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Algorithms that exist in every area today have become the center of our lives with technological developments. The uses of machine learning algorithms are being researched with the new developments in the agricultural field. The present study determined the least limiting water range (LLWR) contents of alluvial lands with different soils distributed in the Bafra Plain, where intensive agricultural activities are carried out, and revealed the compression and aeration problems in the area with distribution maps. Also, the predictability of LLWR was evaluated with the random forest (RF) algorithm, one of the machine learning algorithms, and the usability of the prediction values distribution maps was revealed. The LLWR contents of the soils varied in the range of 0.049-0.273 cm3 cm-3 for surface soils. There were aeration problems in 6.72%, compaction problems in 20.16%, and aeration and compaction problems in 0.8% of the surface soils examined in the study area. Furthermore, 72.32% of the soil was under optimal conditions. For the 20-40 cm depth, an aeration problem in 5.88%, a compaction problem in 28.57%, and both an aeration and a compaction problem in 2.52% of the points were detected. In estimating LLWR with the RF algorithm, the root mean square error (RMSE) value obtained for 0-20 cm depth was determined to be 0.0218 cm3 cm-3, and for 20-40 cm depth, it was 0.0247 cm3 cm-3. In the distribution maps of the observed and predicted values obtained, the lowest RMSE value was determined by the SK interpolation methods for 0-20 cm depth and the OK interpolation methods for 20-40 cm. The distribution of obtained and predicted values in surface soils was similar. However, variations were found in the distribution of areas with low LLWR below the surface. As a result of the study, it was determined that LLWR can be obtained with a low error rate with the RF algorithm, and distribution maps can be created with lower error in surface soils.

In this research was carried out to determine the effects of farmyard manure and green manure applications on some soil physical properties in a three yearly organic vegetable cultivation field. The effects of control (C), farmyard manure (FYM) (35 t ha-1) and green manure (GM) applications on some soil physical properties (soil water characteristics (0.001, 0.1, 0.33, 1, 5, 10 and 15 bars), available water content, porosity and bulk density) were investigated in 0-10 and 10-20 cm soil depths for two years. At all tension values, the highest volumetric soil water contents were obtained for FYM application and the lowest ones for C treatment. The highest total porosity along with macro and micro porosity were found in the FYM application and the lowest ones were found in the C application. The available water content was the highest in the GM application and the lowest in the C application. In addition, the highest bulk density was found in C application and the lowest bulk density was found in FYM application. These results showed that the effects of different organic material applications on soil physical properties are important.

Biogas production has recently become an important issue in countries where alternative energy sources are gaining importance. The study investigates the use of waste, the final product of production, as a soil conditioner and fertilizer for sustainable soil management. The study examines the effects of different amounts of biogas waste [0 (B0), 1 (B1), 2 (B2), 3 (B3) and 4 (B4) ton da-1] on some soil properties and soil moisture characteristic curve (pF). In addition, the van Genuchten model, which has been long and widely used in many studies for the prediction of hydraulic properties, was compared with the pF curves that were obtained using the predicted and real values obtained from the applications. The results of the study showed that although biogas waste applications were more effective in the wet region of the moisture characteristic curve, B3 was the most effective dose that improved the physical properties of the soil. The B4 application had a decrease of about 16% in the penetration resistance and an increase of about 21% in the wilting point compared with those of the control group. The decrease in the macro pore volume due to biogas waste applications was not statistically significant, while biogas waste applications caused a statistically significant increase in the micro pore volume (P

Soil compaction is a common problem of mineral soils under conventional tillage practices. Organic matter addition is an efficient way of reducing the effects of field traffic in soil compaction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of number of tractor passes (one, three, and five) on depth-dependent (0–10 and 10–20 cm) penetration resistance, bulk density, and porosity of clay-textured soil (Typic Xerofluvent) under organic vegetable cultivation practices in the 2010–2013 growing seasons. Fields were treated with farmyard manure (FYM, 35 t ha−1), green manure (GM; common vetch, Vicia sativa L.), and conventional tillage (CT). The number of tractor passes resulted in increases in bulk density and penetration resistance (CT > GM > FYM), whereas the volume of total and macropores decreased. The maximum penetration resistance (3.60 MPa) was recorded in the CT treatment with five passes at 0–10 cm depth, whereas the minimum (1.64 MPa) was observed for the FYM treatment with one pass at 10–20 cm depth. The highest bulk density was determined as 1.61 g cm−3 for the CT treatment with five passes at 10–20 cm depth; the smallest value was 1.25 g cm−3 in the FYM treatment with only one pass at 0–10 cm depth. The highest total and macropore volumes were determined as 0.53 and 0.16 cm3 cm−3 respectively at 0–10 cm depth for the FYM treatment with one pass. The volume of micropores (0.38 cm3 cm−3) was higher at 0–10 cm depth for the FYM treatment with three passes. It can be concluded that organic pre-composted organic amendment rather than green manure is likely to be more efficient in mitigating compaction problems in soil.

