Mechanical and electrical properties of coarse-grained soilaffected by cyclic freeze-thaw in high cold regions

To evaluate the geotechnical properties of coarse-grained soil affected by cyclic freeze-thaw,the electrical resistivity and mechanical tests are conducted.The soil specimens are prepared under different water contents,dry densities and exposed to 0?20 freeze-thaw cycles.As a result,the stress?strain behavior of the specimen(w=14.0%andρd=1.90 g/cm^3)changes from strain-hardening into strain-softening due to the freeze-thaw effect.The electrical resistivity of test specimen increases with the freeze-thaw cycles change,but the mechanical parameters(the unconfined compressive strength qu and the deformation modulus E)and brittleness index decrease considerably at the same conditions.All of them tend to be stable after 7?9 cycles.Moreover,both the dry density and the water content have reciprocal effects on the freeze-thaw actions.The failure and pore characteristics of specimens affected by freeze-thaw cycles are discussed by using the image analysis method.Then,an exponential function equation is developed to assess the electrical resistivity of specimens affected by the cyclic freeze-thaw.Linear relations between the mechanical parameters and the electrical resistivity of specimens are established to evaluate the geotechnical properties of the soil exposed to freeze-thaw actions through the corresponding electrical resistivity.

Strength and deformation behaviour of coarse-grained soil by true triaxial tests

In order to investigate the influence of intermediate principal stress on the stress-strain and strength behaviour of a coarse-grained soil, a series of true triaxial tests were performed. The tests were conducted in a recently developed true triaxial apparatus with constant minor principal stress σ3 and constant value of intermediate principal stress ratio b=（σ2-σ3）/（σ1-σ3） （al is the vertical stress, and % is the horizontal stress）. It is found that the intermediate principal strain, ε2, increases from negative to positive value with the increase of parameter b from zero to unity under a constant minor principal stress. The minor principal strain, ε3, is always negative. This implies that the specimen exhibits an evident anisotropy. The relationship between b and friction angle obtained from the tests is different from that predicted by LADE-DUNCAN and MATSUOKA-NAKAI criteria. Based on the test results, an empirical equation of g（b） that is the shape function of the failure surface on re-plane was presented. The proposed equation is verified to be reasonable by comparing the predicted results using the equation with true triaxial test results of soils, such as coarse-grained soils in this study, sands and gravels in other studies.

Gradation equation of coarse-grained soil and its applicability

Gradation equation is one way to describe the gradation of coarse-grained soil conveniently,exactly and quantitatively.With the gradation equation,the influence of gradation on the mechanical behaviors of coarse-grained soil can be expressed quantitatively.A new gradation equation with a parameter is proposed.The basic properties and applicability of the new equation are studied.The results show that the proposed equation has the applicability to express coarse-grained soil gradation(CSG),and the range of the parameter β is found to be 0<β<1.The value ofbdetermines the gradation curve shape.If β>0.5,the gradation curve is sigmoidal,otherwise the gradation curve is hyperbolic.For well graded gradations,the parameter has the value of 0.13<β<1.Several CSGs used in domestic and foreign earth-rockfill dams are probed,and the value of the parameterbfalls in the range of 0.18 to 0.97.The investigation of the range of β is of value to guide the design for CSG of earth-rockfill dam.

Deformation characteristics of coarse-grained soil with various gradations

By using large scale triaxial shearing apparatus,consolidated-drained shear tests were conducted on coarse-grained soil with different gradations.In order to describe their deformation rules,three main characteristics of tangent Poisson ratio curves were summarized and the reason was revealed by dividing the movement of soil particles into two kinds: the movement of fine particles and the movement of coarse particles.Then,a volumetric strain expression and a tangent Poisson ratio expression were put forward,and two defects of widely used Duncan-Chang model were fixed.Results calculated from them agree well with test results.There are three parameters,namely L,G and F,in this new model.Parameter L reflects the dilatancy of a specimen and L=4 can be used as a criterion to estimate whether a certain kind of soil has dilatancy quality or not.Parameters G and F relate to the initial slope of tangent Poisson ratio curves,and G=F=0 indicates a special situation which happens in dense granular material of the same diameter.Influences of various gradations on volume deformation are mainly reflected in parameter L which is smaller when there are more gravels in specimens.

