Modeling atrazine transport in soil columns with HYDRUS-1D

Both physical and chemical processes affect the fate and transport of herbicides. It is useful to simulate these processes with computer programs to predict solute movement. Simulations were run with HYDRUS- 1 D to identify the sorption and degradation parameters of atrazine through calibration from the breakthrough curves （BTCs）. Data from undisturbed and disturbed soil column experiments were compared and analyzed using the dual-porosity model. The study results show that the values of dispersivity are slightly lower in disturbed columns, suggesting that the more heterogeneous the structure is, the higher the dispersivity. Sorption parameters also show slight variability, which is attributed to the differences in soil properties, experimental conditions and methods, or other ecological factors. For both of the columns, the degradation rates were similar. Potassium bromide was used as a conservative non-reactive tracer to characterize the water movement in columns. Atrazine BTCs exhibited significant tailing and asymmetry, indicating non-equilibrium sorption during solute transport. The dual-porosity model was verified to best fit the BTCs of the column experiments. Greater or lesser concentration of atrazine spreading to the bottom of the columns indicated risk of groundwater contamination. Overall, HYDRUS-1D successfully simulated the atrazine transport in soil columns.

A New Method for Determination of Adsorption and Desorption Coefficients of Pesticides with Soil Column Liquid Chromatography

The adsorption and desorption coefficients of atrazine, methiocarb and simazine on a sandy loam soil were measured in this study with soil column liquid chromatographic (SCLC) technique. The adsorption and desorption data of all the three pesticides followed Freundlich isotherms revealing the existence of hysteresis. In comparing with other methods, SCLC method showed some characteristics such as rapidity, online and accuracy.

A New Rapid Determination Method of Soil Organic Carbon Adsorption Coefficients of Pesticides with Soil Column Liquid Chromatography

Soil column liquid chromatography (SCLC) was developed to determine soil organic carbon adsorption coefficients (E-oc) for chemicals. The uptake by soil of pesticides from water can be conveniently calculated from the related breakthrough curves (BTC). The nine pesticides chosen for determination in this study are soluble ones, with their water solubility ranging from 62 mg/L to Z mg/L. In comparing with existing methods of K-oc, SCLC possesses rapid, online and accurate characteristics.

Studies on parallel seismic testing for integrity of cemented soil columns

The principle and process of parallel seismic (PS) testing for the integrity testing of cemented soil columns are in- troduced in this paper. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element model (FEM) for the pile-soil system is established for impulse responses. Under saturated soil or unsaturated soil condition, several vibrating velocity-time histories at different depths in parallel hole are obtained based on the numerical simulation. It shows that the length of the pile and the one-dimensional (1D) P-wave velocity in the pile can be determined easily from the features of the mentioned velocity-time histories. By examining the slopes of the first arrival time plotted versus depth or the depth where the amplitude of the first arrival significantly decreases, the length of the pile can be determined. The effects of the 3D P-wave propagation through the saturated soil and the defect of the cemented soil column on the velocity-time histories are also investigated.

Indoor experiment and numerical simulation study of ammonia-nitrogen migration rules in soil column