Bu çalışmada kuzey ve güney yönlü bakıya sahip iki farklı topoğrafyada oluşan topraklar element kayıpları ve kil mineralleri oluşumları irdelenerek araştırılmıştır. Element kayıpları Ti gibi immobil elementlerin zenginleşmesi ve kayıplarına dayanan kütle dengesi hesaplamaları ve Kimyasal alterasyon indeksi (CIA), Kimyasal ayrışma indeksi (CIW), Bazlar/R2O3 oranı, Plajiyoklas alterasyon indeksi (PIA), Product Indeks (P) gibi ayrışma indisleri kullanılarak belirlenmiştir. Parçalanma ayrışma ortamının yorumlanmasında kullanılan indislere göre çalışma alanı profilleri jeolojik ana materyalin yaşına uyumlu olarak düşük bulunmuş. Kütle taşınım fonksiyon değerleri ve kütle kayıp kazançları, güney yamaçta açılan profillerde kuzey yamaç profillerine göre daha fazla kayıp ile birlikte bakının önemli olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Profillerde yapılan X-ray çekimlerinde kuzey yamaç kısmındaki toz örneklerde K-Feldispat ve Kuvars miktarının güney yamaç profillerine göre yüksek olduğu parçalanma ayrışmanın bakı etkisi ile daha ileri düzeyde olduğu görülmüştür. Kil tiplerini belirlemeye yönelik çalışmada güney yamaçta yoğun smektit ve smektit-illit ara tabakalı kil mineralleri söz konusu iken, kuzey yamaç kesimlerinde bolluk sırasına göre illit, kaolinit ve smektitin varlığı tespit edilmiştir.

Biochar incorporation to the soil is an option to improve soil health; therefore, a number of studies carried out recently. The main expectation from biochar is improvement on soil physical properties due to its highly porous texture. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different doses (0, 1, 2 % w/w) of biochar that obtained from two pyrolysis temperatures (400 and 500 °C). The experiment is carried out for 9 weeks long which soils from each treatment sampled at every week to determine field capacity (FC), wilting point (WP) and available water content (AWC) parameters. Results revealed that biochar incorporation is improved soil water contents of soil at FC and WP, significantly; however, AWC was not as affected. Pyrolysis temperature was not significant; no differences were obtained between 400 and 500 °C. In the case of soil water content is a matter, the higher temperature application is only loss of time and energy that causes contradiction with the philosophy of biochar related research. Water holding capacity of soil at both FC and WP were improved in accordance with incubation time; however, differences in AWC results were not statistically significant. Within the incubation times, the highest values were determined at the ninth week in all three parameters as FC, WP and AWC. Thus, further researches required to predict optimum incubation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Turkey has a large amount of volcanic material, it does not have a sufficient amount of work about Andosol identification. The objectives of this study were to investigate the physical and chemical properties, weathering processes, and pedogenetic products of soils developed from Andesite/Thracyandesite on hill Cunur in Isparta. The physical and chemical properties were determined for four profiles derived from these rocks in Cunur Hill (Isparta, Turkey). The four profiles showed a surface enrichment of organic matter (1.96-5.53%), a neutral pH (5.3-6.9), and a generally low base saturation (11.35-24.91%). The low concentrations of free iron oxides (0.034-0.153% Fe) and clay (14.02-35.29%) indicate a relatively low degree of weathering. The results revealed that the amount of sand and coarse silt fractions were higher than 30% in all profiles. The bulk density is higher than 0.90 g.cm-3 in all profiles. Meanwhile, Al + ½ Fe percentages (by ammonium oxalate) are lower than 2% in all profiles. pH values in NaF are lower than 9.5 in the some profiles. Selective extraction of soil samples in all horizons yielded the following trends: Fed > Feo > Fep in profile K1, K2 and G1 and Fed > Fep > Feo in profiles G2 in addition, according to selective extraction solution of aluminum, it was found in northward profiles Alo > Ald > Alp, While in southern side profiles have Alo > Alp > Ald order. According to selective dissolution analysis, non-crystalline minerals like allophane and imogolite were not found. The only non-crystalline minerals found in great quantities Al-humus complexes and in small quantities ferrihydrite were determine. The semiarid climate and long and dry summer season of volcanic areas, a low rate of weathering, inadequate Si leaching as a result of low precipitation and also very small amount volcanic glass content of parent materials in studied soils prevents andic soil properties. The major factors determining soil genesis on Cunur Hill would appear to be climate, by affected leaching regime. Classification of the studied profiles according to Soil Taxonomy indicates an Entisol (Lithic Xerorthent). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's era artificial intelligence is quite popular, one of the most effective algorithms used is Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). In this study, the determination of soil quality using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) model in areas where tea cultivation is carried out at the micro-watershed scale and the predictability of soil quality using ANN were evaluated. According to the results, the soil quality indices of tea-growing areas were generally classified as "medium" between 55 and 70 %. Among the evaluated features for determining soil quality, the highest relative importance value was for soil organic carbon content (13 %) and potential mineralizable nitrogen (13 %), whereas the lowest values were for exchangeable potassium (4 %) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) (4 %). In addition, when comparing the actual and predicted values for soil quality prediction using ANN, the Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC), ratio of performance to deviation (RPD), and R 2 values were found to be 0.93, 2.95, and 0.89, respectively. Significant properties for the determined values within a 90 % predicted interval were found to be organic matter, microbial biomass carbon, bulk density, and aggregate stability of the soils. Moreover, the uncertainty values (standard deviation) in the model predictions were determined to be within the range of 1.01-4.56 %. Consequently, the Soil Quality Index (SQI) obtained from the SMAF model using 12 soil properties in tea-growing areas could be accurately predicted using ANN. As a result of this study, digital maps showing the spatial distribution of SQI and the predicted uncertainties can help monitor SQI levels in this area., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)