Influence of fines content on the anti-frost properties of coarse-grained soil

This paper aims to determine the optimal fines content of coarse-grained soil required to simultaneously achieve weaker frost susceptibility and better bearing capacity. We studied the frost susceptibility and strength properties of coarse-grained soil by means of frost heaving tests and static triaxial tests, and the results are as follows： （1） the freezing temperature of coarse-grained soil decreased gradually and then leveled off with incremental increases in the percent content of fines; （2） the fines content proved to be an important factor influencing the frost heave susceptibility and strength properties of coarse-grained soil. With incremental increases in the percent content of fines, the frost heave ratio increased gradually and the cohesion function of fines effectively enhanced the shear strength of coarse-grained soil before freeze-thaw, but the frost susceptibility of fines weakened the shear strength of coarse-grained soil after freeze-thaw; （3） with increasing numbers of freeze-thaw cycles, the shear strength of coarse-grained soil decreased and then stabilized after the ninth freeze-thaw cycle, and therefore the mechanical indexes of the ninth freeze-thaw cycle are recommended for the engi- neering design values; and （4） considering frost susceptibility and strength properties as a whole, the optimal fines content of 5% is recommended for railway sub,fade coarse-~rained soil fillings in frozen re^ions.

Experimental study on permanent deformation characteristics of coarse-grained soil under repeated dynamic loading

Practical assessment of subgrade settlement induced by train operation requires developing suitable models capable of describing permanent deformation characteristics of subgrade filling under repeated dynamic loading.In this paper,repeated load triaxial tests were performed on coarse-grained soil(CGS),and the axial permanent strain of CGS under different confining pressures and dynamic stress amplitudes was analysed.Permanent deformation behaviors of CGS were categorized based on the variation trend of permanent strain rate with accumulated permanent strain and the shakedown theory.A prediction model of permanent deformation considering stress state and number of load cycles was established,and the ranges of parameters for different types of dynamic behaviors were also divided.The results indicated that the variational trend of permanent strain rate with accumulated permanent strain can be used as a basis for classifying dynamic behaviors of CGS.The stress state(confining pressure and dynamic stress amplitude)has significant effects on the permanent strain rate.The accumulative characteristics of permanent deformation of CGS with the number of load cycles can be described by a power function,and the model parameters can reflect the influence of confining pressure and dynamic stress amplitude.The study’s results could help deepen understanding of the permanent deformation characteristics of CGS.

Experimental study of the effects of non-uniformly distributed fine soil on mechanical properties of Shenyang–Dandong Railway coarse-grained soil

The stress produced by repeated train loads decreases with increasing railway subgrade bed depth, and slightly weathered coarse particles of subgrade bed fillings can be broken at different levels under continuous load. Thus, the mass of fine soil, with a diameter of not more than 0.075 mm, is different at different depths. Fine soil is also sensitive to frost heave and thaw settlement. In order to study the effects of non-uniformly distributed fine soil on the mechanical properties of coarse-grained soil of the Shenyang-Dandong Railway, triaxial tests were conducted with three types of specimens, un- dergoing six freeze-thaw cycle numbers （0, 1, 3, 7, 9, 12） and three confining pressures （100, 200, 300 kPa）. The freezing temperature is -5 ~C and the thawing temperature is ＋15 ~C. The stress-strain behavior, static strength, resilient modulus, cohesive force and the angle of internal friction were measured for different tested specimens. As a result, the law of static strength and resilient modulus of different specimens following the increase of freeze-thaw cycles under three confining pressures is obtained. The changing law of cohesive force and friction angle of three specimens following the increase of freeze-thaw cycles is also calculated, and the different results of different specimens are also compared.

