts to their degradation. Creation of steady soil constructions is an important problem of their use, in particular in city gardening. In 2012 on the territory of the Moscow State University were created 28 soil designs of a different structure and they were sowed by grassy vegetation of F estuca Rubra and Olium Perenne. At all constructions identical conditions were supported. Regular researches of physical and chemical properties and modes of soils were conducted. It is established that specifications of a structure of a soil profile significantly influence on growth and development ofplants. Changes in properties of components of a firm phase are found.

Changes in the soil temperature conditions are one of the most important components of soil microclimate and have a considerable impact on changes in soil properties and plant development processes. In this research, soil temperature and thermal diffusivity values were determined at two different fields which are grass covered and shaded areas by peach trees. Theoretical soil temperature values obtained from the solution of thermal conductivity equation were compared to experimental soil temperature values. Field studies were carried out on a farm field in Turkey, Samsun, Qaramba County, Yesilirmak neighborhood (36° 43.380' to the East, 41° 13.061' to the North) between August and September, 2011. Mean soil temperatures at the first experimental field covered by grass at 7:00, 12^л00, 18^л00 hours were determined as 19.5°C; 28.4°C; 23.4°C at the soil surface, 20.2°C; 26.9°C; 23.3°C at 10 cm, 20.7°C; 26.0°C; 23.1°C at 20 cm, 21.1°C; 25.3°C, 22.9°C at 30 cm and 21.4°C; 24.9°C; 22.9°C at 40 cm soil depth, respectively. Mean soil temperatures at the second experimental field shaded by peach trees at 7:00, 12:00, 18:00 hours were determined as 19.4°C; 24.7°C; 22.5°C at the soil surface, 20.3°C; 24.5°C; 22.7°C at 10 cm, 20.8°C; 24.1°C; 22.6°C at 20 cm, 21.1°C; 23.7°C; 22.4°C at 30 cm and 21.0°C; 23.5°C; 22.2°C at 40 cm soil depth, respectively. Mean thermal diffusivity in the 1st experimental field from 0 to 40 cm soil layer were 0.460 cm² s-1; 0.029 cm² s-1 and 0.167 sm² s-1 at 700, 1200 and 1800 hours, respectively. Mean thermal diffusivity in the 2^nd experimental field from 0 to 40 cm soil layer were 0.234 cm² s-1; 0.115 cm² s-1 and 1.677 cm² s-1at 7:00, 12:00 and 18:00 hours, respectively. The mean relative errors between the estimated results using the solution of heat conductivity equation and the experimental temperature measurements were 0.089 at the soil surface and 0.055 at 20 cm soil depth. Comparison of the experimental temperature measurements to estimated temperature values showed that the initial unconditional solution of the heat conductivity equation in a short period (< 3 days) gives much better periodic thermal changes on the soil surface and in soil layers.

The impact of external and internal nitrogen on plant residues decomposition was studied in a series of long-term laboratory incubation experiments. Experiment A was conducted with corn leaves with variable C:N ratios 22, 34, 47 and 62. C:N ratios in Experiments B and C were adjusted to 47, 32, 22 and 10 by adding NH4NO3 (Experiment B) or KNO₃ (Experiment C) to corn residues with initial &N ratio of 62. Mineralization rates of labile and recalcitrant carbon pools of plant residues were estimated by kinetics of cumulative CO losses during one-year-long incubation simulated by the double exponential decay function. The internal organic nitrogen was shown to effect the decay constant of the labile pool only, while the internal inorganic N had impact on the labile pool size as well. Also, KNO₃ as an external N form influenced both k value and the labile pool size. NH₄NO₃ affected all the parameters of the double exponential decay model including second decay constant (k ) of recalcitrant pool. Thus, mineralization of plant residues depends significantly both on concentration and form of available nitrogen.

This paper presents the results of the impact of microbial inoculants on the number of actinomycetes in the rhizosphere soil of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). This plant species in addition to high yield potential and quality of biomass, is characterized by an intense process of nitrogen fixation. The rhizosphere of alfalfa abounds in numerous microorganisms. The aim of the research was to investigate the effect of inoculating with two nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Sinorhizobium meliloti and Azotobacter chroococcum) and two isolates (CC657 and Coll11) ofthe phytopathogen fungus Colletotrichum destructivum on the number actinomycetes in the rhizospheric soil of alfalfa varieties (Affinity, Perry and K-28). The highest number of actinomycetes was determined in rhisosphere of cultivar Affinity which was inoculated with A. chroococcum + isolate Coll-11, while the lowest number was found in rhisosphere of cultivar K-28 inoculate with CC657. Results of Fisher test shows the absence of statistically significant differences in abundance of actinomycetes between treatments, meaning there were four homogenous groups: 1. treatments of cultivar K-28 with Coll-11 and CC657 + S. meliloti; 2. treatments of cultivar K-28 with Coll 11 + S. meliloti and control treatment (without inoculation) in cultivar Perry; 3. treatments with Coll 11 + A. chroococcum in cultivar K-28 and CC657 + A. chroococcum in cultivar Perry; 4. inoculation with CC657 + A. chroococcum in K-28 and Coll 11 + A. chroococcum in cultivar Perry.