The riverbank soil is a natural purifying agent for the polluted river water(Riverbank filtration, RBF). This is of great importance to groundwater safety along the riverbank. This paper examines the migration and transformation rules of ammonia-nitrogen in three typical types of sand soil using the indoor leaching experiment of soil column, and then makes comparison with the indoor experiment results in combination with the numerical simulation method. The experiment process shows that the change in ammonia-nitrogen concentration goes through three stages including "removal-water saturation-saturation". As the contents of clay particles in soil sample increase, the removal of ammonia-nitrogen from soil sample will take more time and gain higher ratio. During the removal period, the removal ratio of Column 1, Column 2 and Column 3 averages 68.8%(1-12 d), 74.6%(1-22 d) and 91.1%(1-26 d). The ammonia-nitrogen removal ratio shows no noticeable change as the depth of soil columns varies. But it is found that the ammonia-nitrogen removal ratio is the least of the whole experiment when the soil columns are at the depth of 15 cm. It can be preliminary inferred that the natural purifying performance of soil along the river for ammonia-nitrogen in river water mainly depends on the proportion of fine particles in soil. HYDRUS-1D model is used to simulate this experiment process, analyze the change of the bottom observation holes by time and depth in three columns(the tenth day), and make comparison with the experiment result. The coefficients of determination for fitting curves of Column 1, Column 2 and Column 3 are 0.953, 0.909, 0.882 and 0.955, 0.740, 0.980 separately. Besides, this paper examines the contribution of absorption, mineralization and nitrification in the simulation process. In the early removal stage, mineralization plays a dominant role and the maximum contribution rate of mineralization is 99%. As time goes by, absorption starts to function and gradually assumes a dominant position. In the middle and late removal stage, nitrification in Column 1 and Column 2 makes more contribution than mineralization. So the experiment result of the ammonia-nitrogen concentration is 0.6% and 2.4% lower than that in effluent and the maximum contribution ratio of nitrification is -4.53% and -5.10% respectively when only the function of absorption is considered. The mineralization in Column 1 and Column 2 in the middle and late removal stage still plays a more important role than nitrification. So the experiment result is 1.4% higher than that in effluent and the maximum contribution ratio of nitrification is -2.51% when only the function of absorption is considered. Therefore, absorption, mineralization and nitrification make different contributions during different part of the stage. This means that the natural purifying performance of soil along the river for ammonia-nitrogen in river water not only depends on the proportion of fine particles in soil, but depends on the mineralization and nitrification environment. This can offer some insights into the protection and recovery of groundwater along the riverbank.

Effects of gravel on the water absorption characteristics and hydraulic parameters of stony soil

The eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in China are a typical mountainous region of soil and gravel,where gravel could affect the water movement process in the soil.This study focused on the effects of different gravel contents on the water absorption characteristics and hydraulic parameters of stony soil.The stony soil samples were collected from the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in April 2023 and used as the experimental materials to conduct a one-dimensional horizontal soil column absorption experiment.Six experimental groups with gravel contents of 0%,10%,20%,30%,40%,and 50%were established to determine the saturated hydraulic conductivity(K_(s)),saturated water content(θ_(s)),initial water content(θ_(i)),and retention water content(θ_(r)),and explore the changes in the wetting front depth and cumulative absorption volume during the absorption experiment.The Philip model was used to fit the soil absorption process and determine the soil water absorption rate.Then the length of the characteristic wetting front depth,shape coefficient,empirical parameter,inverse intake suction and soil water suction were derived from the van Genuchten model.Finally,the hydraulic parameters mentioned above were used to fit the soil water characteristic curves,unsaturated hydraulic conductivity(K_(θ))and specific water capacity(C(h)).The results showed that the wetting front depth and cumulative absorption volume of each treatment gradually decreased with increasing gravel content.Compared with control check treatment with gravel content of 0%,soil water absorption rates in the treatments with gravel contents of 10%,20%,30%,40%,and 50%decreased by 11.47%,17.97%,25.24%,29.83%,and 42.45%,respectively.As the gravel content increased,inverse intake suction gradually increased,and shape coefficient,K_(s),θ_(s),andθ_(r)gradually decreased.For the same soil water content,soil water suction and K_(θ)gradually decreased with increasing gravel content.At the same soil water suction,C(h)decreased with increasing gravel content,and the water use efficiency worsened.Overall,the water holding capacity,hydraulic conductivity,and water use efficiency of stony soil in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains decreased with increasing gravel content.This study could provide data support for improving soil water use efficiency in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains and other similar rocky mountainous areas.

Experimental study on geosynthetic-reinforced sand fill over marine clay with or without deep cement mixed soil columns under different loadings

Geosynthetics and deep cement mixed(DCM)soil columns have been widely used to improve soft soil grounds in many countries and regions.This paper presents an experimental study on a geosynthetic-reinforced sand fill over marine clay with or without DCM columns under different loadings.Two tests were conducted on the sand fill reinforced with fixed-end and free-end geosynthetics over marine clay under three-stage local loading to investigate the effects of the boundary conditions of geosynthetic reinforcement on reducing settlements.It is observed that the fixed-end geosynthetic sheet is more effective in reducing settlements than the free-end condition under identical local loading.Another test was conducted on the fixed-end geosynthetic-reinforced sand fill over the marine clay improved by DCM columns under single-stage uniform loading.The vertical stresses on the marine clay and on the DCM columns,as well as the tensile strains of the geosynthetic sheet in the overlying sand fill,were measured.The results revealed that the stress concentration ratio increases with an increase in consolidation settlements,and the maximum tensile strain of the geosynthetic sheet occurs near the edge rather than at the center of the top surface of the DCM columns.

