Extended wet sieving method for determination of complete particle size distribution of general soils

The traditional standard wet sieving method uses steel sieves with aperture?0.063 mm and can only determine the particle size distribution(PSD)of gravel and sand in general soil.This paper extends the traditional method and presents an extended wet sieving method.The extended method uses both the steel sieves and the nylon filter cloth sieves.The apertures of the cloth sieves are smaller than 0.063 mm and equal 0.048 mm,0.038 mm,0.014 mm,0.012 mm,0.0063 mm,0.004 mm,0.003 mm,0.002 mm,and 0.001 mm,respectively.The extended method uses five steps to separate the general soil into many material sub-groups of gravel,sand,silt and clay with known particle size ranges.The complete PSD of the general soil is then calculated from the dry masses of the individual material sub-groups.The extended method is demonstrated with a general soil of completely decomposed granite(CDG)in Hong Kong,China.The silt and clay materials with different particle size ranges are further examined,checked and verified using stereomicroscopic observation,physical and chemical property tests.The results further confirm the correctness of the extended wet sieving method.

An evaluation method for internal erosion potential of gravelly soil based on particle size distribution

Internal erosion occurs when fine particles escape from the soil driven by seepage flow,which is considered to be the crucial factor causing the failure of earth structures filled with gravelly soil.The objective of this paper is to suggest an appropriate method to assess internal erosion potential of gravelly soil.By analyzing the sensitivity of soil material to internal erosion,the variable(Dc15/df85)max and the content of coarse particles(Pc)are selected as the evaluation indexes(Dc15 and df85 are the diameters of 15%mass passing in the coarse component and 85%mass passing in the fine component,respectively).A series of gravelly soils with different particle size distributions are tested for internal erosion by the self-made permeameter.Based on the test results,an evaluation method for the internal erosion of gravelly soil is proposed.Gravelly soil is prone to internal erosion when 60%≤Pc<95%and(Dc15/df85)max≥9.5.The proposed method shows good accuracy in evaluating the internal erosion of 36 soil samples from other studies,which confirms the reliability of the method.The proposed method makes it possible to accurately assess internal erosion of gravelly soil,and an alternative method is provided for engineers to determine whether there is a risk of internal erosion in earth structures consisting of gravelly soil.

Multifractal characteristics and spatial variability of soil particle-size distribution in different land use patterns in a small catchment of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region,China

Characterizing soil particle-size distribution is a key measure towards soil property.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the multifractal characteristics of soil particle-size distribution among different land-use from a purple soil catchment and to generalize the spatial variation trend of multifractal parameters across the catchment.A total of 84 soil samples were collected from four kinds of land use patterns(dry land,orchard,paddy,and forest)in an agricultural catchment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region,China.The multifractal analysis method was applied to quantitatively characterize the soil particle size distribution.Six soil particle size distribution(PSD)multifractal parameters(D(0),D(1),D(2),(35)a(q),(35)f[a(q)],α(0))were computed.Additionally,a geostatistical analysis was employed to reveal the spatial differentiation and map the spatial distribution of these parameters.Evident multifractal characteristics were found.The trend of generalized dimension spectrum of four land use patterns was basically consistent with the range of 0.8 to 2.0.However,orchard showed the largest monotonic decline,while the forest demonstrated the smallest decrease.D(0)of the four land use patterns were ranked as:dry land<orchard<forest<paddy,the order of D(1)was:dry land<paddy<orchard<forest,D(2)presented a rand-size relationship as dry land<forest<paddy<orchard.Furthermore,all land-use patterns presented asΔf[α(q)]<0.The rand-size relationship ofα(0)was same as D(0).The best-fitting model for D(0),D(1),D(2)andΔf[α(q)]was spherical model,forΔα(q)was gaussian model,and forα(0)was exponential model with structure variance ratio was 1.03%,49.83%,0.84%,1.48%,22.20%and 10.60%,respectively.The results showed that soil particles of each land use pattern were distributed unevenly.The multifractal parameters under different land use have significant differences,except forΔα(q).Differences in the composition of soil particles lead to differences in the multifractal properties even though they belong to the same soil texture.Farming behavior may refine particles and enhance the heterogeneity of soil particle distribution.Our results provide an effective reference for quantifying the impact of human activities on soil system in the Three Gorges Reservoir region.