The aim of the study is estimation of potassium reserves of agrogrey heavy clay loam soil of Vladimir opolie on the basis of differentiated analysis of its contents in fractions less than 1, 1-5, 5-10 microns. The object of research is agrogrey heavy clay loam soils of a trench created on the loess loam. Minimum content of aluminum and iron as well as the greatest amount of silicon oxide is noted in the plough layer. The latter could be explained by involvement of eluvial part of natural soils. The content of elements oxides in oozy fraction significantly differs from that of the bulk soil. The amount of silicon oxide is sharply reduced whereas the way of its distribution on a profile is uniform (49.5-51.2 %). Significant increase in iron and aluminum oxides content (10.1-11.1 % and 18.2-19. 1 %, respectively) is noted. In comparison with the bulk soil the oozy fraction is enriched with gross magnesium. The amount of calcium oxide potassium oxide content in silt is only slightly greater than its quantity in the soil as a whole. The gross chemical composition of oozy fraction indicates that this fraction consists mainly of clay minerals characterized by high amounts of aluminum, iron, magnesium and potassium. The main components of fraction are irregular mixed-layered units, mica - smectites with the high contents of smectite packages dominate. Smectite phase and hydromicas comprise 85-90 % of the sum of silt components. The amount of kaolinite and chlorite fluctuates within 10-15 %. These minerals are sources of potassium, magnesium and determine soil anions behavior. Reserves of potassium in oozy fraction is the highest in comparison with fractions of a fine and medium dust as the main potassium carriers are minerals comprising more than 80 % of all minerals of fraction. Thus, the greatest amount of such nutrients as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium is fixed in fine fractions, in the oozy -phosphorus, and magnesium, in oozy and fine-dust fraction - potassium, magnesium. Periodic addition of part of illuvial horizon during plowing is necessary for compensation of natural nutrients stocks. The last prevents textural differentiation of a profile, fills up number of fine fractions along with elements of plant nutrition. obtained results serve as evidence of a direct connection between the minerals, their crystallochemistry, the dissociation degree and the availability of nutrient elements to plant communities. There are various approaches to assess the storage (reserve) of nutrient elements. Gorbunov (1969, 1978) offered the differentiated assessment of such reserves containing in minerals. Each element is concentrated in certain minerals. For example, potassium - in feldspar, mica, hydromica; magnesium - in biotite, chlorite, vermiculite, etc., phosphorus - in apatite, phosphates of potassium, calcium, etc., and also in the state absorbed by clay minerals. The total storage of elements is divided by N.I.Gorbunov into four categories: general, potential, near, direct.

The study of adsorption kinetics is very useful for understanding the mechanisms that are involved. In order to predict the mechanism involved during the present sorption process and the potential rate controlling steps such as mass transport, pore diffusion and chemical reaction processes, several kinetic models were used to fit the experimental data, namely, zero-order, first-order, pseudo-second-order, simplified Elovich, parabolic diffusion and power function models. At the present study, an ammonium adsorption kinetic experiment was conducted using solution containing 100 mg/l of ammonium chloride at the times of 0.25 to 384 h. Kinetic equations for ammonium adsorption were evaluated by comparing coefficients of determination (r²) and standard errors of estimate (SE) for each equation, which were determined by least square regression analysis. The results of adsorption kinetic study showed that ammonium is adsorbed fast within the first hours, but with elapsing the time, it will be slow. The most ammonium adsorption was in Kordkoy soil and the lowest one was observed in the Houttan soil 2. The rates of ammonium adsorption in all soils could be best described by the pseudo second order, power function and simplified Elovich equations.