Water infiltration and soil-water characteristics of compacted loess under applied vertical stress

Additional stress formed by postconstruction buildings in loess-filling areas affects water infiltration in soil and causes soil deformation.To investigate this effect,under constant water head,vertical infiltration tests on compacted loess with two initial dry densities for different applied vertical stresses were developed using vertical stresscontrollable one-dimensional soil columns.The timehistory curves of vertical deformation,wetting front depth,cumulative infiltration depth,volumetric water content(VWC)and suction were measured,and the soil-water characteristic curves(SWCCs)were determined.The results showed that:(1)the infiltration ability of the soil column weakens with increasing applied vertical stress and initial dry density;(2)vertical deformation increases rapidly at first and then tends to be stable slowly at the consolidation and wetting-induced deformation stage,and is positively correlated with applied vertical stress and is negatively correlated with initial dry density.The stability time of wetting-induced deformation and the corresponding wetting front depth increase with the increase of applied vertical stress,while they decrease obviously when initial dry density increases;(3)the influence of applied vertical stress on soilwater characteristics in soil columns with various initial dry densities is related to the deformation depth of soil column.The VG(Van Genuchten)model is suitable for fitting the SWCCs at different monitoring positions.A normalized SWCC model introducing the applied vertical stress was proposed for each initial dry density using the mathematical relationship between the fitting parameters and the applied vertical stress.

Migration and risks of potentially toxic elements from sewage sludge applied to acid forest soil

`The application of sewage sludge(SS)to forested lands may lead to the downward migration of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)through rainfall and thus pose risk to the subsoil and groundwater.Batch column experiments were conducted using leaching water equivalent to the rainfall amount in the study area over 3 years to investigate changes in concentrations of PTEs,including copper(Cu),zinc(Zn),lead(Pb),cadmium(Cd),and nickel(Ni)in the leachate from the acidic forest soil.Water quality index of leachate,potential ecological risk and human health risk in soil at different leaching stages were compared.Sewage sludge was applied at SS/soil mass ratios of 0:100(controls),15:85(T1),30:70(T2),45:55(T3),60:40(T4),and 75:25(T5).All treatments resulted in increased PTEs concentration in the upper 20 cm soil,T3-T5 increased potential ecological risk from"low"(control)to"moderate"or"considerable".During first year leaching,PTEs concentration increased with increasing SS/soil ratios,but the water quality index of T1-T3 was"excellent"or"good".Pb,Cu,Cd,and Ni in the 20-40 cm soil depth,and Zn in the 60-80 cm soil depth were also enriched,but potential ecological risk was"low".In subsequent leaching,PTEs concentration of leachate gradually returned to the background value and water quality index was"excellent".There were no significant changes in PTEs and ecological risk observed.During the monitoring process,the health risk caused by the migration of PTEs to the human body was always within the acceptable range.Overall,this study provides a reference for the management of risks from the application of SS on forestlands,i.e.,SS/soil ratios<45:55 is recommended on forestlands,and special attention should be given to early leaching risk.In addition,it also provides an important assessment method for the risk of PTEs leaching and migration in forested land application.

Simplified method for predicating consolidation settlement of soft ground improved by floating soil-cement column

A simplified method is presented for predicting consolidation settlement of soft ground improved by floating soil-cement column on the basis of double soil-layer consolidation theory. Combining the axisymmetric consolidation model and equal strain assumption, the governing equation was derived for the consolidation of clayey subsoil reinforced by soil-cement column. By modifying the boundary condition of the interface between the improved layer and underlying layer on seepage and pore-water pressure, the analytical solution of consolidation of soft ground improved by floating soil-cement column was developed under depth-dependent ramp load. The results of the parameter analysis of consolidation behavior show that the consolidation rate is closely related with the depth replacement ratio by the column and the permeability of upper layer. The influence of column-soil constrained modulus ratio and radius ratio of the influence zone to the column on consolidation is also affected by depth replacement ratio. The column-soil total stress ratio increases with time and approaches the final value accompanied with the dissipation of excess pore water pressure.