Effects of water salinity and content on particle size distribution and soil strength

The effect of NaCl on soil strength was investigated in this project based on salinity concentrations of 0 g/L, 5 g/L, 20 g/L, and 50 g/L as well as varying water contents of 15%-20%. Laser particle size analyzer was also performed to explain possible effects. From particle size analysis and strength tests, it is hypothesized that the strength of the soil is increased with the addition of certain salinity concentrations until there are reversed effects, which is between 20 g/L and 50 g/L from our study. The increase of strength is suggested to be the affect of a greater variety of particle sizes. Since NaCI plays a role in the particle size distribution, it also plays a role in the strength of soils. The degree of the effect of the water content also differs from concentrations, and could be due to the variation of hydration film thickness on particles, which is affected by the ions introduced from water.

Power law of particle size distributions in water treatment processes

In this paper,the power law of particle size distributions (PSDs) in conventional water treatment processes is developed. After measuring the particle size distributions of raw-water,settled water and filtered water,a mathematical model between particle diameter and the amount of particles was studied. The value of collision frequency factor β in the PSDs model can be used to represent the collision behavior of particles ,and can be used as foundation exponent to choose suitable coagulation to accelerate particles aggregation. At the same time,the relationship between the value of parameter K and the total particles volume V was deduced. K is defined as particle volume exponent,which can represent the total volume of particles. The degression degree of K shows the removal efficiency of potable water treatment units.

Effects of soil conservation practices on soil erosion and the size selectivity of eroded sediment on cultivated slopes

Soil conservation practices can greatly affect the soil erosion process,but limited information is available about its influence on the particle size distribution(PSD)of eroded sediment,especially under natural rainfall.In this study,the runoff,sediment yields,and effective/ultimate PSD were measured under two conventional tillage practices,downhill ridge tillage(DT)and plat tillage(PT)and three soil conservation practices,contour ridge tillage(CT),mulching with downhill ridge tillage(MDT),and mulching with contour ridge tillage(MCT)during 21 natural rainfall events in the lower Jinsha River.The results showed that(1)soil conservation practices had a significant effect on soil erosion.The conventional tillage of DT caused highest runoff depth(0.58 to 29.13 mm)and sediment yield(0.01 to 3.19 t hm^(-2)).Compared with DT,the annual runoff depths and sediment yields of CT,MDT and MCT decreased by 12.24%-49.75%and 40.79%-88.30%,respectively.(2)Soil conservation practices can reduce the decomposition of aggregates in sediments.The ratios of effective and ultimate particle size(E/U)of siltand sand-sized particles of DT and PT plots were close to 1,indicating that they were transported as primary particles,however,values lower/greater than 1 subject to CT,MDT and MCT plots indicated they were transported as aggregates.The ratios of E/U of claysized particles were all less than 1 independently of tillage practices.(3)The sediments of soil conservation practices were more selective than those of conventional tillage practices.For CT,MDT and MCT plots,the average enrichment ratios(ERs)of clay,silt and sand were 1.99,1.93 and 0.42,respectively,with enrichment of clay and silt and depletion of sand in sediments.However,the compositions of the eroded sediments of DT and PT plots were similar to that of the original soil.These findings support the use of both effective and ultimate particle size distributions for studying the size selectivity of eroded sediment,and provide a scientific basis for revealing the erosion mechanism in the purple soil area of China.