A constitutive model for cyclic densification of coarse-grained soil filler for the high-speed railway subgrade considering particle breakage

Purpose–This study aims to propose a semiempirical and semitheoretical cyclic compaction constitutive model of coarse-grained soil filler for the high-speed railway(HSR)subgrade under cyclic load.Design/methodology/approach–According to the basic framework of critical state soil mechanics and in view of the characteristics of the coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade to bear the train vibration load repeatedly for a long time,the hyperbolic empirical relationship between particle breakage and plastic work was derived.Considering the influence of cyclic vibration time and stress ratio,the particle breakage correction function of coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade under cyclic load was proposed.According to the classical theory of plastic mechanics,the shearing dilatation equation of the coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade considering particle breakage was modified and obtained.A semiempirical and semitheoretical cyclic compaction constitutive model of coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade under cyclic load was further established.The backward Euler method was used to discretize the constitutive equation,build a numerical algorithm of“elastic prediction and plastic modification”and make a secondary development of the program to solve the cyclic compaction model.Findings–Through the comparison with the result of laboratory triaxial test under the cyclic loading of coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade,the accuracy and applicability of the cyclic compaction model were verified.Results show that the model can accurately predict the cumulative deformation characteristics of coarse-grained soil filler for the HSR subgrade under the train vibration loading repeatedly for a long time.It considers the effects of particle breakage and stress ratio,which can be used to calculate and analyze the stress and deformation evolution law of the subgrade structure for HSR.

Numerical and experimental direct shear tests for coarse-grained soils

The presence of particles larger than the permissible dimensions of conventional laboratory specimens causes difficulty in the determination of shear strength of coarse-grained soils. In this research, the influence of particle size on shear strength of coarse-grained soils was investigated by resorting to experimental tests in different scale and numerical simulations based on discrete element method （DEM）. Experimental tests on such soil specimens were based on using the techniques designated as ＂parallel＂ and ＂scalping＂ to prepare gradation of samples in view of the limitation of laboratory specimen size. As a second approach, the direct shear test was numerically simulated on assemblies of elliptical particles. The behaviors of samples under experimental and numerical tests are presented and compared, indicating that the modification of sample gradation has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of coarse-grained soils. It is noted that the shear strengths of samples produced by the scalping method are higher than samples by the parallel method. The scalping method for preparing specimens for direct shear test is therefore recommended. The micromechanical behavior of assemblies under direct shear test is also discussed and the effects of stress level on sample behavior are investigated.

Using a modified direct shear apparatus to explore gap and size effects on shear resistance of coarse-grained soil

This work used a modified direct shear apparatus, created newly by the authors, to explore effects of the gap between shear box halves and specimen size on the shear resistance of coarse-grained soil. The shear boxes of this apparatus were assembled from a series of steel structures capable of superimposition and nesting. Such characteristics facilitated variation of specimen size in both diameter and height. The new device can also maintain a constant gap during shearing. We performed a series of gap-effect and size-effect tests for two uniformly graded, coarse^grained soil samples. The test results showed that both the gap space and specimen size bad significant influences on shear resistance of the coarse-grained soil. Further, analysis of variations in shear strength indices led to a reasonable gap dimension and specimen size of the two soil samples.

Comparative Study on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Coarse-grained WC-based Cemented Carbides Sintered with Ultrafine WC or (W+C) as Additives

The effects of ultrafine WC(WC_(UF),0.5μm) or W(1μm) and C(0.3μm)(W+C)_(UF) additives on the densification,microstructure and mechanical properties of coarse-grained cemented carbides were compared systematically.Overall,the cemented carbides with WC_(UF)/(W+C)_(UF) additives are almost fully densification to be higher than 99%,and the average grain size is kept above 2.8μm.The WC_(UF) additive assists grains to(truncated)trigonal prism shape by two dimensional(2D) growth,whereas the(W+C)_(UF) additive assists grains to rounded shape by three dimensional(3D) growth,lowers WC contiguity and increases face-centered-cubic Co.The hardness and bending strength of(75WC_(C)-15WC_(UF))-10Co are 86.6 HRA and 2 272 MPa,respectively,both higher than those of(75WC_(C)-15(W+C)_(UF))-10Co,which could be ascribed to the enhanced densification and unblemished grains.However,the fracture toughness of the(75WC_(C)-15(W+C)_(UF))-10Co is 23.5 MPa·m^(1/2),higher than that of the(75WC_(C)-15WC_(UF))-10Co due to the uniform WC-Co structure and flexible binder phase.

