Influence of soil organic matter contents on soil water characteristics of forests on east slope of Gongga Mountain

By testing soil organic matter （SOM） contents, soil water contents （SWC） within low suctions, and saturated infiltration rates of samples taken from east slope of Gongga Mountain of China, the enhancive effects of SOM contents on SWC within low suctions and saturated infiltration rates were quantified. The simulated functions might be applied on regional experience forest-hydrology model. The improving function of protecting forest floor and increasing SOM contents on forest ecosystem hydrological effects were also embodied.

Estimation of soil organic matter in the Ogan-Kuqa River Oasis, Northwest China, based on visible and near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning

Visible and near-infrared(vis-NIR)spectroscopy technique allows for fast and efficient determination of soil organic matter(SOM).However,a prior requirement for the vis-NIR spectroscopy technique to predict SOM is the effective removal of redundant information.Therefore,this study aims to select three wavelength selection strategies for obtaining the spectral response characteristics of SOM.The SOM content and spectral information of 110 soil samples from the Ogan-Kuqa River Oasis were measured under laboratory conditions in July 2017.Pearson correlation analysis was introduced to preselect spectral wavelengths from the preprocessed spectra that passed the 0.01 level significance test.The successive projection algorithm(SPA),competitive adaptive reweighted sampling(CARS),and Boruta algorithm were used to detect the optimal variables from the preselected wavelengths.Finally,partial least squares regression(PLSR)and random forest(RF)models combined with the optimal wavelengths were applied to develop a quantitative estimation model of the SOM content.The results demonstrate that the optimal variables selected were mainly located near the range of spectral absorption features(i.e.,1400.0,1900.0,and 2200.0 nm),and the CARS and Boruta algorithm also selected a few visible wavelengths located in the range of 480.0–510.0 nm.Both models can achieve a more satisfactory prediction of the SOM content,and the RF model had better accuracy than the PLSR model.The SOM content prediction model established by Boruta algorithm combined with the RF model performed best with 23 variables and the model achieved the coefficient of determination(R2)of 0.78 and the residual prediction deviation(RPD)of 2.38.The Boruta algorithm effectively removed redundant information and optimized the optimal wavelengths to improve the prediction accuracy of the estimated SOM content.Therefore,combining vis-NIR spectroscopy with machine learning to estimate SOM content is an important method to improve the accuracy of SOM prediction in arid land.

Elevation and Land Use Types Have Significant Impacts on Spatial Variability of Soil Organic Matter Content in Hani Terraced Field of Yuanyang County,China

Soil organic matter （SOM） content is one of the most important indicators of the sustainability of soil. To maintain sustainable soil utilization and management in fragile Hani terraced field, it is meaningful to investigate the effects of topography and land use type on SOM content. Descriptive statistics and geostatistics were used to analyze the data and the kriging method was applied to map the spatial patterns of SOM content. The results showed that the mean SOM content was 32.76 g/kg, with a variation coefficient of 40%. The SOM content was affected by elevation and land use type. As the increase of elevation, the SOM content in Hani terraced field also increased obviously. The SOM content in tea garden, which is almost at high elevation, was the highest in all six land use types, and the SOM content decreased in a following sequence： tea garden 〉 paddy field 〉 corn field 〉 banana garden 〉 cassava field 〉 sugarcane field. In addition, at the same elevation, the paddy field had the highest SOM content compared with other land use types. All these results demonstrate that paddy field is the most efficient and suitable land use type for SOM conservation at high, middle or low elevations in the fragile Hani terraced field. In order to protect soil quality and maintain the sustainable agricultural development, it is necessary to maintain or even to enlarge the area of paddy field in Yuanyang county, Yunnan Province, China.

How does organic matter affect the physical and mechanical properties of forest soil?

