Effect of Sprinkler and Border Irrigation on Topsoil Structure in Winter Wheat Field

A two-year experiment was carried out on the effect of sprinkler irrigation on the topsoil structure in a winter wheat field. A border-irrigated field was used as the control group. The total soil porosity, pore size distribution, pore shape distribution, soil cracks and soil compaction were measured. The sprinkler irrigation brought significant changes to the total soil porosity, capillary porosity, air-filled porosity and pore shape of topsoil layers in comparison with the border irrigation. The total porosity and air-filled porosity of the topsoil in the sprinkler irrigation were higher than those in the border irrigation. The changes in the air-filled and elongated pores were the main reasons for the changes in total porosity. The porosities of round and irregular pores in topsoil under sprinkler irrigation were lower than those under border irrigation. Sprinkler irrigation produced smaller soil cracks than border irrigation did, so sprinkler irrigation may restrain the development of macropore flow in comparison with border irrigation. The topsoil was looser under sprinkler irrigation than under border irrigation. According to the conditions of topsoil structure, it is preferable for crops to grow under sprinkler irrigation than under border irrigation.

Effects of seasonal water-level fluctuation on soil pore structure in the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

Inundation of the Three Gorges Reservoir has created a 30-m water-level fluctuation zone with seasonal hydrological alternations of submergence and exposure, which may greatly affect soil properties and bank stability. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of soil pore structure to seasonal water-level fluctuation in the reservoir, and particularly, the hydrological change of wetting and drying cycles. Soil pore structure was visualized with industrial X-ray computed tomography and digital image analysis techniques. The results showed that soil total porosity(? 100 ?m), total pore number, total throat number, and mean throat surface area increased significantly under wetting and drying cycles. Soil porosity, pore number and throat numberwithin each size class increased in the course of wetting and drying cycles. The coordination number, degree of anisotropy and fractal dimension were indicating an increase. In contrast, the mean shape factor, pore-throat ratio, and Euler-Poincaré number decreased due to wetting and drying cycles. These illustrated that the wetting and drying cycles made soil pore structure become more porous, continuous, heterogeneous and complex. It can thus be deduced that the water-level fluctuation would modify soil porosity, pore size distribution, and pore morphology in the Three Gorges Reservoir, which may have profound implications for soil processes, soil functions, and bank stability.

Effect of drying environment on engineering properties of an expansive soil and its microstructure

This paper investigates the effect of drying environment, i.e. temperature and relative humidity, on the engineering properties and microscopic pore size distribution of an expansive soil. The shrinkage tests under different drying temperatures and relative humidity are carried out in a constant climate chamber. Then, the undisturbed samples, prepared in different drying environment, are used for the triaxial tests and mercury intrusion tests. It is found that the drying environment has noticeable influence on the engineering properties of expansive soils and it can be characterized by the drying rate. The linear shrinkage and strength increase with the decrease of the drying rate. The non-uniform deformation tends to happen in the high drying rate, which subsequently furthers the development of cracks. In addition, during the drying process, the variation of pores mainly focuses on the inter-aggregate pores and inter-particle pores. The lower drying rate leads to larger variation of pore size distribution.

Study of the Hole Wall Soil's Capacity by the Action of the Bearing Device of Rodless Drilling Rig

In order to ensure the bearing device of rodless drilling rig to press stably against the hole wall, it has to analyze the contact between the soil pore wall and the bearing device to study whether the soil pore will shear failure. This paper uses the method to calculate the additional stress of any point in soil mechanics to get the three-dimensional stress state of any point of the soil pore under the support plate, and use the numerical analysis method to calculate the shear stress and its relative intensity. Under the circumstances of maximum torque and maximum pressure, ABAQUS is used to make a finite element analysis of the capacity of the soil pore. The results of numerical analysis and FEA indicate that in the condition of the support plate will not deform; the contact area between the soil pore and the support plate is rectangular; in the force process, the soil under the ends of the support plate have the trend of yield, while it meets the condition of Mohr-Coulomb not to yield generally.

Biochar prevents soybean seedling injury caused by atrazine residue by regulating the concentration of this herbicide in soil pore water

The residue of atrazine in field soils poses a major threat to crop growth in the rotation system,raising concerns about grain security and food safety.Current agricultural production requires more efficient and cost-effective mitigation measures in response to the emerging threat.This study reported the critical concentration(0.1 mg L^(−1))of atrazine injury to soybean seedlings in soil pore water and how biochar amendment could influence the distribution of atrazine in different soil environments.The results showed that biochar significantly reduced the concentration of atrazine in soil pore water,for example,0.5%biochar in red(cinnamon,fluvo-aquic,paddy,black)soil reduced atrazine concentration from 0.31(0.20,0.18,0.12,0.03)mg L^(−1)to 0.004(0.002,0.005,0.013,0.011)mg L^(−1)in pore water(P<0.01).On the basis of these,a reliable mathematical model was developed to predict the atrazine concentration in soil pore water under(or without)biochar amendment conditions.The verification results showed that the mean absolute percentage error of the model was 14.1%,indicating that the prediction error was within a reasonable range.Our work provides a precise solution to crop injury caused by soil residual herbicides with the aid of biochar,which reduces the bioavailability of atrazine in soybean seedlings.This method not only maximizes the use of biochar but also provides effective crop protection and environmental benefits.

