Soil Analysis - Science topic

In order to investigate the effect of palm fiber on the shear resistance of cohesive soil reinforced by EICP (Enzyme Induced Carbonate Precipitation), taking the cohesive purple soil in Three Gorges Reservoir Area as the research object, and 5 palm fiber dosages (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.8%) combined with 5 cementing liquid concentrations (0 mol...

Soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution and interaction with light is influenced by soil texture parameters (clay, silt and sand), which makes SOC prediction complicated, especially in samples with considerable pedological variability. Hence, understanding the relationship between SOC and soil texture is important within the context of SOC predictio...

For effective use of valuable soil samples after determination of naturally occurring radionuclides by gamma-spectrometry, a simple U-8 container sealing method with PTFE seals was investigated. When the method was applied to measure naturally occurring radionuclides in standard reference materials, it was found that the method could determine radi...

We investigated the effectiveness and biochemical impact of the insecticides flu-bendiamide and flonicamid compared with azadirachtin and acetamiprid against the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Grennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) infesting cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme L.) grown under greenhouse conditions. The dissipation of both...

This study introduces an innovative standard and protocol approach for accurate assessment and harmonization of undisturbed soil surface spectra under field conditions, achieving laboratory-grade precision, while minimizing systematic discrepancies. The SoilPRO® assembly was employed for its efficacy in precisely measuring seven different soil samp...

The Guelph Permeameter (GP) test, one of the constant-head borehole permeameter tests, is a potential tool for studying the heterogeneous alluvial deposits in the foundation of river levees. However, the applicability and adequacy of the information obtained by the tests in the targeted environment are still unclear. Experiments are conducted in a...

Lubricant oils are manufactured in various formulations for different applications. They majorly contain a complex mixture of hydrocarbons. In present work, soil samples were collected from three different petrol filling stations situated in Karad, Maharashtra, India. Three different isolates were obtained from all the soil samples. The detailed st...

This research paper explores the diversity and potential of Actinobacteria as sources of bioactive compounds through the isolation as well as distinct screening of these microorganisms from different samples of soil. Samples were collected from five geographically distinct sites of Uttarakhand region, and a combination of selective isolation and mo...

The mega city of Lagos, Nigeria is plagued by various environmental issues, chief amongst them being environmental pollution induced by poor and disjointed urban industrial waste management practices. This study aimed to identify and quantify the types of urban industrial waste generated in Lagos State. The State plays host to the largest populatio...

The soil fertility maps generated using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) serve as crucial tools for effective nutrient management decision-making. However, soil fertility data for the Minapur, Kanti, and Marwan blocks of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, India was found to be insufficient. Therefore, a soil fertil...

This research aims to determine changes in the chemical properties of mercury-contaminated soil with various modifications in the application of biochar and vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.). This research uses an experimental method with an ex-situ remediation approach which was carried out from October 2023 to January 2024 at greenhouse....

This study was designed to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals (HMs) in the north of Ahvaz, southwest Iran. The soil samples were collected from the agricultural farm and riverside in Karun, for the investigation of the environmental impacts of the selected HMs in the soil of the Weiss and Arab Assad regions. For soil sampling in a period, n...

Ten soil sites were chosen in Iraqi Kurdistan region, included the governorates of (Sulaimani, Arbil, and Duhok). These soils were characterized by their similarity in texture, parent material, topography, climatic conditions, and equal rainfall, in order to study the use of the center of gravity equation and mineralogical properties in evaluating...

Choosing appropriate tillage methods and applying the right amount of chemical fertilizers are pivotal for optimizing wheat management and enhancing wheat quality. This study investigated the influence of conservation agriculture and phosphorus levels on nutrient content, yield components, and quality traits of wheat in a corn-wheat rotation. Condu...

Citation: Chokkerd, J.; Udomchai, A.; Sultornsanee, S.; Angkawisittpan, N.; Jantosut, P.; Sangiamsak, N.; Kaewhanam, N. Recalibrated Correlations between Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) Data and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) in Subgrade Soil. Eng 2024, 5, 1173-1182. Abstract: This study investigates the correlation between the California Bearing R...