Investigation on microstructure evolution of clayey soils: A review focusing on wetting/drying process

Variability in moisture content is a common condition in natural soils.It influences soil properties significantly.A comprehensive understanding of the evolution of soil microstructure in wetting/drying process is of great significance for interpretation of soil macro hydro-mechanical behavior.In this review paper,methods that are commonly used to study soil microstructure are summarized.Among them are scanning electron microscope(SEM),environmental SEM(ESEM),mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)and computed tomography(CT)technology.Moreover,progress in research on the soil microstructure evolution during drying,wetting and wetting/drying cycles is summarized based on reviews of a large body of research papers published in the past several decades.Soils compacted on the wet side of op-timum water content generally have a matrix-type structure with a monomodal pore size distribution(PSD),whereas soils compacted on the dry side of optimum water content display an aggregate structure that exhibits bimodal PSD.During drying,decrease in soil volume is mainly caused by the shrinkage of inter-aggregate pores.During wetting,both the intra-and inter-aggregate pores increase gradually in number and sizes.Changes in the characteristics of the soil pore structure significantly depend on stress state as the soil is subjected to wetting.During wetting/drying cycles,soil structural change is not completely reversible,and the generated cumulative swelling/shrinkage deformation mainly derives from macro-pores.Furthermore,based on this analysis and identified research needs,some important areas of research focus are proposed for future work.These areas include innovative methods of sample preparation,new observation techniques,fast quantitative analysis of soil structure,integration of microstructural parameters into macro-mechanical models,and soil microstructure evolution charac-teristics under multi-field coupled conditions.

石羊河尾闾青土湖表层土壤粒度空间分布特征

[目的]揭示石羊河尾闾青土湖土壤粒度空间分布特征,为该区域生态恢复提供理论依据。[方法]以湖区为中心分别在西北、正东、东南方向上布设样线并采集0—20 cm深度土壤样品,对比分析了青土湖周边不同区域沙物质粒配组成、粒配曲线等参数特征。[结果](1)青土湖表层土壤粒度组成以细砂为主(26.26%~84.97%),其中西北方向上表层土壤粒度以细砂为主(26.26%~66.62%),其次是粉粒(4.23%~46.35%);正东、东南方向上表层土壤粒度组成以细砂为主(43.41%~86.30%),其次是极细砂(1.86%~29.60%)。不同样线同粒级间含量存在差异。(2)研究区表层土壤颗粒总体较粗,分选较差,偏度为正偏度,峰度属尖窄。粒度参数的空间分布表现为:西北方向表层土壤平均粒径较其他方向偏细,分选性较差,偏度也更为正偏,峰值小于正东方向。正东、东南方向表层土壤平均粒径较为一致,明显偏粗,分选性分别属中等、较好,均为近于对称,峰度为尖窄、中等。(3)西北方向土壤粒度频率平均值分布曲线表现为双峰型,正东、东南方向为单峰型。粒度累计分布曲线反映出,东南方向风沙活动较正东、西北方向频繁、强烈。(4)通过沉积环境判别得出西北方向主要是湖相沉积,正东、东南主要是风成沉积。[结论]成土过程和干旱多风的环境条件影响青土湖土壤的基本特性,而通过生态输水形成水面改善了该区的土壤环境。

骨架颗粒组成对散粒土管涌规律影响的试验研究

利用改进的渗透装置试验研究了细颗粒(0.075~1 mm)含量相同时骨架颗粒组成含量不同对散粒土的管涌发生临界条件以及颗粒侵蚀流失规律的影响,结果表明:不同颗粒级配的试样在管涌发生前,水力梯度与渗流速度呈线性关系,基本符合达西定律;骨架颗粒1~2、2~3、3~5 mm 3个粒径段对管涌发展起到了阻碍作用,其中1~2 mm粒径段颗粒对管涌孔隙的堵塞作用强于另外两个粒径段颗粒;对于不同级配的骨架颗粒,其不均匀系数越大,试样的下限临界水力梯度值就越大,细颗粒越不易起动,发生管涌的时间越晚,而不同级配的骨架颗粒对试样的上限临界水力梯度影响较小。

微粒尺寸分布(PSD)在污水处理研究中的应用

介绍了污水中微粒的分类、尺寸分布(PSD)和检测PSD的方法。PSD与污水化学成分相关,不同来源的污水PSD各不相同,且PSD会随着污水处理流程变化。PSD可对污水进行表征,对传统方法进行辅助和补充。在生物处理中,微粒尺寸与BOD降解速率呈反比例关系,PSD可提供COD组分迁移变化的必要信息,直接影响着生物处理的效果。无论是对传统活性污泥法还是对生物膜法中的PSD进行研究,均可评估生物处理中碳源是否足够,分析去除机理,优化处理效果。PSD对痕量物质的去除和迁移具有重要意义,在深度过滤中,污水中PSD呈幂函数关系,PSD可研究雌激素等痕量物质的去除机理。PSD作为一个新型的研究工具,可以进一步深入应用于污水处理领域,对该领域的研究和技术升级具有重要意义。

