Auger Depth Profiling of Carbonized SiC/Si Samples

Silicon carbide (SiC) has been prepared by passing natural gas over (100) oriented hot Si substrate at different temperatures in the range 930~1000℃. Reaction times of 60 and 90 min are used.Depth profile, using Auger Electron Spectroscopy, shows the formation of SiC under a thin coating of carbon for the samples prepared at 930 and 950℃. Annealing, at 1050℃ for 12 h,results in a more pronounced formation of SiC. It is found that at the temperature of 1000℃and reaction times of 60 and 90 min, a hard diamond-like coating is formed.

SIGNAL SAMPLING DEPTH-INDUCED SKEW EFFECT IN SIMS DEPTH PROFILING

The effect of signal sampling depth in SIMS on profile was not reported We have found that the maximum sampling depth in SIMS is considerably bigger than the mean penetration range of primary ions and can skew the profile of secondary ion counts for implanted samples on the more deeper direction from the surface. The effect of maximum sampling depth is true not only for implanted samples but also for the samples in the middle of which there is an other impurity-rich layer. The action principle of signal sampling depth effect and the method of decreasing the error produced by the effect are discussed in this

Phosphorus and potassium fertilization in no till southern Brazilian soils

Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) levels in southern Brazilian (Rio Grande do Sul, RS) soils are largely below the critical concentrations more than four decades after implementation of the officially recommended system. This study aims to evaluate the increase in P and K levels in 0-10 and 0-20 cm deep samples from no-till soils using the Mehlich-1 (M1) and Mehlich-3 (M3) extractants as well as resin methods and to estimate the amount of P2O5 and K2O fertilizers necessary to increase the P and K soil levels by 1 mg·kg-1. The study was conducted in fields cultivated using a no-till system (direct planting) to grow soybeans, wheat, maize, pasture, and cover crops and fertilized with P2O5 and K2O. Soil samples were collected from the 0-10 and 0-20 cm soil layers and analyzed by the M1, M3, and resin methods. The results demonstrated that the P and K levels increased in the 0-10 and 0-20 cm layers. However, the amount of these levels increased depending on the source of phosphate fertilization and on the P and K extraction methods used. The amount of P2O5 fertilization needed to raise the P level by 1 mg·kg-1 was greater in the 0-20 cm layer than in the 0-10 cm layer, and the amount of K2O fertilization needed to raise the K level by 1 mg·kg-1 was higher in the 0-10 cm layer than in the 0-20 cm layer.

Characteristics of coda Q-value in the midnorthern part of Ningxia

On the basis of previous studies, this paper in studying the coda Q-valuc of near shocks, has proposed using the sampling depth to describe the effect of lapse time on the Q-value, and has investigated the dependence of coda wave of earthquakes on frequency and sampling depth. Analysis of digital seismograms recorded by the Yinchuan Telemetric Seismic Network, Ningxia, shows that not only the coda wave Q-value of shocks is strongly dependent on frequency but also its dependence on Samling depth cannot be neglected. In the commonly used formula that describes the dependence cbaracteristics of coda Q-value of endquakes, Q = Qof', the parameter Qo rises obviously whilc n drops when the sampling depth increases, and their changes can be fitted by linear relations. This paper has explained such a characteristic. Whether this characteristic exists universally needs to be verified by more study results because the genetic mechanism of coda wave of earthquakes is more complex.

Soil Bulk Density Estimation Methods: A Review

Measurement of soil bulk density is important for understanding the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. Accurate and rapid soil bulk density measurement techniques play a significant role in agricultural experimental research. This review is a comprehensive summary of existing measurement methods and evaluates their advantages, disadvantages, potential sources of error,and directions for future development. These techniques can be broadly categorised as direct and indirect methods. Direct methods include core, clod, and excavation sampling, whereas indirect methods include the radiation and regression approaches. The core method is most widely used, but it is time consuming and difficult to use for sampling multiple soil depths. The size of the coring cylinder used, operator experience, sampling depth, and in-situ soil moisture content significantly affect its accuracy. The clod method is suitable for use with heavy clay soils, and its accuracy is dependent on equipment calibration, drying time, and operator experience, but the process is complicated and time consuming. Excavation techniques are most commonly used to evaluate the bulk density of forest soils, but have major limitations as they cannot be used in soils with large pores and their measurement accuracy is strongly influenced by soil texture and the type of analysis selected. The indirect methods appear to have greater accuracy than direct approaches, but have higher costs, are more complex, and require greater operator experience. One such approach uses gamma radiation, and its accuracy is strongly influenced by soil depth. Regression methods are economical as they can make indirect measurements, but these depend on good, quality data of soil texture and organic matter content and geographical and climatic properties. Also, like most of the other approaches, its accuracy decreases with sampling depth.

Estimates of Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in Zhejiang Province of China Based on 1:50000 Soil Database Using the PKB Method

Soil organic carbon(SOC) is an important component of farming systems and global carbon cycle. Accurately estimating SOC stock is of great importance for assessing soil productivity and modeling global climate change. A newly built 1:50 000 soil database of Zhejiang Province containing 2 154 geo-referenced soil profiles and a pedological professional knowledge-based(PKB) method were used to estimate SOC stock up to a depth of 100 cm for the Province. The spatial patterns of SOC stocks stratified by soil types,watershed(buffer analysis), topographical factors, and land use types were identified. Results showed that the soils in Zhejiang covered an area of 100 740 km2 with a total SOC stock of 831.49 × 106 t and a mean SOC density of 8.25 kg m-2, excluding water and urban areas. In terms of soil types, red soils had the highest SOC stock(259.10 × 106t), whereas mountain meadow soils contained the lowest(0.15 × 106t). In terms of SOC densities, the lowest value(5.11 kg m-2) was found in skel soils, whereas the highest value(45.30 kg m-2) was observed in mountain meadow soils. Yellow soils, as a dominant soil group, determined the SOC densities of different buffer zones in Qiantang River watershed because of their large area percentage and wide variation of SOC density values.The area percentages of various soil groups significantly varied with increasing elevation or slope when overlaid with digital elevation model data, thus influencing the SOC densities. The highest SOC density was observed under grassland, whereas the lowest SOC density was identified under unutilized land. The map of SOC density(0–100 cm depth) and the spatial patterns of SOC stocks in the Province would be helpful for relevant agencies and communities in Zhejiang Province, China.