This research was conducted to determining the fertility of the agricultural lands and mapping thematically in Osmaniye. Soil texture of the samples ranges from sandy loam to silty clay, with 33% coarse and 67% clay. The pH of the soil samples was predominantly medium alkaline, and the half of the samples' EC were in the light salty class. Almost all of the samples were calcareous and mostly lack in organic matter. Overall, 50% of soil samples sustained insufficient and 50% possessed sufficient level of available phosphorus (P). Available magnesium (Mg) content was sufficient (except 8%); available calcium (Ca) was at high levels; available sodium (Na) levels were found in 5% of the soils. Available zinc (Zn) was low in all samples; nearly all samples were insufficient iron (Fe) available; Manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) levels were found sufficient in almost all of samples. Available boron (B) was found at insufficient level in 12% of the soils. Important relationships have been determined between nutrient content and soil properties. Maps of soil properties were made by using geographic information systems and the distribution of the features over the area has been determined. Fe, Zn and P soil fertilization should be done according to soil analysis Research Article

One of the most effective means in the combating climate change and desertification is soil organic carbon (SOC) management. However, land use puts a high pressure to fragile SOC pools particularly in semi-arid environments where SOC decomposition rate is high due to low soil moisture. Therefore, at higher elevations of Mediterranean Basin with cooler temperature SOC is higher than the coastal plains due to the better soil moisture contents. Agricultural pressure on highlands has increased in recent years because of the relatively low water requirement of crops. The purpose of this study is to analyze and determine the SOC dynamics in relation to the variations of soil physical and chemical characteristics from different elevations, ranging from 64 meters to 756 meters at semi-arid Mediterranean climate. SOC revealed decreases versus altitude increases that varied from 24.7 to 38.7 t ha-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.527. The main driver of decreasing SOC by elevation is most probably displacing of fine particles from surface horizons by accelerated erosion at sloping and cultivated lands of higher altitudes. As a result, it is necessary to focus both on the plant pattern along with land management techniques for enhancing soil organic matter in agricultural production for enhancing SOC at higher elevations.

Önemli bir potansiyele sahip olan Zeytin yetiştiriciliğinde, periyodisite ile beraber verim kaybının nedenleri bahçelerdeki bitki besleme durumu ve su yetersizliğidir. Çalışma, Kilis’te zeytin yetiştiriciliği yapılan toprakların bazı fiziksel, kimyasal özellikleri ve besin elementi içeriklerinin belirlenmesi için yürütülmüştür. Analizler, Merkez, Musabeyli, Elbeyli ve Polateli ilçelerinden 40 farklı köyden toplam 49 bahçeden aynı zamanda alınan toprak (0-30 cm) örneklerinde yapılmıştır. Toprak örneklerinde; alınabilir B, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn analizleri yapılmıştır. Toprakların bor içeriğinin %34.7’si az, %65.3’ü yeterli, Fe ve Cu içeriklerinin tamamının yeterli, Zn içeriğinin %28.6’sının çok az %65.3’ünün az %6.1’inin yeterli olduğu, Mn bakımından ise toprakların % 26.5’inin yeterli, %73.5’inin fazla olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca toprakların %58.3’ünün P, %27.1’ininde Mg bakımından yetersiz olduğu belirlenmiştir. B, Zn, P ve Mg bakımından önemli bitki beslenme sorunlarının olduğu belirlenmiştir. Mangan yönünden toprakların büyük bölümünün sınır değerlerin üzerinde olduğu belirlenmiştir. Kilis ilinde gerçekleştirilen bu çalışmanın sonuçları dikkate alındığında zeytin yetiştirilen alanlarda Zn ve B gübrelerinin topraktan veya yapraktan uygulanması gerekliliği ortaya çıkmıştır.

The aim of this study is to identify and thematically map potentially toxic heavy metal elements in soils in order to ensure sustainable use of intensively cultivated soils and to protect food safety. Methods and Results: In this study, 165 soil samples (City center, 40; Kadirli, 83; Düziçi, 25; Hasanbeyli, 6; Toprakkale, 10 and Bahçe, 1) were taken from the areas representing the agricultural production lands in the province of Osmaniye and its districts. It was determined that the total Mn, Fe, Ni, Cd and Cr in the toxic element results of these samples were above the specified limit values. Conclusions: This may be due to the fact that the region is at the foot of the Taurus Mountains, the serpentine in the bedrock and/or some heavy metals such as Cr and Ni are high due to the mineralization of chromium. However, it can be said that Cd accumulation may be caused by phosphate fertilizers, since intensive fertilization is made. In the Fe analysis that can be taken in the soils taken from the study area, 92.7% of the iron content of the soils is less; 3.7% is medium; 3.6 of them were high. Significance and Impact of the Study:The results obtained by carefully monitoring the passage of these metals to plants, animals and humans through the food chain through researches to be carried out, whether it is important for food safety or not, the data obtained as a result of analyzing suitable extractors and selecting the extractor with correlation calibration studies, whether it will be toxic or not with a different research. Needs to be clarified. This study is a case study and a study that reveals the possible heavy metal potential of the rocks in question. However, whether it will have an antagonistic effect on the transition to the plant by dissolving or the intake of other elements will be possible by investigating the extractable dose with various kileyt solvents.