水泥搅拌土的微观结构及加固机理研究

利用孔度分析、X射线衍射、扫描电镜等微结构观测手段,介绍和分析了软土和不同成型条件的水泥搅拌土微结构特点,解释了水泥搅拌土的加固机理,结果表明:软土和不同成型条件的水泥搅拌土的微观结构存在着一定的差异,导致了其在力学特性方面的不同。

Coefficient of consolidation by end of arc method

One of the most important issues in geotechnical engineering is excess pore pressure caused by clay soil loading and consolidation. Regarding uncertainties and complexities, this issue has long been the subject of attention of many researchers. In this work, a one-dimensional consolidation apparatus was equipped in a way that pore water pressure and settlement could be continuously read and recorded during consolidation process under static loading. The end of primary consolidation was obtained using water pressure changes helping to present a new method for determining the end of primary consolidation and consolidation coefficient. This method was then compared with two classical theory methods of lg t and t. Using Terzaghi's theory, the way of pore pressure dissipation for lg t, t and the new method was found and compared with experimental results. It is concluded that the new method has better results.

Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Naturally Occurring Sulfate-Based Saline Soils at Different Moisture Contents

Soil salinization may negatively affect microbial processes related to carbon dioxide （CO2） and nitrous oxide （N20） emissions. A short-term laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of soil electrical conductivity （EC） and moisture content on CO2 and N20 emissions from sulfate-based natural saline soils. Three separate 100-m long transects were established along the salinity gradient on a salt-affected agricultural field at Mooreton, North Dakota, USA. Surface soils were collected from four equally spaced sampling positions within each transect, at the depths of 0-15 and 15-30 cm. In the laboratory, artificial soil cores were formed combining soils from both the depths in each transect, and incubated at 60% and 90% water-filled pore space （WFPS） at 25 ~C. The measured depth-weighted EC of the saturated paste extract （ECe） across the sampling positions ranged from 0.43 to 4.65 dS m-1. Potential nitrogen （N） mineralization rate and CO2 emissions decreased with increasing soil ECe, but the relative decline in soil CO2 emissions with increasing ECe was smaller at 60% WFPS than at 90% WFPS. At 60% WFPS, soil N20 emissions decreased from 133 g N20-N kg-1 soil at ECe （ 0.50 dS m-1 to 72 μg N20-N kg-1 soil at ECe = 4.65 dS m-1. In contrast, at 90% WFPS, soil N20 emissions increased from 262 g N20-N kg-1 soil at ECe ： 0.81 dS m-1 to 849 g N20-N kg-1 soil at ECe ： 4.65 dS m-1, suggesting that N20 emissions were linked to both soil ECe and moisture content. Therefore, spatial variability in soil ECe and pattern of rainfall over the season need to be considered when up-scaling N20 and CO2 emissions from field to landscape scales.

A discrete element model for simulating saturated granular soil

A numerical model is developed to simulate saturated granular soil, based on the discrete element method. Soil particles are represented by Lagrangian discrete elements, and pore fluid, by appropriate discrete elements which represent alternately Lagrangian mass of water and Eulerian volume of space. Macroscale behavior of the model is verified by simulating undrained biaxial compression tests. Micro-scale behavior is compared to previous literature through pore pressure pattern visualization during shear tests. It is demonstrated that dynamic pore pressure patterns are generated by superposed stress waves. These pore-pressure patterns travel much faster than average drainage rate of the pore fluid and may initiate soil fabric change, ultimately leading to liquefaction in loose sands. Thus, this work demonstrates a tool to roughly link dvnamic stress wave patterns to initiation of liQuefaction nhenomena.

Effects of Maize-Soybean Intercropping on Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Silt Loam Soil in the North China Plain

Maize ( Zea mays L.), a staple crop in the North China Plain, contributing substantially to agricultural nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions in this region. Many studies have focused on various agricultural management measures to reduce N 2 O emissions. However, few have investigated soil N 2 O emissions in intercropping systems. In the current study, we investigate whether maize-soybean intercropping treatments could reduce N 2 O emission rates. Two differently configured maize-soybean intercropping treatments, 2:2 intercropping (two rows of maize and two rows of soybean, 2M2S) and 2:1 intercropping (two rows of maize and one row of soybean, 2M1S), and monocultured maize (M) and soybean (S) treatments were performed using a static chamber method. The results showed no distinct yield advantage for the intercropping systems. The total N 2 O production from the various treatments was 0.15 ± 0.04–113.85 ± 12.75 µg m −2 min −1 . The cumulative N 2 O emission from the M treatment was 16.9 ± 2.3 kg ha −1 over the entire growing season (three and a half months), which was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) than that of the 2M2S and 2M1S treatments by 36.6% and 32.2%, respectively. Two applications of nitrogen (N) fertilizer (as urea) at 240 kg N ha −1 each induced considerable soil N 2 O fluxes. Short-term N 2 O emissions (within one week after each of the two N applications) accounted for 74.4%–83.3% of the total emissions. Soil moisture, temperature, and inorganic N were significantly correlated with soil N 2 O emissions ( R 2 = 0.246–0.365, n = 192, P < 0.001). Soil nitrate (NO − )3 and moisture decreased in the intercropping treatments during the growing season. These results indicate that maize-soybean intercropping can reduce soil N 2 O emissions relative to monocultured maize.