The increasing CO2 output has garnered significant attention, with CO2 adsorption being a highly efficient method for capturing and utilizing this greenhouse gas. In this study, clay soil, which is naturally abundant, was examined for its potential application as a CO2 capture adsorbent. Clay soil samples were activated with phosphoric acid (H3PO4-...

Purpose: Freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) in the alpine region driven by global warming is an important abiotic perturbation that affects soil pore structure and soil organic. However, the mechanisms of interaction between soil aggregate structure and carbon fractions during FTCs are unclear. Methods: In this study, soil samples were collected from two ty...

In this article, the morphogenetic properties of the soils-grunt formed at point "0" of the southern part of the dry bottom of the Aral Sea were studied, and chemical and agrochemical properties were analyzed in the laboratory by taking soil samples

Whether nitrogen (N)-metabolic versatility is a common trait of N-transforming microbes or if it only occurs in a few species is still unknown. We collected 83 soil samples from six soil types across China, retrieved 19 publicly available metagenomic marine sample data, and analyzed the functional traits of N-transforming microorganisms using metag...

Heavy metals accumulate and bind strongly in soil, making them difficult to eliminate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) and European hazelnut (Coryllus avellana) admixtures in pine monocultures on the accumulation and vertical distribution of heavy metals in soil surface horizons. Ten sites...

Purpose To explore the soil heavy metal pollution around Wangchun Industrial Park and its health effects on people of different ages. Methods In this study, pollution assessment methods such as the Igeo\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{...

In India, particularly within its Northeastern territories, landslides triggered by rainfall following dry periods are a major concern, consistently causing extensive damage to both life and infrastructure. This study focuses on mitigating their impact through preemptive measures, with an emphasis on analyzing slope stability to determine critical...

A methodology has been developed to assess the presence and dissipation of herbicides of a wide range of polarities in soil using in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME) coupled online to capillary liquid chromatography (capLC). The compounds investigated were tritosulfuron (TRT), triflusulfuron-methyl (TRF), aclonifen (ACL), and bifenox (BF)...

This study was conducted to determine the effects of soil properties on the excavation performance of an earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine (EPB TBM) used in the Istanbul Dudullu-Bostanci Tunnel Project. Soil samples were collected from different locations along the tunnel route, and subjected to laboratory tests to determine the particle...

To investigate the contents of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in tea plantation soils and their ecological stoichiometric characteristics, as well as their response to environmental factors in high-latitude regions of China, soil samples from 0 to 20 cm depth were collected from tea plantations at different altitudes and cultivation years in the...

Techniques for monitoring environmental conditions have changed as a result of advancements in UV spectroscopy in recent years. This method goes to considerable lengths to expose the molecular structure, composition, and dynamics by studying the absorption, emission, and scattering of photons using UV and visible light wavelengths. With the use of...

The current investigation was conducted in the Kafr El-Dawar region to study the relationship between soil microbial biomass and soil quality index. Thirty-nine soil samples were taken for the chemical characteristics used to determine the soil quality index by the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) procedures. Pearson correlation relation...

South Sumatra Province has a peat area of 1.4 million Ha. The distribution of peat soil in Ogan Ilir is 23,687.91 Ha. Peat soil has a low bearing capacity. This research aims to explain the effect of stabilization on peat soil characteristics. Peat soil samples were taken using the Block Sampling method. The research locations are Parit Village and...

Real time soil monitoring provides efficient and timely information of crop and soil for precise decision making in the crop production and yield improvement. The high cost, time-consuming soil chemical analysis, and laborious collection of soil samples are significant problems in soil monitoring. In an attempt to solve these problems, different ty...

Over the past three decades, open-pit mining has been expanding in arid and semi-arid areas of China.Open-pit mining profoundly changes the soil environment and has a profound impact on the circulation of soil water in the aeration zone.Therefore, this research explores the impacts of open-pit coal mining on soil moisture processes in the semi-arid...