Phosphorus sorption by soils depends on a series of soil properties, most important of which are pH, clay, organic matter, cation exchange capacity (CEC), amorphous Fe, Al and Mn oxides, as well as CaCO₃. However, such properties may vary in soils of different degree of weathering. The aim of this work was to examine the soil properties that affect P sorption in 13 soils of Central Greece, evaluating the effect soil taxonomy may have on P sorption. We chose soils that differed considerably in pH (4 acidic and 9 alkaline) and in taxonomy (4 Alfisols, 4 Entisols, and 5 Inceptisols), and we conducted batch sorption tests with initial added element concentrations of C„=0-100 mg L^-1 at 1-to-10 soil-to-solution ratio. We measured sorption at C„=100 mg L^-1 (q₁₀₀) and the distribution coefficient, K_d-100 (equal to q/C at C₀=100 mg L^-1). We also measured important soil physico-chemical properties, and the sorption indices were correlated with the measured soil properties. When soils were divided according to taxonomy, we found that Alfisols had significantly higher CEC, amorphous Fe and Mn oxides, and q100, but also significantly lower P extractability (water soluble-P and Mehlich-3-P). The other two soil orders did not have different soil properties. When soils were divided according to pH, exchangeable Ca, and the two above mentioned P extractability indices were lower in the acidic group of soils than in the alkaline. These results suggest that although differences in exchangeable Ca are entirely pH-related, differences in extractable P, as well as CEC, Fe and Mn oxides and q100 are taxonomy-related. We also found that K_dl00.was significantly correlated only with exchangeable Ca (R²=0.304, p<0.05). Extractable P decreased with increasing sand, while organic C increased extractable P. We conclude that soil taxonomy is a key factor in understanding P sorption/extractability in soils, because highly weathered soils (here, Alfisols) have higher amorphous oxides content and this tends to enhance P retention by soils.

Rapid and simultaneous determination of nitrate (NO^-) and potassium (K+) ions in soil samples using ion selective electrodes (ISE) was investigated. The compatibility of ISEs with soil extraction solution is a challenging subject as various effects such as pH, ionic strength and interferences have to be considered as well as efficiency of the extraction solution. In this study, 30 agricultural soil samples of different properties were extracted with 0.01 mole.L-1 Al₂(SO₄)₃ and the extracts were simultaneously measured by NO^- - ISE and K+ - ISE in a flow system. The results were compared with ion chromatography (IC) as the reference method, and the regression analysis between IC and ISE results was yielded high correlation (R² = 0.986 and R² = 0.951 for K+ and NO₃^-, respectively). It was concluded that, ion selective electrodes can be used with 0.01 mole.L-1 Al₂(SO₄)₃ extraction solution for rapid and simultaneous determination of nitrate and potassium in soil samples.

The Plain of Lower-Cheliff is one of the most studied north Algerian areas in terms of soil and water dynamics either in space or in time but it is very poor in term of landscapes mainly those related to vegetation. Here in this brief study we used a digital elevation model to detect the soil morphology of our study area mainly slopes and altitudes then to extract and classify the different landscape patterns using the method of supervised classification applied on a satellite imagery of LANDSAT TM type to present the spatial distribution ofthe main morpho-landscpaes in a digital spatial map. The resulted classes from the image are mainly: cereal -crops, tree crops, garden-crops to the east side of the area also, halophytes and bare soils to the west side. The digital elevation model shows that the variation of elevation is not that important as the slope but it is still the one that controls the distribution of landscapes in the plain according to the overlay, elevation/landscapes: halophytes and bare soils locate in low altitudes commonly called depressions following the soil salinity concentration at this level, other crops locate in mid to high altitudes away from soil salinity that endangers agricultural practices in the area, finally we can say that the spatial distribution of any landscape in the area is directly related to soil dynamics and characteristics.

Toxic elements like heavy metals are natural constituents of the earth's crust and a number of these elements are biologically essential at trace levels and play an important role in human health. Heavy metal contamination of soil is a widespread problem in Zanjan province located in North West Iran due to natural pedogeochemical background and anthropogenic sources. Taham district was selected for detail study and the objectives of the study were set to evaluate the total as well as bioavailable fraction of heavy metals in surficial soils within the studied area. 57 surficial soil samples were collected and analyzed for heavy metal contamination by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The obtained results when compared with WHO and EPA standards show a very high concentration of some toxic metals notably As, Pb and Cd. Bioavilable fraction of studied metals was also measured with formation of metal complex with Diethylene Tri Amine Penta Acid (DTPA) agent. To find the share of the anthropogenic sources in the contamination of soils, the Enrichment factor (Ef) and Geological accumulation index were measured and the distribution maps were drawn using Arc GIS (9.3). High concentrations of some toxic metals like As, Pb and Cd were found in isolated patches in North West, East and South West of the studied area originating both from pedogenic as well as anthropogenic sources. Soil contamination by metals was very high around industrial town and agricultural lands within the studied area. The most effective factors responsible for high concentrations of other elements like Cu, Co, Ni and Fe in soil were found to be pedogenic in nature.

A morphological description of miniprofili sections were differentiated on the dwarf horizons in color and addition. From a morphological description that bulk soils subjected to transformation under the influence of soil-forming factors (climate, vegetation, soil biota). In all variants of the experiment the most pronounced morphological feature is the formation of sod horizon various capacities.

The paper analyses the effect of fertilizer application on the soil organic matter condition in typical light-loam chernozem. It has been established that the application of organic fertilizers (straw and green manure) on the background of the mineral fertilizers increases the humus content and organic matter content, but the movable part of humus is almost independent of organic fertilizers .