RESUMEN
Soil degradation and desertification are persistent ecological issues that present significant challenges worldwide. An accurate evaluation of land susceptibility to desertification is essential for developing suitable strategies or policies to address it on national scales. Modified Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use (MEDALUS) model is widely utilized to assess environmental and desertification sensitivity. This study employed MEDALUS model to identify environmentally sensitive areas prone to desertification in the Harrir region, northern Iraq. A total of 102 soil samples were collected from 0 to 20 cm depth covering a land area of 279.36 km2. Environmental sensitivity area index (ESAI) was used to evaluate sensitivity of the study area to environmental changes. The results indicated that â¼68.18 km2 of the study area would be exposed to land degradation and desertification. Fragile (F) regions accounted for 39.63 km2, underscoring the need for effective management and conservation practices. Only a small portion of the region (2.81 km2) was classified as 'critical' (C). Further analysis revealed that fragile sub-classes F1, F2, and F3 accounted for 11.84%, 17.16%, and 14.19% respectively, while critical subclass C1, C2, and C3 areas accounted for 10.97%, 9.12%, and 1.006% respectively. The remaining areas were either classified as unaffected or had potential for being influenced by environmental changes. Approximately 24.41% of the study area had the potential for being influenced by environmental sensitivity. This highlights the importance of implementing effective management and conservation practices to protect fragile regions in the study area. Policymakers and land managers can effectively prioritize and implement targeted interventions to prevent further soil degradation and desertification in the Harrir region of northern Iraq.
RESUMEN
Red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most commonly cultivated vegetable in the Mediterranean region. This study evaluated the effects of biochar derived from corncob and poultry litter on growth of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and some chemical properties of a silty clay soil. The experiment consisted of two factors, i.e., biochar doses (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2%) and poultry litter doses (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2%). The number of days to 50% flowering, plant height, stem diameter, total number of leaves per plant, the number of main branches per plant, fresh root weight, root length, dry shoot weight, macro (P and K) and micro (Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn) nutrient concentrations of leaves were determined to compare the efficiency biochar and poultry litter. Moreover, post-harvest soil analysis was conducted to measure pH, organic matter, and macro and micronutrient contents. Biochar had varying impact on plant growth parameters, whereas poultry litter alone or in combination with biochar increased macro and micronutrient concentrations of soil and improved most of the growth parameters of red pepper. In contrast, sole biochar application had no significant impact on most of the growth parameters. Wider C/N ratio (107.7) of corncob derived biochar restricted the nitrogen supply for plant growth. The combination of 0.5% biochar and 2% poultry litter resulted in the highest plant height (36.7 cm) and stem diameter (0.69 cm). The results revealed that application of single biochar derived from corncob is insufficient to supply adequate nutrients for optimal plant growth. The application of biochar alone enhances carbon sequestration in soils, however most biochars like cornconb biochar do not contain sufficient available plant nutrients. Therefore, biochars should be applied along with mineral fertilizers or organic materials such as poultry manure which is rich in available plant nutrients.
RESUMEN
Morphological, chemical and some mineralogical characteristics of five soils, were researched to understand the genesis of soils on the man made mounds in the Harran Plain, in the Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey. Five soil profiles developed on the man made mounds in the arid region. Time and climate have affected soil formation. Also, parent material has influenced the chemistry of soils. The parent material of man made mounds were carried from around soils in the Harran Plain by men in years ago. The parent materials of around soils are calcareous parent materials and alluvium materials. Pedon 1 was described on the Konuklu man made mounds the northeast of the study area and Pedon 5 was described on the Küplüce man made mounds the southeast of the study area. According to the place of man made mounds were ordered from north to south as following: Pedon 1, Pedon 2, Pedon 3, Pedon 4 and Pedon 5. The old of Konuklu mounds is approximately 5000-6000 years. The old of Sultantepe and Koruklu mounds are approximately 6000 years. Pedon 4 which was described on the old Harran city remnants have the youngest soils of study area. The Harran mounds was made in 1258 A.I. by Mongolians. Mongolians destroyed the Harran City and made the Harran mounds. The most important pedogenic processes is carbonate leaching and accumulation in the pedon 5 on the Küplüce man made mounds. The CaCO3 content of Pedon 5 may be attributed to eolian addition from Syria. Total Al2O3 contents of soils higher than total Fe2O3 content. According to the degree of soil formation the profiles were ordered as following: Pedon 3 > Pedon 5 > Pedon 2 > Pedon 1 > Pedon 4. The results of total elements analysis were used to determine the beta leaching factor according to Jenny. The leaching factor were determined as < 1 in the Pedon 1 (0.99), Pedon 2 (0.97), Pedon 3 (0.74) and Pedon 5 (0.92). The leaching factor were determined as >1 in the Pedon 4(1.13).