This investigation involved the assessment of natural (²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K) and artificial (¹³⁷Cs) radioactivity concentrations in 27 soil samples taken from the Arin Lake (Bitlis) coastline, using the HPGe detector system. For this purpose, dose calculations were performed on the basis of the activity concentration values of soil samples. The mea...

We can see that the beneficial microorganisms in the soil serve as the main medium in providing the nutrient elements necessary for plant growth and development, which in turn, is important in improving the ecological condition of the soil. However, their such properties and possibilities have not yet been fully utilised, especially in conditions o...

To address the growing demand for sustainable agriculture practices, new technologies to boost crop productivity and soil health must be developed. In this research, we propose designing and building an agricultural rover capable of autonomous vegetable harvesting and soil analysis utilizing cutting-edge deep learning algorithms (YOLOv5). The preci...

n the article, resistance, sensitivity and adaptability of local strains of microorganisms to different concentrations of heavy metal ions such as Cu2+, Co2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+, as well as viability properties were periodically determined in the "Soil+heavy metal+microorganism" system. The experiments were carried out for three months and the growth an...

As stand age increases, plants will lead to alterations in soil characteristics. This research aimed to explore variations in soil physicochemical properties across Acacia hybrid plantation forests of varying ages (i.e., 3-, 6-, and 9-years-old). Soil samples at different depths of 0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm were obtained from various ages of A. hyb...

Background: Most of the murder victims in Nigeria are concealed in shallow graves or clandestine paths or bushes. Knowledge of post mortem interval of buried carrions is useful in estimating time of death of a carcass or the time of occurrence of a homicide. Post mortem interval of buried remains is different from that of exposed remains on soil su...

The study investigated the pollution indices and potential ecological risks of heavy metals (HM) occurrence in the soil affected by municipal waste from selected parts of Delta state southern, Nigeria. The heavy metal concentrations were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Heavy metals analyzed for this study are Zn, Cr, Cu, Pb, Cd...

Chromium (Cr) contamination is widely distributed in agricultural soil and poses a threat to agricultural sustainability. Developing integrated models based on soil survey data can be an effective measure to accurately predict the spatial distribution of Cr. Focused on an agriculturally dominated area, this study presents a novel hybrid mapping mod...

Boontanom P, Chantarasiri A. 2024. Short communication: Candida sp. isolated from mangrove soils for biological decolorization of textile reactive dyes. Biodiversitas 25: 2595-2602. Effluent discharge from dye-related industries is a significant environmental pollution problem and a concern for human health. Dyes have harmful effects on aquatic org...

This study aims to determine the analysis of soil quality index in pine forest land use type on dry land in Aceh Besar Regency. This research focused on several field observation points in the pine forest land use type area on dry land in Aceh Besar Regency. The soil quality index in the pine forest land use type in Aceh Besar Regency is included i...

In a recent Matters Arising article, Osburn et al. ¹ raised concerns about the estimation of bacterial life history traits Piton et al. discerned from soil metagenomes ² . The criticism focused on the possible overestimation of the bacterial Average Genome Size (AGS) due to the presence of eukaryotes in the soil samples. Here, we apply a newly deve...

The ingestion of heavy metals in agricultural soils by the population has implications for human health. The research demonstrate that the concentration of Cd in the soil exceeded the national background level, with 62% of soil samples surpassing the Chinese soil screening value. Furthermore, 42% of the analyzed rice grains exhibited Cd levels that...

Increases in organic carbon within agricultural soils are widely recognized as a “negative emission” that removes CO2 from the atmosphere. Accurate quantification of soil organic carbon (SOC) to a certain depth in the spatial domain is critical for the effective implementation of improved land management practices in croplands. Currently, there is...

Sustainability has evolved into a broad phrase that includes practically every aspect of life on the Earth, from local to global, and over different periods. Sustainable biological systems include healthy, long-lived forests and wetlands. This paper aimed to study and measure pollution indicators in the Al-Hai city center's air, soil, and water in...

