Applied ecology

subject course of Applied Ecology

1. Applied Ecology: Applied ecology is a scientific field that studies how concepts,
theories, models, or method, of fundamental ecology can be applied to solve
environmental problems.
Aims/Objective of A.E: A.E aim to relate ecological concepts, theories, principals,
models, and methods to solving of environmental problems, including the management of
natural resources, such as land, energy, food or biodiversity.
A.E FIELD COVERS: The field devote to studying the output of applied ecology.
Including agro-ecosystem management, rangeland management, wildlife management,
land scape use, disturbance management, environmental engineering, environmental
design, aquatic resources management and forest management.
Phytoremediation: The term phytoremediation was found by phyto (Greek phyton:
related to plants) and remediation, which means to clean up.
Definition: phytoremediation based on the use of natural or genetically modified plants
capable of extracting hazardous substance. i.e. heavy metal including radionuclides,
pesticides, polychlorinated, etc.
Aim of Phytoremediation: Phytoremediation can be three layered.
1. Plant based extraction of metals with financial benefits. (Ni, Ti)
2. Risk minimization (phyto stabilization)
3. Sustainable soil management in which phytoremediation steadily increase fertility
allowing for follow up soil growth with added economic value.
Types of phytoremediation:
 Phytoextraction: also known as phyto accumulation, phytoabsorbtion.
the uptake of contamination from soil or water by plant roots and their
translocation and accumulation in above ground biomass.
 Phytostabilization: deals with the decrease the bioavailability and mobility of
heavy metals in soil due to their stabilization from off-site transport with the help
of plants.
 Phytoevaporation: The uptake of pollutant from soil by plants, and their
conversion to volatile form and subsequent release into the atmosphere. Can be
applied for organic pollutants and some heavy metals.
 Rhizodegradation: The purification of polluted water due to absorption,
concentration, and precipitation of metals by plant roots.

2. Soil: derived from latin word ‘solum’ meaning earthly material in which plant grow,
study of soil is known as soil science or pedology or edaphology.
According to R.F Daubnmir “ soil can be defined as the region where plants are
anchored’ OR The region on the earth surface where geology and biology meet each
other.
Components of Soil: Soil made up of following components
 Mineral particles
 Dad organic matter or humus
 Soil atmosphere
 Soil water and its holding capacity
 Biological system or microorganisms.
Humification: The process of humus formation is called humification.
Factors influence:
 Nature of the plant, animal or soil micro-organism
 Rate of decomposition
 Temperature (temperature is directly proportional to humification)
 Moisture (increase the humification)
Important role of humus in soil:
 It makes the soil fertile
 Provide nutrients to plants and microorganism
 Increase the availability of minerals in dissolve state of plants
 Humus makes soil pores, thus increase the aeration and percolation which makes
the soil more suitable for plant growth.
 Presence of humus in the soil increases the rate of absorption in plants.
Soil microorganism:
 Bacteria, Soil fungi, Protozoa, Nematodes, Insects and Mites, etc.
Role of microorganism:
 Decompose dead organic material to increase plant nutrients
 Production of toxin
 Production of growth stimulation substance
 Mixing of soil

3.  Nitrogen fixation in soil
 Improvement in soil aeration.
Water holding of soil: water is held in soil in following forms
 Water holding capacity: when all the pores of soil are filled with water by gravitation force
water is called water holding capacity.
 Capillary action: the amount of water present around the soil particle of saturation stage,
when gravitation water drained away through the capillary or channels is called capillary action.
 Hydroscopic water: water which is absorbed on the soil particle by forcing of attreaction and
cohesion of its molecules is called hydroscopic water.
Soil atmosphere: gases found in the soil profile are said to form the soil atmosphere, which is one
of the most important components of the soil.
The soil atmosphere contains three main gases namely Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon dioxide. In the
atmosphere oxygen is present about 21%, nitrogen present about 78%, and carbon dioxide is present
about 0.15 to 0.65%. Oxygen of the soil is absorbed by plants roots and soil microorganism in respiration
and co2 is given out which accumulates in space.
Mineral components: The mineral components of the soil are derived from the parental rocks or
regoliths. They may be found in the form of different sizes, from clay 0.0002nm to large pebbles and
gravels. The minerals represent about 90% of the total weight of the soil. Important elements found in the
soil which form the compound state are Oxygen, Si, Fe, Al, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, C, H, etc.

