Browsing by Author "Vermooten, Marli"

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    Investigation of heuweltjie structure and soil chemistry in the Buffels River valley and implications for transfer of salts to groundwater
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12) Vermooten, Marli; Miller, Jodie A.; Clarke, Catherine E.; Francis, Michele Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Earth Sciences.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Globally, soil salinization is a major soil degradation problem. Saline soils damage the land by altering various Earth cycles and are especially a threat to farming. Saline soils can cause salts to leach into the groundwater, causing an increase in groundwater salinity. The Buffels River catchment, situated in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, is affected by saline groundwater. Various locations along the coastal zone of southern Africa show similar mean annual precipitation profiles as the Buffels River catchment, yet do not suffer from the same salinization levels. Saline waters within this area are also not evenly distributed, suggesting that other factors may play a role in the groundwater salinization. Heuweltjies, circular earth mounds that can be up to 2 m in height and 32 m in width, are abundant in the Buffels River catchment, and have salinity levels an order of a magnitude higher than the surrounding soils, suggesting that heuweltjie salts may be contributing to this groundwater salinization. Detailed analyses were done on two heuweltjies, through excavation, to examine the salt profile of the heuweltjies, as well as other chemical and physical analyses of the sediments. This was done to see if heuweltjies could be contributing to groundwater salinity in this area. In order to gather this information, a range of analytical techniques were employed with the aim of determining whether the heuweltjies are leaching salts into the groundwater system. Amongst the analytical techniques available for this type of profiling, electrical conductivity, pH, mineralogy, particle size analysis, anion and cation profiling, and dissolved silica were analysed. Results showed that heuweltjies have different soil compositions compared to the interheuweltjie sediments. More clay was present on heuweltjie than off heuweltjie. Heuweltjies had elevated salt concentrations compared to the interheuweltjie sediments, and minerals such as gypsum, calcite, and calcium oxalate were only present in the heuweltjie soils. The source of salt is possibly from marine origin. This could be caused by evaporative concentration, transfer of marine blown salts, or termites bringing saline plant materials into the heuweltjies. Calcite was found in the top soils, and gypsum deeper down, indicating that the water is moving downwards. This was concluded since gypsum is a more soluble salt than calcite and moves further down the profile. Preferential flow pathways were observed through granular soils in one heuweltjie, and termite nests and tunnels within the second heuweltjie, aiding in the transfer of salts to the groundwater.
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    Temporal effects of biochar and dairy manure on physicochemical properties of podzol : Case from a silage-corn production trial in boreal climate
    (MDPI, 2019-08-16) Vermooten, Marli; Nadeem, Muhammad; Cheema, Mumtaz; Thomas, Raymond; Galagedara, Lakshman
    A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of biochar and dairy manure (DM) on physicochemical properties of podzolic soils, as well as to establish the relationships between selected physicochemical properties and soil electrical conductivity (EC) in a silage-corn production system. Nutrient requirements of the crop were met through different nutrient sources considering soil nutrient status, nutrient availability from DM (DM, DM + biochar) and regional crop nutrient recommendations. Experimental treatments included control, inorganic nitrogen (IN), IN + biochar, IN + DM, and IN + DM + biochar. DM was applied at 30,000 L ha−1, whereas biochar was applied at 20 Mg ha−1 and mixed within the top 20 cm of the soil. Disturbed soil samples as well as time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements were collected from treatment plots on four field days. Results showed no significant (p > 0.05) treatment effects on soil pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) within each field day. However, significant temporal effects were recorded for pH, EC, apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and electrical conductivity of the soil solution (ECw). Soil depth (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) had no significant effect on treatments. Significant positive correlations were recorded for EC with soil organic carbon and CEC (ECa, ECw 0–10 cm, & 10–20 cm, p = 0.000). Correlation results show that ECa measurements as a proxy to investigate the variability of key soil properties over large areas, but further investigation between ECa data and soil properties should be carried out to address uncertainties associated in predicting these properties.