Background and aims Certain plant species release root carboxylates in response to phosphorus (P) limitation; however, the prevalence of root exudate release in species in P-limited forest ecosystems remains unexplored due to challenges in field assessment. Methods Manganese (Mn) accumulation in mature leaves can indicate the presence of root carb...

Excessive conventional tillage can degrade important aspects of soil quality and health over time. Strategic tillage offers a focused solution to address priority soil limitations with minimal disturbance. This chapter reviews the current science on how strategic tillage affects key soil physical, chemical, and biological factors relevant to soil f...

Within the offshore wind sector, following the conclusions of the Pile Soil Analysis (PISA) Project increased emphasis has been placed on the acquisition of in-situ Gmax data, to corroborate laboratory-based measurements, to allow for foundation weight optimization. This requirement for higher fidelity data at all wind turbine locations is coupled...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate antibacterial activity of pigment extracted from bacteria, isolated from soil samples. During the study, 20 soil samples were collected from different areas (forest, agriculture fields, river sides and dumping sites) of Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts which were processed for isolation of pigment producing...

Purpose Accurate assessment of soil moisture content (SMC) is crucial for applications in climate science, hydrology, ecology, and agriculture. However, conventional SMC characterization and measurement are expensive, time-consuming, and have negative effects on soil. Recently, the application of multispectral technology provides a new idea for SMC...

Lead exposure has blighted communities across the United States (and the globe), with much of the burden resting on lower income communities, and communities of color. On 17 January 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) lowered the recommended screening level of lead in residential soils from 400 to 200 parts per million. Our analysi...

This paper reviews and compares various methods of extracting total DNA from soil samples using laboratory materials and reagents. The methods of DNA extraction were analyzed in different modifications and combinations with each other and with pretreatment of soil samples. It is shown that for effective DNA extraction, pretreatment of samples with...

The primary aim of the current study was to develop a model capable of predicting the spatial distribution patterns of soil organic carbon (SOC) in mangrove forests (Avicennia marina) affected by camel grazing along the southern coast of the Red Sea. Four protected locations within mangrove forests were selected along the southern coast of the Saud...

In the current implementation process for dredging projects, due to the lack of an accurate understanding of underwater soil characteristics, construction teams often find it difficult to accurately understand the soil condition. Not only does this lead to a reduced dredger operation efficiency, but it may also cause delays to the project’s progres...

The use of soil for the production of crop products leads to changes in the natural properties of soils and their natural state. When various situations arise, soil properties can change in different forms and with unequal degrees of severity; a process that worsens quantitative and qualitative properties is defined as soil degradation. The signifi...

The article discusses the possibility of using artificial intelligence and machine learning methods to predict soil fertility based on remote sensing data. The research object was 70 soil samples taken in the village of Vshchizh, Bryansk region. Multispectral imaging of the earth's surface from the Sentinel-2 satellite was also used to assess the s...

The soil water retention curve (SWRC) is essential for describing water and energy exchange processes at the interface between the solid earth and the atmosphere. Despite its importance, measuring the SWRC using standard laboratory methods is challenging and time-consuming. This paper presents a novel physics-informed neural network (PINN) approach...

i>Gilbertella persicaria is a fungus causing dragon fruit rot discovered recently and there is still no effective measure to control this fungus. Several studies demonstrated that microorganisms were applied for controlling G. persicaria on other crops. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential application of rhizobacteria in the in v...

Field and laboratory testing was carried out for the construction of a 100 m long cable stayed bridge situated in the foothills of the Alps in the south of Germany, a region dominated by deep post-glacial, fine-grained sediments. Due to the sensitivity and associated challenges with retrieving undisturbed soil samples in situ tests and their evalua...

The investigation was conducted on Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) based Integrated Plant Nutrient System (IPNS) technology, where the fertilizer doses are customized according to the anticipated crop yield, considering the crop's nutrient requirements and the contributions from soil, fertilizers, and organic manures. The field trial took place at t...

The influence of lignite mining on vegetation constitutes a key issue due to the role of plants in restoring and maintaining the ecological balance of ecosystems. In this context, the identification of its impact on the functioning of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) as a species often colonizing disturbed habitats takes on particular importance....

