Program Description

The program focuses on three main areas of research including:

 

Pedology

Research in this area focuses on the quantitative evaluation and modeling of physicochemical processes controlling the evolution of soil ecosystems and their impact on current soil use and management practices. Examples of this research include:

(1) the use of thermodynamic approaches to explain development of fragipan horizons in Kentucky soils, the evaluation of properties contributing to their strength and stability under various mechanical and chemical stress tests and development of simple techniques for their quantitative field evaluation and rating. Findings from this research have stirred national attention and have contributed extensively to the data base for redefining fragipan criteria of the Soil Taxonomy system.

(2) quantitative evaluations of distribution, fractionation and physicochemical and mineralogical characterization of P in Inner Bluegrass soils as related to the definition of anthropic diagnostic epipedons, sorption-desorption behavior and water quality interpretations.

(3) assessment of pedogenic factors influencing development, stability, and hydraulic properties of karst soils

(4) the development of a database for background heavy metal levels in soils of selected regions of the state, and

(5) the establishment of reliable vertical soil distance separation criteria to improve installation and performance efficiency of septic systems.

 

 

 

Another aspect of our Pedology research is aiming at accelerating and improving the quality of the soil survey program in the state as we move from the completion of the once over mapping into updating old and targeted soil surveys in the state. These objectives are accomplished by: (1) providing needed technical assistance in the field (participation in field reviews, soil sampling, field trips), (2) analyzing and distributing laboratory characterization data (physical, chemical, and mineralogical) needed for proper soil correlation and classification in a timely manner, and (3) conducting special investigations involving graduate students and other cooperative agencies in complex areas of the state, where in-depth evaluation of soil resources is needed for soil use and management interpretations or for overall land resource policy recommendations and decisions.

 

Selected Research Publications

1. Karathanasis, A.D. 1985. Mineralogical Variability Within Clayey Soil Control Sections and Family Mineralogy Placement. Soil Sci. Soc. Am.. J. 49:691-695.

2. Sobecki, T. and Karathanasis, A.D. 1987. Quantification and Compositional Characterization of Pedogenic Calcite and Dolomite in Calcic Horizons of Selected Aquolls. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 51:683-690.

3. Karathanasis, A.D. 1987. Thermodynamic Evaluation of Amorphous Aluminosilicate Binding Agents in Fragipans of Western Kentucky. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 51:819-824.

4.  Karathanasis, A. D. 1989. Soil Solution:  A Sensitive Index of Mineral Stability in Pedogenic Environments.  Invited book chapter, In  S. S. Augustithis (ed.) Weathering Its Products and Deposits, Theophrastus Publications, Athens, Greece.  Vol. 1, p. 157-195.

5.  Karathanasis, A. D. 1989.  Solution Chemistry of Fragipans-Thermodynamic Approach to Understanding Fragipan Formation, p. 113-139, In Fragipans: Their Occurrence, Classification, and Genesis.  Soil Science Soc. Am. Special Publication No. 24, Madison, WI.

6. Bartenfelder, D.C. and A.D. Karathanasis. 1991. Identification of Lithological and Age Discontinuities by Thermal Inversion Kinetics of Soil Quartz. Geoderma 48:17-30.

7. Karathanasis, A.D., and P.A. Golrick. 1991. Soil formation of loess over sandstone toposequences in west-central Kentucky I. Morphology and physicochemical properties. Soil Sci. 152:14-24.

8. Sobecki, T.M., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1992. The relationship of soil properties to parent material and hillslope position in the knobs of Eastern Kentucky. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 56:1218-1226.

9. Sobecki, T.M., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1993. Chemical Properties of Shale-Derived Soils as Influenced by Topography and Parent Material. Internat. Symp. on Structure of Soil Cover, Sep. 6-11, 1993. Moscow, Russia.

10. Karathanasis, AD., and B.R. Macneal. 1994. Evaluation of Parent Material Uniformity Criteria in Loess-Influenced Soils of West-Central Kentucky. Geoderma 64:73-92.