Determining the physical and mechanical properties of soil and its behavior for engineering projects is essential for road construction operations. One of the most important principles in forest road construction, which is usually neglected, is to avoid mixing organic matter with road materials during excavation and embankment construction. The current study aimed to assess the influence of organic matter on the physical properties and mechanical behaviors of forest soil and to analyze the relation between the amount of organic matter and the behavior of forest soil as road material. A typical soil sample from the study area was collected beside a newly constructed roadbed. The soil was mixed with different percentages of organic matter（control treatment, 5, 10, and 15% by mass） and different tests including Atterberg limits, standard compaction, and California bearing ratio（CBR） tests were conducted on these different soil mixtures. The results showed that soil plasticity increased linearly with increasing organic matter.Increasing the organic matter from 0%（control） to 15%resulted in an increase of 11.64% of the plastic limit and 15.22% of the liquid limit after drying at 110 ℃. Also,increasing the organic matter content reduced the soil maximum dry density and increased the optimum moisture content. Increasing the organic matter from 0 to 15% resulted in an increase of 11.0% of the optimum moisture content and a decrease of 0.29 g/cm;of the maximum dry density. Organic matter decreased the CBR, which is used as the index of road strength. Adding 15% organic matter to the soil resulted in a decrease of the CBR from 15.72 to 4.75%. There was a significant difference between the two drying temperatures（60 and 110 ℃） for the same organic matter mixtures with lower water content values after drying at 60 ℃. The results revealed the adverse influence of organic matter on soil engineering properties and showed the importance of organic matter removal before excavation and fill construction.

Identifying the influence of urbanization on soil organic matter content and p H from soil magnetic characteristics

Soil magnetic characteristics are correlated with soil p H and organic matter content. Analyzing soil magnetic characteristics, organic matter content and p H can indirectly evaluate soil pollution caused by human activities. This study analyzed the soil magnetic characteristics, organic matter content and p H in surface soil samples from different land use types in Shihezi city, a newly and rapidly developing oasis city in Xinjiang of China. The aims of this study were to explore the possible relationships among the soil magnetic parameters and thereby improve the understanding of influence of urbanization on soil properties. Eighty surface soil samples at the depth of 0–10 cm were collected from 29 July to 4 August 2013. The results showed that the magnetic minerals in surface soil were dominated by ferromagnetic minerals. Spatially, the magnetic susceptibility（χLF）, anhysteretic remanent magnetization susceptibility（χARM）, saturation isothermal remanent magnetization（SIRM） and ＂soft＂ isothermal remanent magnetization（SOFT） were found to be most dominant in the new northern urban area B（N-B）, followed by built-up areas（U）, suburban agricultural land（F）, and then the new northern urban area A（N-A）. The values of χLF, χARM, SIRM and SOFT were higher in the areas with high intensities of human activities and around the main roads. Meanwhile, the property ＂hard＂ isothermal remanent magnetization（HIRM） followed the order of U〉N-B〉F〉N-A. Built-up areas had an average p H value of 7.93, which was much higher than that in the new northern urban areas as well as in suburban agricultural land, due to the increased urban pollutant emissions. The average value of soil organic matter content in the whole study area was 34.69 g/kg, and the values in the new northern urban areas were much higher than those in the suburban agricultural land and built-up areas. For suburban agricultural land, soil organic matter content was significantly negatively correlated with χLF, and had no correlation with other magnetic parameters, since the soil was frequently ploughed. In the new northern urban areas（N-A and N-B）, there were significant positive correlations of soil organic matter contents with χARM, SIRM, SOFT and HIRM, because natural grasslands were not frequently turned over. For the built-up areas, soil organic matter contents were significantly positively correlated with χLF, χARM, SIRM and SOFT, but not significantly correlated with frequency-dependent susceptibility（χFD, expressed as a percentage） and HIRM, because the soil was not frequently turned over or influenced by human activities. The results showed that soil magnetic characteristics are related to the soil turnover time.