Liquefaction mitigation in silty soils using composite stone columns and dynamic compaction

The objective of this study is to develop an analytical methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of vibro stone column (S.C.) and dynamic compaction (D.C.) techniques supplemented with wick drains to densify and mitigate liquefaction in saturated sands and non-plastic silty soils. It includes the following: (i) develop numerical models to simulate and analyze soil densitication during S.C. installation and D.C. process, and (ii) identify parameters controlling post-improvement soil density in both cases, and (iii) develop design guidelines for densification of silty soils using the above techniques. An analytical procedure was developed and used to simulate soil response during S.C. and D.C. installations, and the results were compared with available case history data. Important construction design parameters and soil properties that affect the effectiveness of these techniques, and construction design choices suitable for sands and non-plastic silty soils were identified. The methodology is expected to advance the use of S.C. and D.C. in silty soils reducing the reliance on expensive field trials as a design tool. The ultimate outcome of this research will be design charts and design guidelines for using composite stone columns and composite dynamic compaction techniques in liquefaction mitigation of saturated silty soils.

Boron and Zinc Transport Through Intact Columns of Calcareous Soils

Leaching of boron (B) and zinc (Zn) can be significant in some pedomorphic conditions, which can cause contamination of shallow groundwater and economic losses. Boron and Zn adsorption and transport was studied using 8.4 cm diameter × 28 cm long intact columns from two calcareous soil series with differing clay contents and vadose zone structures: Lyallpur soil series, clay loam (fine-silty, mixed, hyperthermic Ustalfic Haplargid), and Sultanpur soil series, sandy loam (coarse-silty, mixed, hyperthermic Ustollic Camborthid). The adsorption isotherms were developed by equilibrating soil with 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2 aqueous solution containing varying amounts of B and Zn and were fitted to the Langmuir equation. The B and Zn breakthrough curves were fitted to the two-domain convective-dispersive equation. At the end of the leaching experiment, 0.11 L 10 g L-1 blue dye solution was also applied to each column to mark the flow paths. The Lyallpur soil columns had a slightly greater adsorption partition coeffcient both for B and Zn than the Sultanpur soil columns. In the Lyallpur soil columns, B arrival was immediate but the peak concentration ratio (the concentration in solution at equilibrium/concentration applied) was lower than that in the Sultanpur soil columns. The breakthrough of B in the Sultanpur soil columns occurred after about 10 cm of cumulative drainage in both the columns; the rise in effuent concentration was fast and the peak concentration ratio was almost 1. Zinc leaching through the soil columns was very limited as only one column from the Lyallpur soil series showed Zn breakthrough in the effuent where the peak concentration ratio was only 0.05. This study demonstrates the effect of soil structure on B transport and has implications for the nutrient management in field soils.

Column Holdup Formula of Soil Solute Transport

The shortcomings of the present two formulae for describing column holdup are analyzed and deductions are made to find a new formula. The column holdup, Hw, described by the new formula is dimensional, and related to soil solute transport kinesis and column physical properties. Compared with the other two column holdups, Hw is feasible to describe dimensional column holdup during solute transport process. The relationships between Hw and retardation factor, R, in different solute transport boundary conditions are established.

黄土-古土壤互层对土壤水分运移及土体微结构的影响

黄土地区地质灾害问题的发生大多与水在黄土中的入渗有关,而马兰黄土-古土壤互层结构对土壤水分入渗规律的影响显著。为揭示古土壤阻滞作用下黄土水分运移规律及其对黄土体微结构的影响,为黄土地区工程实践提供理论基础,该研究以陕西省泾阳县南塬的黄土为研究对象,采用土柱模型进行水分入渗试验,研究黄土-古土壤互层条件下土壤水分运移规律。在此基础上,通过微结构测试、分形维数和概率熵等指标的计算,分析黄土-古土壤互层条件下土壤水分运移对黄土微结构的影响。结果表明:古土壤层的透水性弱,湿润锋抵达黄土与古土壤界面处产生瞬态滞水,且随着入渗强度增加滞水时间增加;古土壤层影响下黄土与古土壤界面处的滞水会导致孔隙结构相互连通,孔隙空间平均增加4.13%,孔隙方向概率熵平均减少0.029,分形维数平均减小0.076,即古土壤层的阻水作用使得界面处黄土的孔隙空间增大,孔隙排列有序,孔隙形态规则。研究结果为黄土地区的工程建设和生态环境保护提供科学支撑。