The selection of raw materials to produce quality artisanal bricks is imperative for sustainable building in rural regions. Artisanal brick-making process often employs traditional kiln to fire brick because it is an affordable, and applicable technology in the rural region. However, there are noticeable cracks, increasing among buildings construct...

Cropping systems in many sub-tropical and tropical regions rely on phosphorus (P) fertilisers to maintain crop yields. However, crop responses are often spatially and temporally inconsistent. This study evaluated P availability from dispersed applications of fresh phosphate fertiliser and their residual effect in two contrasting Vertisols - a major...

The phytoremediation of hydrocarbon impacted soil using selected plant species (Pennisetum purpureum) in oil producing communities of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was investigated using standard techniques. The selected plant species were cultivated on soils from Mbo, Ikot Abasi and Esit Eket contaminated with graded concentration (5, 10, 15 and 20%) o...

This study focuses on the potential quantity of soil lead (Pb) remediation in a typical karst region of China, an area where previous research on the potential remediation quantity of Pb in soil has been scarce. In this study, 12,547 surface soil samples and 54 sets of soil-profile samples were collected. This analysis investigated the sources, con...

Eyayu Molla, Heluf Gebrekidan, Tekaliign Mamo and Mohammed Assen, 2009. Effects of land use change on selected soil properties in the Tera Gedam Catchment and adjacent agro ecosystems, northwest Ethiopia, Ethiopian Journal of Natural Resources. 11(1): 35-62 Assessment of land use induced changes on soils is important for soil quality improvement an...

Oil and gas extraction greatly impacts the environment due to the existence of natural radionuclides in crude oil. Uncontrolled dealing with the extraction can lead to radiological contamination. This research aims to determine the radioactivity concentration of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and risk assessment of contaminated so...

Contamination of soil with naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) is a common problem in oilfields leading to costly remediation and disposal programs, where 226Ra and 228Ra are the most important radionuclides. This study focuses on treatment of the contaminated soil with NORM to reduce the activity concentration within the allowable limi...

This study investigated the impact of adding different proportions of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) on the engineering properties of expansive soils. GGBS proportions ranging from 0 to 40% by weight of soil were tested. A comprehensive series of experiments was conducted to determine the consistency limits, modified compaction charact...

The Gysian ophiolite is a remnant of the Neotethys, which is located in the northwest of Iran at the intersection of the ophiolite belts of southeast Turkey, northeast Iraq, and Iran.Three groups of rocks in the region (gabbro, metapelite and serpentinites) with large outcrops of ultramafic, mafic and acidic rocks were the target of this study and...

The tropical grasslands of the Central Nicobar Islands have long been perceived as anthropogenic formations, which has influenced their conservation and management in the region. Despite their ecological and cultural significance, these grasslands have received limited scholarly attention, rendering them vulnerable to alternative land uses and conv...

This review focuses on the critical role of potassium (K) in potato cultivation, addressing its essential functions in plant metabolism and the challenges in managing soil K levels, specifically under sandy soils. The K use efficiency is higher in potatoes, with the maximum potential up to 55%, compared to cereals at 19%. Potatoes require high quan...

The study of microplastics (MPs) in soils is impeded by similarities between plastic and non-plastic particles and the misidentification of MP by current analytical methods such as visual microscopic examination. Soil MPs pose serious ecological and public health risks because of their abundance, persistence, and ubiquity. Thus, reliable identifica...

A statistical linear regression study was performed on surface soil samples collected in four Burundi agro-écological zones (AEZ) of Imbo, Mumirwa, Kirimiro and Moso. The study aimed at evaluating the causal effects of soil pH, % clay and % Organic C (OC) on soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), using simple, two-way and 3-way linear regression mode...

Sorption is the most important process influencing the amount of herbicide retained in soils. The special properties of biochar could influence the soil retention of pollutants through adsorption. However, the detailed sorption mechanisms as influenced before and after applying biochar to soils with different properties are unclear. This study exam...