Soil Erosion: The “work erosion” literally means wearing out. Soil erosion it is the removal of
soil from its upper part/surface. There are two types of soil erosion.
1: Natural Erosion: when the top soil gradually removed under a normal condition of
physical, biotic, and hydrological equlibria it is called normal erosion. Its also called
geological erosion. This is very slow process on which complete equilibrium is
maintained between soil removing and soil forming process.
2: Accelerated Erosion: when the removal of soil does not keep harmony with the soil
formation and its much faster it is called accelerated erosion.

4. Cause of Soil Erosion: Soil erosion is caused by two agencies:
1: climate
2: biotic
Climate: these are water and wind
Water: water is important factor of soil erosion. Snow and melting of ice also remove the top soil to
considerable extents. Soil is directly affected by heavy rainfall, rapidly running water by wave action.
Erosion caused by water:
 Sheet erosion: removal of thin area of soil from the area is called sheet erosion.
 Rill erosion: heavy rainfall and rapidly running water produce finger shaped groves or rill in
entire field.
 Gully erosion: It is the permanent type of erosion in which heavy rainfall, rapidly running water
and transportation water may result in deeper cavities or groves call gullies.
 Stream bank erosion: during the rainy season when fast running water streams take turn in the
same other direction they cut the soil and make caves in the banks.
Wind: Removal of soil by wind is called wind erosion. Stormy wind carries out these soil particles to
distant and sometimes forms sand. During wind current usually remove the top soil which is fertile and
full of humus and minerals. Wind erosion cause by three following types
 Saltation: pressure of stormy wind small soil particles of 1 to 1.5mm move from the surface.
 Suspension: Fine particles diameters less than 1mm are suspended in the air.
 Surface creep: large soil particle ranging from 5 to 100mm in diameter they creep on surface.
Soil Conservation: two methods of soil conservation. Biological and Mechanical.
Biological: there are three types in biological conversion.
1. Agronomic practices: following activities are including in agronomic practice.
 Control farming
 Tillage operation
 Crop rotation with legume or mixed crop
 Mulching
 Strip cropping.
2. Agro-stological practice: following activities are including in agrostological practice.
 Grazing
 Afforestation

5.  Reforestation
 Range land
 Strip cropping
3. Dry farming practice: Dry farming practice is used in those areas where rain water is very low,
uncertain and uneven in distribution. Such areas have maximum conservation of water in the soil
and reduction of soil erosion.

Mechanical: following are some mechanical activities to control soil erosion.
 Basin leaching
 Pan breaking (top layer break)
 Sub soil (compactness break)
 Trenching
 Empty land for some period.

Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of present without
compromising the ability of future generation to meets their needs.
S.D GOALS: 1: No poverty 2: No hunger
3: Good health 4: Quality education 5: Gender equality
6: Clean water and sanitation 7: Renewable energy
8: Good job and Economic growth 9: Innovation and Infrastructure
10: Reduce Inequalities 11: Climate action 12: Sustainable cites
13: Responsible Consumption
14: life below water 15: life on land 16: peace and justice 17: partnership for the goals.

6. Definitions.
Pore space: the space between soil particles and soil organism is called pore space.
Afforestation: is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees (forestation) in an area where there was
no previous tree cover.
Reforestation: the process of replanting an area with trees.
Rangeland: rangelands are open areas of land that are used for farming or hunting.
Humification: the process of humus formation is called humification.
Aeration: is the process by which air is circulated through, mixed with or dissolved in a liquid or
substance.
Percolation: is the process of a liquid slowly passing through a filter.
Bio magnification: is the increasing concentration of a substance, such as a toxic chemical.
Smelting: extraction of the metals from its ore by process involving heating and melting.
Ore: A natural occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted.
Slag: stony waste material speared from its metal during refining of the ore.
Mining: the process of industry of obtaining coal or other minerals from a mine.
Water logging: refer to a situation when the water table fluctuates within the root zone depth of plants for
long period which affects germination and growth of plants.
Salinity: accumulation of free salts in the surface or profile of soil beyond the level where optimum yield
is drastically reduced.
Surface salinity: situation on the land where salts get accumulates on the surface of the land.
Soil profile: vertical section of the soil that is exposed by a soil pit.
Profile salinity: presence of excess of salt in the root zone that affects the growth and development of
plants.
Sustainable development: development that meet the needs of present without compromising the ability
of future generation to meet their own needs.
Sustainability: the ability to maintain at certain level or rate.