不同时间添加蚯蚓对矸石覆土生理生态的影响

为探究不同时间添加蚯蚓对矸石覆土中香根草(Vetiveria zizanioides)生理生态的影响,采用土柱试验,设置两种覆土厚度[30 cm(M)、50 cm(N)],每组覆土分别设4个处理组:单独种植香根草(CK)、接种蚯蚓20 d后添加香根草(A)、同时接种蚯蚓和添加香根草(B)、添加香根草20 d后接种蚯蚓(C)处理,分析覆土理化性质及香根草生理生态指标变化特征。结果显示:与CK相比,A、B和C处理均能使覆土pH显著降低趋向中性(P<0.05),提升覆土电导率(EC)、有机质(OM)、全氮(TN)和全磷(TP)含量。与CK相比,不同时间接种蚯蚓均能增加香根草发芽率、总重和叶绿素a含量,其中B处理光合色素(叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素)含量、A处理叶绿素b含量和C处理根系总长较CK均显著提高(P<0.05)。与CK相比,B处理降低香根草可溶性蛋白和脯氨酸含量效果较强,30和50 cm厚度覆土下B处理香根草可溶性蛋白较CK分别降低9.34%和4.69%(P<0.05),50 cm厚度覆土下脯氨酸含量较CK降低了5.55%(P<0.05),而A处理能显著提高香根草丙二醛含量。同一覆土厚度下,A处理仅在30 cm条件下显著降低香根草过氧化氢酶活性;B、C处理香根草超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶活性较CK相比均无显著差异(P>0.05)。冗余分析和相关性分析表明:A、C处理中覆土OM、TN是影响香根草生理生态特性主要环境因子,而B处理中覆土OM、TP是影响香根草生理生态特性的主要环境因子。研究结果可为蚯蚓-香根草联合应用于复垦土壤修复提供理论依据。

生物炭包膜尿素的制备及其固氮潜力的研究

为了探究生物炭包膜尿素的缓释性能及对土壤固氮的影响,以300、500和700℃下制备的杨木生物炭为包膜材料制备了3种生物炭包膜尿素,采用间歇土柱淋溶试验对氮素的释放特征进行分析。结果表明,杨木生物炭对铵态氮和硝态氮具有较好的吸附性能,低温下制备的生物炭对铵态氮吸附效果更好;与尿素相比,施用生物炭包膜尿素土壤的总氮淋溶量减少了9.73%~14.67%,铵态氮淋溶量减少了25.28%~30.36%,硝态氮淋溶量减少了10.34%~18.38%;在同等施氮水平下,生物炭包膜尿素相较于尿素可以显著增加土壤铵态氮和硝态氮的含量。其中,土壤中铵态氮含量增加了66.4%~200.1%,土壤硝态氮的含量增加了477.9%~537.6%。因此,生物炭用作肥料的包膜材料具有广阔的应用前景。

秸秆还田与无机改良剂配合对滨海盐渍化土壤特性的影响

为探讨秸秆还田与无机改良剂配合对滨海盐渍土土壤特性的影响,明确其对盐碱土壤的降盐和改土效果,本研究以黄河三角洲中度盐渍土为研究对象,采用土柱试验,研究不同秸秆还田方式及其与无机改良剂配合对土壤盐分和理化性质的影响。结果表明:秸秆覆盖或翻埋还田配施无机改良剂处理促进了盐分的淋洗,增加了淋溶液中总盐含量以及各盐基离子含量;秸秆还田和秸秆还田与无机改良剂配合均可降低土壤盐分含量,其中秸秆还田与无机改良剂配合较秸秆不还田处理淋溶液中盐分含量增加,且0~<40 cm土层中土壤盐分含量降低,脱盐率高达70.76%~83.94%;在0~<20 cm土层中,土壤有机质含量增高了10.96%和11.96%,铵态氮含量增加了23.77%和24.01%,土壤容重降低了10.19%和11.53%,0.25~<2 mm水稳性团聚体占比增加了59.38%和63.95%;在20~<40 cm土层中,土壤有机质含量增高了21.07%和22.15%,铵态氮含量增加了22.86%和27.99%,土壤容重降低了7.20%和8.13%,0.25~<2 mm水稳性团聚体占比增加了39.54%和32.67%。研究表明,秸秆覆盖+翻埋还田配合无机改良剂处理对滨海盐渍土的降盐、改土效果最优,可降低土壤盐分、提高土壤质量。