Organic fertilizer enhances soil aggregate stability by altering greenhouse soil content of iron oxide and organic carbon

Both soil organic carbon (SOC) and iron (Fe) oxide content, among other factors, drive the formation and stability of soil aggregates.However, the mechanism of these drivers in greenhouse soil fertilized with organic fertilizer is not well understood.In a 3-year field experiment, we aimed to investigate the factors which drive the stability of soil aggregates in greenhouse soil.To explore the impact of organic fertilizer on soil aggregates, we established four treatments:no fertilization (CK);inorganic fertilizer (CF);organic fertilizer (OF);and combined application of inorganic and organic fertilizers(COF).The application of organic fertilizer significantly enhanced the stability of aggregates, that is it enhanced the mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter and aggregate content (%) of>0.25 mm aggregate fractions.OF and COF treatments increased the concentration of SOC, especially the aliphatic-C, aromatic-C and polysaccharide-C components of SOC, particularly in>0.25 mm aggregates.Organic fertilizer application significantly increased the content of free Fe(Fed), reactive Fe (Feo), and non-crystalline Fe in both bulk soil and aggregates.Furthermore, non-crystalline Fe showed a positive correlation with SOC content in both bulk soil and aggregates.Both non-crystalline Fe and SOC were significantly positively correlated with>2 mm mean weight diameter.Overall, we believe that the increase of SOC, aromatic-C, and non-crystal ine Fe concentrations in soil after the application of organic fertilizer is the reason for improving soil aggregate stability.

Effect of Progressive Substitution of Cement and Lime by Powdered Shells Used as a Curing Agent for Dredged Soil in a Port Area

This study aimed to address the challenges of solid waste utilization,cost reduction,and carbon reduction in the treatment of deep-dredged soil at Xuwei Port in Lianyungang city of China.Past research in this area was limited.Therefore,a curing agent made from powdered shells was used to solidify the dredged soil in situ.We employed laboratory orthogonal tests to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of the powdered shell-based curing agent.Data was collected by conducting experiments to assess the role of powdered shells in the curing process and to determine the optimal ratios of powdered shells to solidified soil for different purposes.The development of strength in solidified soil was studied in both seawater and pure water conditions.The study revealed that the strength of the solidified soil was influenced by the substitution rate of powdered shells and their interaction with cement.Higher cement content had a positive effect on strength.For high-strength solidified soil,the recommended ratio of wet soil:cement:lime:powdered shells were 100:16:4:4,while for low-strength solidified soil,the recommended ratio was 100:5.4:2.4:0.6.Seawater,under appropriate conditions,improved short-term strength by promoting the formation of expansive ettringite minerals that contributed to cementation and precipitation.These findings suggest that the combination of cement and powdered shells is synergistic,positively affecting the strength of solidified soil.The recommended ratios provide practical guidance for achieving desired strength levels while considering factors such as cost and carbon emissions.The role of seawater in enhancing short-term strength through crystal formation is noteworthy and can be advantageous for certain applications.In conclusion,this research demonstrates the potential of using a powdered shell-based curing agent for solidifying dredged soil in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner.The recommended ratios for different strength requirements offer valuable insights for practical applications in the field of soil treatment,contributing to sustainable and efficient solutions for soil management.