Impact of Fenton and ozone on oxidation of wastewater containing nitroaromatic compounds

Fenton and ozone treatment was investigated at laboratory scale for the degradation of aqueous solutions of nitrobenzene （NB）. Effects of reactants concentration （O3, H2O2, and Fe（Ⅱ））, temperature, and pH on NB degradation were monitored. Reaction kinetic of these processes was also assessed. A rapid reaction took place for Fenton process at higher initial concentration of H2O2, higher temperatures, and more acidic conditions （pH 3）. Similarly, ozonation reaction exhibited rapid rates for higher ozone dose, higher temperatures, and more basic conditions （pH 11）. Complete NB degradation in 65 min was achieved using Fenton process. The conditions of complete elimination of 100 mg/L of initial NB concentration, were 250 mg/L of H202 concentration, pH 3, and 10 mg/L of Fe（Ⅱ） concentration. Under these conditions, 55% organic carbon elimination was achieved. Total organic carbon mineralization was attained in 240 rain reaction time by Fenton process with 900 mg/L of H202 concentration, and 30 mg/L of Fe（Ⅱ） concentration. Fenton reaction showed a pseudo-first order kinetic; the reaction rate constant was ranged from 0.0226 to 0.0658 min^-1. Complete NB degradation was also achieved for an ozone dose of the order of 2.5 g/L. The ozonation was studied at different ozone doses, different initial pH （7-11） and at different temperatures （15-35℃）. NB ozonation kinetic was represented by a bi-molecular kinetic model which was reduced to pseudo-first order kinetic. The pseudo-first order reaction rate constant was determined to increase at 20℃ from 0.004 to 0.020 min^-1 as the used ozone increased from 0.4 to 1.9 g/L.

Effects of Returning Methods on Wheat Stem Rot and Yield

[Objectives]This study was conducted to improve the quality of straw returning to the field,enhance wheat disease resistance and ensure high and stable yield of wheat.[Methods]The effects of four returning modes on wheat stem rot and yield were studied by observation and experiments.[Results]The incidence rate and disease index of stem rot and white head rate of wheat were significantly reduced and the yield was significantly increased by adopting the method of straw returning to the field with the separation of"returning and seeding".The incidence rate and disease index of stem rot and white head rate of wheat were higher than those of the CK and the yield was significantly reduced when adopting the straw returning method of direct sowing.Treatment T_(1)(after maize was harvested,fertilizers,a nutrient-loaded microbial agent and a soil conditioner were evenly spread on the surface of straw,which was then returned to the field using a straw returning machine twice,and then ploughing,soil preparation and wheat sowing were carried out)showed an incidence rate of wheat crown rot 54.8%lower than that of the CK and a white head rate 87.5%lower than that of the CK,and the yield was 2305 kg/hm^(2) higher than that of the CK.[Conclusions]Straw returning can increase soil organic matter content,reduce soil bulk density,enhance soil respiration,and improve wheat disease resistance and yield.

Effects of Method for Returning Straw to Field on Soil Properties,Straw Decomposition and Nutrient Release

[Objectives]To alleviate the influence of meteorological conditions on soil environment(temperature and water content)and maintain high and stable grain yield.[Methods]Taking Sunzhen Experimental Station of Weinan Academy of Agricultural Sciences as the experimental base,the effects of returning double-crop wheat and corn straw to field(Twm),returning single-crop corn straw to field(Tm),returning single-crop wheat straw to field(Tw)on soil temperature,water content,straw decomposition rate and nutrient release,soil organic matter and bulk density were studied systematically.[Results]Twm treatment could effectively alleviate the effects of meteorological conditions on soil temperature and water content.The decomposition rate of straw treated with Twm was 4.7%higher than that of Tm treatment,3.8%higher than that of Tw treatment,10.5%higher than that of Tm treatment,and the decomposition rate of straw showed a trend of"first fast,then slow and then fast".The release of nitrogen from straw was basically similar to that of straw decay,and the release of potassium and phosphorus increased at first and then remained basically unchanged.The release rate of potassium was the highest,followed by phosphorus and nitrogen.The content of soil organic matter in Twm treatment increased by 11.67%annually,an annual average of 0.998 g/kg.The soil bulk density of Twm treatment decreased by 0.058 g/cm^(3) annually,an annual average of 4.29%.The fundamental reason is that Twm treatment provides conditions(temperature,water content,nutrition)for microbial growth,reproduction,enzyme production and biochemical reaction,and increases the exchange capacity of soil and external water,heat,gas and fertilizer.[Conclusions]It is expected is to help people change their understanding of returning straw to field from"quick harvest"to"fertilizer transformation".