Gross Nitrification Rates and Nitrous Oxide Emissions in an Apple Orchard Soil in Northeast China

A better understanding of nitrogen （N） transformation in agricultural soils is crucial for the development of sustainable and environmental-friendly N fertilizer management and the proposal of effective N20 mitigation strategies. This study aimed： i） to elucidate the seasonal dynamic of gross nitrification rate and N20 emission, ii） to determine the influence of soil conditions on the gross nitrification, and iii） to confirm the relationship between gross nitrification and N20 emissions in the soil of an apple orchard in Yantai, Northeast China. The gross nitrification rates and N20 fluxes were examined from March to October in 2009, 2010, and 2011 using the barometric process separation （BaPS） technique and the static chamber method. During the wet seasons gross nitrification rates were 1.64 times higher than those under dry season conditions. Multiple regression analysis revealed that gross nitrification rates were significantly correlated with soil temperature and soil water-filled pore space （WFPS）. The relationship between gross nitrification rates and soil WFPS followed an optimum curve peaking at 60% WFPS. Nitrous oxide fluxes varied widely from March to October and were stimulated by N fertilizer application. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between gross nitrification rates and soil N20 emissions. Further evaluation indicated that gross nitrification contributed significantly to N20 formation during the dry season （about 86%） but to a lesser degree during the wet season （about 51%）. Therefore, gross nitrification is a key process for the formation of N20 in soils of apple orchard ecosystems of the geographical region.

Hydrological Responses and Flow Pathways in an Acrisol on a Forested Hillslope with a Monsoonal Subtropical Climate

The nature of subsurface flow depends largely on hydraulic conductivity of the vadoze zone, permeability of the underlying bedrock, existence of soil layers differing in hydraulic properties and macropore content, soil depth, and slope angle.Quantification of flow pathways on forested hillslopes is essential to understand hydrological dynamics and solute transport patterns.Acrisols, with their argic Bt horizons, are challenging in this respect.To further elucidate flow pathways of water and short-term variability of soil moisture patterns in Acrisols, a field study was conducted on a forested hillslope in a sub-catchment of the Tie Shan Ping(TSP)watershed, 25 km northeast of Chongqing City, China.This catchment is covered by a mixed secondary forest dominated by Masson pine(Pinus massoniana).Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity(K sat) was significantly reduced at the interface between the AB and Bt horizons(2.6 × 10^(-5) vs.1.2 × 10^(-6) m s^(-1)), which led to that the flow volume generated in the Bt horizon was of little quantitative importance compared to that in the AB horizon.There was a marked decrease in porosity between the OA and AB horizons, with a further decrease deeper in the mineral subsoil.Especially, the content of soil pores > 300 μm was higher in the AB horizon(14.3%)than in the Bt horizon(6.5%).This explained the difference in soil K sat values.This study showed that Bt horizon had limited water transport capability, forcing part of the infiltrated rainwater as interflow through the OA and AB horizons.Thus, the topsoil responded quickly to rainfall events, causing frequent cycles of saturation and aeration of soil pores.

Assessment of compost and three biochars associated with Ailanthus altissima(Miller)Swingle for lead and arsenic stabilization in a post-mining Technosol

The elevated presence of metal(loid)s in the environment significantly impacts ecosystems and human health and is generally largely due to industrial and mining activities.Thus,in the current study,we investigated and proposed an environmentally friendly method(phytomanagement)aimed at reducing the negative impacts associated with metal(loid)pollution through the use of soil amendments(biochar and compost)to permit Ailanthus altissima growth on a highly contaminated mining Technosol,with arsenic(As)and lead(Pb)contents of 539.06 and 11453 mg kg^(-1),respectively.The objective was to examine the impacts of three biochars and compost on i)the physicochemical characteristics of soil,ii)metal(loid)immobilization in soil,and iii)A.altissima growth.We revealed that the application of biochar as a soil amendment improved soil conditions by increasing soil electrical conductivity,pH,and water-holding capacity.Moreover,concomitantly,we observed a large reduction(99%)in Pb mobility and availability following application of the hardwood biochar in combination with compost(HBCP).Thus,this combined soil amendment was most effective in promoting A.altissima growth.In addition,the HBCP treatment prevented As translocation in the upper parts of plants,although soil pore water As concentration was not diminished by amendment application.