11. Drees, L.R., A.D. Karathanasis, L.P. Wilding, and R.L. Blevins. 1994. Micromorphological Characteristics of Long-Term No-Till and Conventionally Tilled Soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 58:508-517.

12. Mubiru, D.N., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1994. Loess Rejuvenation Effects on Intensely Weathered Soils of South Central Kentucky. Soil Sci. 157:244-252.

13. Norfleet, M.L., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1996. Some Physical and Chemical Factors Contributing to Fragipan Strength in Kentucky Soils. Geoderma 71:289-301.

14. Zhang, Min, and A.D. Karathanasis. 1997. Characterization of Iron-Manganese Concretions in Kentucky Alfisols with Perched Water Tables. Clays Clay Minerals 45:428-439.

15. Karathanasis, A.D. 1997. X-Ray Fluorescence, XRD, and DSC Analysis of Feature Sediments. In T. Dillehay (ed.) Monte Verde: A Late Pleistocene Site in Chile, Vol. 2, Smithsonian Institution Press., Washington D.C.

16. Barton, C. D., A. D. Karathanasis, and G. Chalfant.  2002.  Influence of Acidic Atmospheric Deposition on Soil Solution Composition in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky, USA.  Environ. Geology 41:672-682.

17.  Barton, C. D. and A. D. Karathanasis.  2002.  A Novel Method for Measurement and Characterization of Soil Macroporosity.  Commun. Soil  and Plant Ana.  33:1305-1322.

18. Karathanasis, A. D. and M.S. Coyne.  2002.  Evaluation of On-site Wastewater Treatment Vertical Distance Separation Standards in Kentucky.  Final Project Closeout Report submitted to Ky Division of Water, November, 2002.

19.  Pils, J.R.V., A. D. Karathanasis, and T. G. Muller.  2003.  Concentration of Six Trace Metals in Northern Kentucky Soils.  J. Soil and Sedim. Contam.  (in press).

 

Environmental Soil Mineralogy

The emphasis of this area of research is the quantitative evaluation and characterization of soil mineral components important in controlling behavior and management of agricultural and non-agricultural soils. Example research studies include:

(1) the development of new soil mineral quantification techniques applicable to soils with diverse mineralogical composition

(2) the characterization, solubility, and sorption-desorption behavior of phosphatic minerals present in Inner Bluegrass soils

(3) the mineralogical composition determination of readily dispersible colloidal fractions from selected soils and sediments in the state and the southern region

(4) the characterization of mineral colloid associations with organic contaminants and heavy metals and the evaluation of their mechanistic behavior under various physicochemical environments, and

(5) the evaluation and quantitative characterization of the role of mineral and organic colloidal particles naturally occurring or applied to soils as amendments in facilitating the transport of organic contaminants and heavy metals to surface and groundwaters.

Gypsum crystals in a Shrouts soil

 

 

Wavellite crystals in a Maury soil

 

 

Fe-oxyhydroxysulfates in an AMD wetland

 

 

Selected Research Publications

1. Karathanasis, A.D. and Hajek, B.F. 1982. Revised Methods for Rapid Quantitative Determination of Minerals in Soil Clays. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Journal. 46:419-425.

2. Karathanasis, A.D., Adams, Fred, and Hajek, B.F. 1983. Stability Relationships in Kaolinite, Gibbsite, and Al-Hydroxyinterlayered Vermiculite Soil Systems. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 47:1247-1251.

3. Karathanasis, A.D. 1987. Mineral Solubility Relationships in Fragiudalfs of Western Kentucky. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 51:474-481.

4. Karathanasis, A.D., V.P. Evangelou, and Y.L. Thompson. 1988. Aluminum and Iron Equilibria in Soil Solutions and Surface Waters of Acid Mine Watersheds. J. Environ. Qual. 17:534-543.