Conocarpus Biochar Induces Changes in Soil Nutrient Availability and Tomato Growth Under Saline Irrigation

Thermally modified organic materials commonly known as biochar have gained popularity of being used as a soil amendment.Little information, however, is available on the role of biochar in alleviating the negative impacts of saline water on soil productivity and plant growth. This study, therefore, was conducted to investigate the effects of Conocarpus biochar(BC) and organic farm residues(FR) at different application rates of 0.0%(control), 4.0% and 8.0%(weight/weight) on yield and quality of tomatoes grown on a sandy soil under drip irrigation with saline or non-saline water. The availability of P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu to plants was also investigated. The results demonstrated clearly that addition of BC or FR increased the vegetative growth, yield and quality parameters in all irrigation treatments. It was found that salt stress adversely affected soil productivity, as indicated by the lower vegetative growth and yield components of tomato plants. However, this suppressing effect on the vegetative growth and yield tended to decline with application of FR or BC, especially at the high application rate and in the presence of biochar. Under saline irrigation system, for instance, the total tomato yield increased over the control by 14.0%–43.3% with BC and by 3.9%–35.6% with FR. These could be attributed to enhancement effects of FR or BC on soil properties, as indicated by increases in soil organic matter content and nutrient availability. Therefore, biochar may be effectively used as a soil amendment for enhancing the productivity of salt-affected sandy soils under arid conditions.

Nitrogen slow-release behavior of oxamide granules in two different types of paddy soils

Oxamide is a potential slow-release nitrogen(N)fertilizer,especially under waterlogged conditions,due to its low solubility in water and the slow-release of ammonium by soil amidases.To investigate the effects of oxamide granules(2.00-2.38 mm in diameter)as a single basal fertilizer(180 or 144 kg N ha^(-1))on rice growth,soil properties,and N use efficiency in terms of N recovery efficiency(NRE),we conducted field experiments on two different types of paddy soils over two rice-growing seasons.Results showed that the fertilization effects of oxamide granules varied between the two types of paddy soils.In the red clayey paddy soil,the grain yields for both rice-growing seasons were high with a significantly higher NRE in the oxamide treatment than in the urea treatment.However,in the alluvial sandy paddy soil,the grain yields in the oxamide treatment were slightly lower than those in the urea treatment.Furthermore,oxamide produced little improvement in NRE in the alluvial sandy paddy soil.Soil incubation experiments over 98 d were also carried out to evaluate the factors affecting the N release behavior of oxamide granules in the two types of paddy soils.We found that the amidase activity was higher and,therefore,the oxamide hydrolysis rate was faster in the alluvial sandy paddy soil,which had a higher soil pH value and organic matter content,compared to the red clayey paddy soil.The faster N release and the longer growth period resulted in a mismatch between N supply by oxamide and rice demand,which,in turn,led to little improvement in NRE and a decreased grain yield in the alluvial sandy paddy soil,especially in the reduced oxamide treatment.These results could help select the appropriate size of oxamide granules for use as a slow-release N fertilizer depending on the soil properties and growth period of rice.