Spatial Patterns and Controlling Factors of Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen in the Three River Headwaters Region,China

The alpine ecosystem has great potential for carbon sequestration.Soil organic carbon(SOC)and total nitrogen(TN)are highly sensitive to climate change,and their dynamics are crucial to revealing the effect of climate change on the structure,function,and services of the ecosystem.However,the spatial distribution and controlling factors of SOC and TN across various soil layers and vegetation types within this unique ecosystem remain inadequately understood.In this study,256 soil samples in 89 sites were collected from the Three River Headwaters Region(TRHR)in China to investigate SOC and TN and to explore the primary factors affecting their distribution,including soil,vegetation,climate,and geography factors.The results show that SOC and TN contents in 0-20,20-40,40-60,and 60-80 cm soil layers are 24.40,18.03,14.04,12.40 g/kg and 2.46,1.90,1.51,1.17 g/kg,respectively;with higher concentrations observed in the southeastern region compared to the northwest of the TRHR.One-way analysis of variance reveals that SOC and TN levels are elevated in the alpine meadow and the alpine shrub relative to the alpine steppe in the 0-60 cm soil layers.The structural equation model explores that soil water content is the main controlling factor affecting the variation of SOC and TN.Moreover,the geography,climate,and vegetation factors notably indirectly affect SOC and TN through soil factors.Therefore,it can effectively improve soil water and nutrient conditions through vegetation restoration,soil improvement,and grazing management,and the change of SOC and TN can be fully understood by establishing monitoring networks to better protect soil carbon and nitrogen.

Long-term combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers increases crop yield sustainability by improving soil fertility in maize-wheat cropping systems

Organic material combined with inorganic fertilizer has been shown to greatly improve crop yield and maintain soil fertility globally. However, it remains unclear if crop yield and soil fertility can be sustained in the long term under the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Three long-term field trials were conducted to investigate the effects of organic amendments on the grain sustainable yield index(SYI), soil fertility index(SFI)and nutrient balance in maize–wheat cropping systems of central and southern China during 1991–2019. Five treatments were included in the trials: 1) no fertilization(control);2) balanced mineral fertilization(NPK);3) NPK plus manure(NPKM);4) high dose of NPK plus manure(1.5NPKM);and 5) NPK plus crop straw(NPKS). Over time, the grain yields of wheat and maize showed an increasing trend in all four fertilization treatments at the Yangling(YL) and Zhengzhou(ZZ) locations, while they declined at Qiyang(QY). The grain yield in the NPKM and 1.5NPKM treatments gradually exceeded that of the NPK and NPKS treatments at the QY site. The largest SYI was recorded in the NPKM treatment across the three sites, suggesting that inorganic fertilizer combined with manure can effectively improve crop yield sustainability. Higher SYI values were recorded at the YL and ZZ sites than at the QY site, possibly because the soil was more acid at QY. The key factors affecting grain yield were soil available phosphorus(AP) and available potassium(AK) at the YL and ZZ sites, and pH and AP at the QY site.All fertilization treatments resulted in soil N and P surpluses at the three sites, but soil K surpluses were recorded only at the QY site. The SFI was greater in the 1.5NPKM, NPKM and NPKS treatments than in the NPK treatment by 13.3–40.0 and 16.4–63.6% at the YL and ZZ sites, respectively, and was significantly higher in the NPKM and 1.5NPKM treatments than in the NPK and NPKS treatments at the QY site. A significant, positive linear relationship was found between SFI and crop yield, and SYI and nutrient balance, indicating that grain yield and its sustainability significantly increased with increasing soil fertility. The apparent N, P and K balances positively affected SFI.This study suggests that the appropriate amount of manure mixed with mineral NPK fertilizer is beneficial to the development of sustainable agriculture, which effectively increases the crop yield and yield sustainability by improving soil fertility.