The current research seeks to identify the proportions and quantities of quantitative analysis of inorganic mineral elements in sandy soil and their effect on agricultural crops in the soil of the Libyan Kufra Oasis. The quantitative approach was relied upon in analyzing the study samples that were brought from three different regions of the Kufra...

Contextualization: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation, throughout its vegetative process, generates an increase in bulk density and penetration resistance in soil. The most representative component of production costs is management, even so, land preparation and adaptation reach, and exceed, 20% of the costs. Knowledge gap: As it is a high economic...

Soil is one of the main destinations for pesticides and veterinary drugs used in agriculture and animal production. The negative consequences of the accumulation of these compounds in the environment make it important to monitor these compounds in the soil. In this study, we compared different extraction procedures using solvent shaking, ultrasound...

Phosphorus (P) that accumulates in agricultural riparian zones can be released under certain hydrological and biogeochemical conditions, thereby limiting the effectiveness of these zones in reducing P loads from field to stream. The study objective was to explore factors that may be contributing to, or limiting, high soluble reactive phosphorus (SR...

The nitrogen-stable isotopes of plants can be used to verify the source of fertilizers, but the fertilizer uptake patterns in tea (Camellia sinensis) plants are unclear. In this study, potted tea plants were treated with three types of organic fertilizers (OFs), urea, and a control. The tea leaves were sampled over seven months from the top, middle...

The Amazon Forest has a soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) potential of 126 to 141 Tg year−1 and it depends on soil organic matter (SOM) accumulation factors and stabilization mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate SOCS, soil nitrogen stocks (SNS), SOM fractions under the Amazon Forest along a topographic and vegetation gradient (Terra Firme, River...

This study evaluated the chemical and microbiological soil attributes in a silvopastoral system compared to well-managed pasture, degraded pasture, and Cerrado vegetation in Brazil. A randomized design with four replications was employed to collect soil samples at seven depths. These samples were analyzed for carbon (C), nitrogen (N), pH, phosphoru...

Aim: The contamination of soil and vegetables by heavy metals is a critical environmental and public health issue, particularly in regions where wastewater is utilized for irrigation. This study assesses the concentration of heavy metals, (Cr, Zn, Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, As, Co and Cu) accumulated in soils and vegetables grown in Peri-urban areas which...

The study involved the collection of soil samples from several schools across the Baghdad governorate. The precise activity levels of 238U and 232Th, and 40K were between 3.2 ± 1.3 and 20.6 ± 0.2 Bq/kg, with an average of 22.1 ± 1.118.22 Bq/kg, or 122.0-4.8 Bq/kg. The outcomes of Raeq, Hex, Hin, I?, and Ia are listed in Table 2. From this Table, Ra...

The study was carried out to assess the nutrient status of the two major rice production systems (rain-fed lowland and upland) and the relationship among the nutrient contents of the soil in Okigwe area of Imo State, Nigeria. Soil samples from 15 cm depth were collected from 10 farms in the area: 5 farms from rain-fed lowland and 5 from upland rice...

The study aimed to assess the elemental composition and pollution levels in soil samples collected from various factories in different governorates of Iraq. The specific factories investigated were a cement factory in Diwaniyah governorate, a coal factory in Karbala governorate, and napo river in hilla governorate. To analyze the soil samples and i...

In this work, the physico-chemical properties of Khana LGA crude oil contaminated soils, are experimentally determined with respect to ASTM standard, as well the crude oil contaminated soils are remediated using Bacillus substilis and Aspergillus Niger. The kinetic parameters of the soils are as well ascertained using a well-developed biochemical m...

The article presents the data of metagenomic sequencing of several samples of fertile soils (the World Soil Bank of Unitsky Farm Enterprise and the arboretum of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy). The analysis was performed using NovaSeq 6000. The authors carried out a comprehensive assessment of the microbial potential of soils and the pre...

Earthworms play a crucial role in soil health and fertility maintenance, making understanding their distribution essential for sustainable land management practices. The research employs a comprehensive survey approach, analysing soil samples collected from agricultural and residential sites representing different land use types. Edaphic factors i...