Basic characteristics and evaluation of shale oil reservoirs

Shale oil refers to liquid hydrocarbons existing in free,dissolved or adsorbed states in the effective source rock of mudstones or shales,where some residual oil is retained after hydrocarbon generation and expulsion from the mudstones or shales.Basically shale oil experiences no migration or only undergoes some primary,short-distance migration within the source rocks.So far,there is no consensus on the exact definition of shale oil in China.Researches on the reservoir-controlling factors and evaluation elements are also far from sufficient.In this study,shale oil reservoirs are defined as mudstones or shales excluding the interbedded or adjacent layers of coarser siliciclastic or chemical-biogenic lithofacies(e.g.siltstone,carbonate,salt or chert layers)in the source rocks.According to different reservoiring mechanisms,shale oil reservoirs are classified into“fracture type”and“matrix type”.The general features of shale oil reservoirs include:rich in organic matters,dominated by Type I and II_(1) kerogen(with Ro=0.6%-1.2%and total organic content(TOC)>2.0%),complex mineral compositions and laminated structures,tight storage space,low porosity and ultra-low permeability,and as well as the requirement for reservoir fracturing.This paper emphasizes the critical role of organic matter in the formation and evaluation of shale oil reservoirs,and its critical control on the oil generation potential and storage capacity of shale,which eventually determine the oil content and productivity of shale oil reservoirs.Besides,a set of reservoir evaluation criteria is also put forward with a focus on the TOC content,in which the threshold values of TOC are set to be 2%and 4%,and a variety of indicators are taken into account including the type and maturity of organic matter,the thickness of organic-rich shale,mineral compositions and rock types,porosity and permeability,and fracturing ability.The evaluation criteria divide shale oil reservoirs into three grades,i.e.,target reservoir,favorable reservoir and invalid reservoir.

Sorption and phase distribution of ethanol and butanol blended gasoline vapours in the vadose zone after release

The sorption and phase distribution of 20% ethanol and butanol blended gasoline （E20 and B20） vapours have been examined in soils with varying soil organic matter （SOM） and water contents via laboratory microcosm experiments. The presence of 20% alcohol reduced the sorption of gasoline compounds by soil as well as the mass distribution of the compounds to soil solids. This effect was greater for ethanol than butanol. Compared with the sorption coefficient （Kd） of unblended gasoline compounds, the Kd of E20 gasoline compounds decreased by 54% for pentane, 54% for methylcyclopentane （MCP） and 63% for benzene, while the Kd of B20 gasoline compounds decreased by 39% for pentane, 38% for MCP and 49% for benzene, The retardation factor （R） of E20 gasoline compounds decreased by 53% for pentane, 53% for MCP and 48% for benzene, while the R of B20 gasoline compounds decreased by 39% for pentane, 37% for MCP and 38% for benzene. For all SOM and water contents tested, the Kd and R of all gasoline compounds were in the order of unblended gasoline 〉 B20 〉 E20, indicating that the use of high ethanol volume in gasoline to combat climate change could put the groundwater at greater risk of contamination,

Leaching of decabromodiphenyl ether and hexabromocyclododecane from fabrics under simulated landfill conditions

A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the leaching of decabromodiphenyl ether(BDE-209)and hexabromocyclododecane(HBCDD)from a mix of three fabrics.Consistent with previous reports that such leaching is governed by second order kinetics,concentrations in leachate were markedly higher in the first 24 h of leaching,and diminished by an order of magnitude after 1 week.The influence of the waste:leachate ratio was examined for the first time,with leaching of both BDE-209 and HBCDD significantly greater(p<0.05)at a waste:leachate ratio of 0.005 g/mL than at 0.05 g/mL.Using dissolved humic matter(DHM)solutions as proxy for simulating organic landfill leachates we found that leaching of both BDE-209 and HBCDD was also significantly greater at a DHM concentration of 1,000 mg/L in leachate compared to that observed at DHM values of 100 and 0 mg/L.Agitation of waste:leachate mixtures significantly enhanced leaching.While leaching of HBCDD decreased significantly as leachate pH increased from 5.8,through 6.5,to 8.5;no significant impact of pH on leaching of BDE-209 was detected.Concentrations in leachate of both BDE-209 and HBCDD decreased significantly on increasing leachate temperature from 20℃to 60℃and 80℃.This is considered most likely due to volatilisation of these contaminants into the headspace of the leaching vessel at higher temperatures.