5. Karathanasis, A.D. 1988. Structural and Solubility Relationships Between Al-Hydroxyinterlayered Soil Smectites and Vermiculites. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 52:1500-1508.

6. Karathanasis, A.D. and K.L. Wells. 1989. A Comparison of Mineral Weathering Trends Between Two Management Systems on a Catena of Loess-Derived Soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 53: 582-588.

7. Karathanasis, A.D. and K.L. Wells. 1990. Conservation Tillage Effects on the Potassium Status of Some Loess and Limestone Derived Soils in Kentucky. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 54:800-806.

8. Karathanasis, A.D. 1991. Phosphate Mineralogy and Equilibria in Two Kentucky Alfisols Derived from Ordovician Limestones. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 55:1774-1782.

9.  Norfleet, M. L., A. D. Karathanasis, and B. R. Smith.  1993.  Soil Solution Composition Relative to Mineral Distribution in Highly Weathered Soils of the Blueridge Mountains.  Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.  57:508-517.

10. Seta, A.K., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1994. Potential Transport of Colloid-Bound Atrazine to Groundwater.   Kentucky Water Resources Research Symposium, Lexington, KY, November 1994.

11.  Karathanasis, A. D. and W. G. Harris.  1995.  Quantitative Thermal Analysis of Soil Materials.  p.  360-411, in J. E. Ammonette et al., (eds.), Quantitative Methods in Soil Mineralogy. Soil Sci. Soc.  Am.  Special Publication.  Madison, WI.

12. Seta, A.K., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1997. Stability and Transportability of Water Dispersible Soil Colloids. Soil Science Soc. Am. J. 61:604-611.

13. Seta, A.K., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1997. Colloid-Facilitated Transport of Atrazine through Intact Soil Columns. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 61:612-617.

14. Hajek, B.F., A.D. Karathanasis, and B.R. Smith. 1998. Soil Mineral Associations of the Southern United States. South. Cooper. Series Bull. # 391.

15. Karathanasis, A.D., L. Zelazny, and W.G. Harris. 1998. XRD and Thermal Analysis. In Mineralogy and Charge Properties of Readily-Dispersible Colloidal Fractions from Selected Soils and Sediments of the Southern Region. South. Coop. Series Bull. # 388.

16. Karathanasis, A.D. 1999. Subsurface Migration of Cu and Zn Mediated by Soil Colloids. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 63:830-838.

17. Karathanasis, A.D. 2000. Colloid-Mediated Transport of Pb Through Soil Porous Media. J. Environ. Studies 57:579-596.

18.  Karathanasis, A.D.  2002.  Mineral Equilibria in Environmental Soil Systems.  p. 109-151 In J. B. Dixon and D. Schultze (ed) Soil Mineralogy and Environmental Applications.  Soil Sci. Soc. America Book Series #7.

19.  Karathanasis, A.D. and D.A. Ming.  2002.  Colloid-Mediated Transport of Metals Associated with Lime-Stabilized Biosolids.  p. 49-63.  In A. Violante, P.M. Huang, J. M. Bollag and L. Giafreda (ed)  Soil Mineral-Organic Matter-MIcroorganism Interactions and Ecosystem Health.  Developments in Soil Science 28A, Elsevier Science.

20. Karathanasis, A.D.  2002.  Weathering and Alteration of Clay Minerals.  In Rattan Lai (ed.) Encyclopedia of Soil Science.  Marcel Dekker, Inc.  p. 193-198.

21. Barton, C.D. and  A.D. Karathanasis.  2002.  Clay Minerals.  In Rattan Lai (ed.) Encyclopedia of Soil Science.  Marcel Dekker, Inc.  p. 187-192.

22.  Karathanasis, A. D.  2003.  Mineral Controls in Colloid-Mediated Transport of Metals in Soil Environments.  In W. L. Kingery and H. M Selim (ed.)  Geochemical and Hydrological Reactivity of Heavy Metals in Soils.  CRC Press, p 25-49.