Effects of biological soil crusts on plant growth and nutrient dynamics in the Minqin oasis-desert ecotone,Northwest China

Biological soil crusts(BSCs)play crucial roles in improving soil fertility and promoting plants settlement and reproduction in arid areas.However,the specific effects of BSCs on growth status and nutrient accumulation of plants are still unclear in different arid areas.This study analyzed the effects of three different BSCs treatments(without crust(WC),intact crust(IC),and broken crust(BC))on the growth,inorganic nutrient absorption,and organic solute synthesis of three typical desert plants(Grubovia dasyphylla(Fisch.&C.A.Mey.)Freitag&G.Kadereit,Nitraria tangutorum Bobrov,and Caragana koraiensis Kom.)in the Minqin desert-oasis ecotone of Northwest China.Results showed that the effects of three BSCs treatments on seed emergence and survival of three plants varied with seed types.The IC treatment significantly hindered the emergence and survival of seeds,while the BC treatment was more conducive to seed emergence and survival of plants.BSCs significantly promoted the growth of three plants,but their effects on plant growth varied at different stages of the growth.Briefly,the growth of G.dasyphylla was affected by BSCs in early stage,but the effects on the growth of G.dasyphylla significantly weakened in the middle and late stages.However,the growth of N.tangutorum and C.koraiensis only showed differences at the middle and late stages,with a significant enhancement in growth.Analysis of variance showed that BSCs,plant species,growth period,and their interactions had significant effects on the biomass and root:shoot ratio of three plants.BSC significantly affected the nutrients absorption and organic solute synthesis in plants.Specifically,BSCs significantly promoted nitrogen(N)absorption in plants and increased plant adaptability in N poor desert ecosystems,but had no significant effects on phosphorus(P)absorption.The effects of BSCs on inorganic nutrient absorption and organic solute synthesis in plants varied significantly among different plant species.The results suggest that BSCs have significant effects on the growth and nutrient accumulation of desert plants,which will provide theoretical basis for exploring the effects of BSCs on desert plant diversity,biodiversity conservation,and ecosystem management measures in arid and semi-arid areas.

Optimized reinforcement of granite residual soil using a cement and alkaline solution: A coupling effect

Granite residual soil (GRS) is a type of weathering soil that can decompose upon contact with water, potentially causing geological hazards. In this study, cement, an alkaline solution, and glass fiber were used to reinforce GRS. The effects of cement content and SiO_(2)/Na2O ratio of the alkaline solution on the static and dynamic strengths of GRS were discussed. Microscopically, the reinforcement mechanism and coupling effect were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that the addition of 2% cement and an alkaline solution with an SiO_(2)/Na2O ratio of 0.5 led to the densest matrix, lowest porosity, and highest static compressive strength, which was 4994 kPa with a dynamic impact resistance of 75.4 kN after adding glass fiber. The compressive strength and dynamic impact resistance were a result of the coupling effect of cement hydration, a pozzolanic reaction of clay minerals in the GRS, and the alkali activation of clay minerals. Excessive cement addition or an excessively high SiO_(2)/Na2O ratio in the alkaline solution can have negative effects, such as the destruction of C-(A)-S-H gels by the alkaline solution and hindering the production of N-A-S-H gels. This can result in damage to the matrix of reinforced GRS, leading to a decrease in both static and dynamic strengths. This study suggests that further research is required to gain a more precise understanding of the effects of this mixture in terms of reducing our carbon footprint and optimizing its properties. The findings indicate that cement and alkaline solution are appropriate for GRS and that the reinforced GRS can be used for high-strength foundation and embankment construction. The study provides an analysis of strategies for mitigating and managing GRS slope failures, as well as enhancing roadbed performance.

Model tests and numerical analysis of emergency treatment of cohesionless soil landslide with quick-setting polyurethane

Shotcrete is one of the common solutions for shallow sliding.It works by forming a protective layer with high strength and cementing the loose soil particles on the slope surface to prevent shallow sliding.However,the solidification time of conventional cement paste is long when shotcrete is used to treat cohesionless soil landslide.The idea of reinforcing slope with polyurethane solidified soil(i.e.,mixture of polyurethane and sand)was proposed.Model tests and finite element analysis were carried out to study the effectiveness of the proposed new method on the emergency treatment of cohesionless soil landslide.Surcharge loading on the crest of the slope was applied step by step until landslide was triggered so as to test and compare the stability and bearing capacity of slope models with different conditions.The simulated slope displacements were relatively close to the measured results,and the simulated slope deformation characteristics were in good agreement with the observed phenomena,which verifies the accuracy of the numerical method.Under the condition of surcharge loading on the crest of the slope,the unreinforced slope slid when the surcharge loading exceeded 30 k Pa,which presented a failure mode of local instability and collapse at the shallow layer of slope top.The reinforced slope remained stable even when the surcharge loading reached 48 k Pa.The displacement of the reinforced slope was reduced by more than 95%.Overall,this study verifies the effectiveness of polyurethane in the emergency treatment of cohesionless soil landslide and should have broad application prospects in the field of geological disasters concerning the safety of people's live.