23.  Karathanasis, A.D.  2003.  Lead Desorption and Remobilization Potential by Colloid Particles in Contaminated Sites.  In K.S. Sajwan et al. (ed.)  Chemistry of Trace Elements in Fly Ash.  CRC Press. 219-236.

24.  Barton, C. D. and A. D. Karathanasis.  2003.  Influence of Soil Colloids on the Migration of Atrazine and Zn Through Large Soil Monoliths.  Air, Soil and Water Pollution.  143:3-21.

25.  Barton, C. D. and A. D. Karathanasis.  2003. Colloid-Enhanced Desorption of Zinc in Soil Monoliths.  Intern. J. Environ. Studies  60(4):395-409.

 

Wetlands

Research in this area addresses morphological and geochemical characteristics and processes related to identification/delineation of jurisdictional wetlands and the application of innovative technologies on the use of constructed wetlands as effective wastewater treatment alternatives. Example research studies include:

(1) evaluation of critical delineation issues in wetlands of the state and development of improved hydric soil and hydrology criteria in seasonal wetlands caused by perched water tables in western Kentucky

(2) evolution and characterization of mountain bogs in eastern Kentucky

(3) the development of improved constructed wetland technology to increase the treatment efficiency of acid mine drainage and other industrial, agricultural, and municipal wastewaters

(4) treatment efficiency comparisons between constructed wetlands and conventional septic systems treating domestic wastewater

 

 

 

 

 

Selected Research Publications

1. Karathanasis, A.D., and Y.L. Thompson. 1993. Substrate effects on metal attenuation and speciation in simulated acid mine wetlands. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 51:421-429.

2. Karathanasis, A.D., and Y.L. Thompson. 1995. Mineralogy of Iron Precipitates in a Constructed Acid Mine Drainage Wetland. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 59: 1773-1781.

3. Mitchell, L.K., and A.D. Karathanasis. 1995. Biochemical Treatment of Metal-Chloride Enriched Wastewater by Simulated Constructed Wetlands. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 17:5-12.

4. Zalidis, G., S. Stefanou, X Dimitriadis, A. Apostolakis, and A.D. Karathanasis. 1995. Soil Characteristics as Indicators for Wetland Identification. Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre, Thessaloniki, Greece.

5. Barton, C.D. and A.D. Karathanasis. 1998. Aerobic and Anaerobic Metal Attenuation Processes in a Constructed Wetland Treating Acid Mine Drainage. Environmental Geosciences 5(2):43-56.

6.  Karathanasis. A.D. 1998. Wetland Delineation and Constructed Wetlands. Vol. 1 &2, p. 210 & 381. Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky.

7. Barton, C.D. and A.D. Karathanasis.  1999.  Renovation of a Failed Constructed Wetland Treating High Metal Load Acid Mine Drainage.  Environ. Geology 39:39-50.

8. Karathanasis, A.D. and C. D. Barton.  1999.  The Revival of a Failed Constructed Wetland Treating a High Fe Load Acid Mine Drainage.  p. 167-191.  In K. S.Sajwan, A.K. Alva, and R.F. Keffer (ed.) Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements in Coal and Coal Combustion Byproducts.  Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York.

9. Karathanasis, A.D., Y. L. Thompson, and C.D. Barton. 2003.  Long-term Evaluations of Seasonally Saturated "Wetlands" in Western Kentucky.  Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.  67:662-673.

10.  Karathanasis, A. D. and C. M. Johnson.  2003.  Metal Removal Potential by Three Aquatic Plants in an Acid Mine Drainage Wetland.  Mine Water and Environment  22:22-30.

11.  Karathanasis, A. D., C. L. Potter, and M.S. Coyne.  2003.  Vegetation Effects on Fecal Bacteria, BOD, and TSS Removal in Constructed Wetlands Treating Domestic Wastewater.  Ecol. Engin. 20:157-169.
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