Aerated irrigation increases tomato production by improving soil nitrogen availability

Soil nitrogen(N)is the main limiting nutrient for plant growth,which is sensitive to variations in the soil oxygen environment.To provide insights into plant N accumulation and yield under aerated and drip irrigation,a greenhouse tomato experiment was conducted with six treatments,including three fertilization types:inorganic fertilizer(NPK);organic fertilizer(OM);chemical(75%of applied N)+organic fertilizer(25%)(NPK+OM)under drip irrigation(DI)and aerated irrigation(AI)methods.Under Al,total soil carbon mineralization(C_(min))was significantly higher(by 5.7-7.0%)than under DI irrigation.C_(min)in the fertilizer treatments followed the order NPK+OM>OM>NPK under both AI and DI.Potentially mineralizable C(C_(0))and N(N_(0))was greater under AI than under DI.Gross N mineralization,gross nitrification,and NH_(4)^(+)immobilization rates were significantly higher under the AINPK treatment than the DINPK treatment by 2.58-3.27-,1.25-1.44-,and 1-1.26-fold,respectively.These findings demonstrated that AI and the addition of organic fertilizer accelerated the turnover of soil organic matter and N transformation processes,thereby enhancing N availability.Moreover,the combination of AI and organic fertilizer application was found to promote root growth(8.4-10.6%),increase the duration of the period of rapid N accumulation(ΔT),and increase the maximum N accumulation rate(V_(max)),subsequently encouraging aboveground dry matter accumulation.Consequently,the AI treatment yield was significantly greater(by 6.3-12.4%)than under the DI treatment.Further,N partial factor productivity(NPFP)and N harvest index(NHI)were greater under AI than under DI,by 6.3 to 12.4%,and 4.6 to 8.1%,respectively.The rankings of yield and NPFP remained consistent,with NPK+OM>OM>NPK under both AI and DI treatments.These results highlighted the positive impacts of AI and organic fertilizer application on soil N availability,N uptake,and overall crop yield in tomato.The optimal management measure was identified as the AINPK+OM treatment,which led to more efficient N management,better crop growth,higher yield,and more sustainable agricultural practices.

A 3D discrete model for soil desiccation cracking in consideration of moisture diffusion

Soil desiccation cracking is a common phenomenon on the earth surface.Numerical modeling is an effective approach to study the desiccation cracking mechanism of soil.This work develops a novel 3D moisture diffusion discrete model that is capable of dynamically assessing the effect of cracking on moisture diffusion and allowing moisture to be discontinuous on both sides of the cracks.Then,the parametric analysis of the moisture exchange coefficient in the 3D moisture diffusion discrete model is carried out for moisture diffusion in continuous media,and the selection criterion of the moisture exchange coefficient for the unbroken cohesive element is given.Subsequently,an example of moisture migration in a medium with one crack is provided to illustrate the crack hindering effect on moisture migration.Finally,combining the 3D moisture diffusion discrete model with the finite-discrete element method(FDEM),the moisture diffusion-fracture coupling model is built to study the desiccation cracking in a strip soil and the crack pattern of a rectangular soil.The evolution of crack area and volume with moisture content is quantitatively analyzed.The modeling number and average width of cracks in the strip soil show a good consistency with the experimental results,and the crack pattern of the rectangular soil matches well with the existing numerical results,validating the coupled moisture diffusion-fracture model.Additionally,the parametric study of soil desiccation cracking is performed.The developed model offers a powerful tool for exploring soil desiccation cracking.