吸管法和激光法测定紫色土机械组成对比研究

吸管法是测定土壤机械组成的经典方法,激光法是测定土壤机械组成的简便方法.为探究两者在紫色土机械组成测定上的差异以及两者之间的联系,分别采用两种方法测定145个紫色土样品的机械组成,并建立线性方程、随机森林回归(Random Forest Regression,RFR)模型和支持向量回归(Support Vactor Regression,SVR)模型进行比较分析.结果表明:(1)相较于吸管法,激光法所测紫色土黏粒含量和粉粒含量均偏高,所测砂粒含量则偏低;(2)随着土壤砾石含量的增加,两种方法所测的相同粒级含量差值逐渐增大,且差值从大到小依次为:砂粒、粉粒、黏粒;(3)相比于pH>7.5的紫色土,两种方法所测的相同粒级含量差值明显大于pH≤7.5的紫色土,且差值从大到小依次为:砂粒、粉粒、黏粒.总体来看,紫色土的砾石含量是影响两种方法所测机械组成关联效果的一个关键因素,对于砾石含量≤5%的紫色土,两种方法的测定结果有很好的关联性,可采用激光法替代吸管法,但测定结果需要校正,建议选用拟合效果较好的RFR或SVR模型进行校正.

机械粉磨对岩土固化用无熟料胶凝材料性能的影响

利用稻壳灰、CFB脱硫灰、钢渣协同制备一种无熟料水硬性无机胶凝材料,可替代水泥用于岩土固化。为提高这种胶凝材料的活性及其他性能,研究经机械粉磨后胶凝材料的性能变化及其机理。结果表明:随着粉磨时间增加,胶凝材料的粒度分布曲线由多峰分布转变为单峰分布,标准稠度用水量减少,凝结时间缩短;水化诱导期的结束时间和第2放热峰出现时间明显提前,累积放热量增加;砂浆试件的早期抗压强度和自收缩显著增加;采用无熟料胶凝材料制备流态固化土,其初始流动扩展度随粉磨时间增加而增加,经时损失加快;机械粉磨对固化土的早期强度影响不显著,后期强度则呈现先增加后降低的趋势。采用该无熟料胶凝材料制备流态固化土,能满足一般回填工程的强度要求。

寒旱区不同秸秆还田方式对土壤团聚体稳定性和有机碳组分含量的影响

为了明确春玉米秸秆还田对低温缺水条件下农田土壤团聚体及其有机碳组分的影响,并为冀西北寒旱区春玉米秸秆还田方式提供科学依据,田间设置秸秆还田翻耕(JF)、秸秆还田旋耕(JX)、大垄轮播秸秆还田(JL)3种还田方式,以秸秆不还田为对照(CK),分析秸秆还田方式对土壤不同粒径团聚体分布、稳定性及有机碳组分含量的影响。结果表明:在0~20 cm土层,各还田方式均能显著提高1.00~2.00 mm团聚体占比,JX处理显著提高>5.00 mm团聚体占比。JX处理土壤团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)最高,团聚体稳定性较强,JL和JX处理显著提高2.00~5.00 mm团聚体占比,JL处理土壤团聚体几何平均直径(GMD)较高。各还田方式对土壤MWD和GMD分别提高了10.32%~15.46%和16.23%~18.35%,均能增加土壤团聚体稳定性。土壤各粒径团聚体有机碳含量在42.88~54.72 g·kg^(-1)之间,JL处理显著提高2.00~5.00、0.50~1.00 mm团聚体有机碳含量,增幅大于其它两种还田方式。各还田方式土壤各粒径团聚体活性有机碳含量在4.18~8.29 g·kg^(-1)之间,各团聚体活性有机碳含量均高于CK;秸秆还田均能提高1.00~2.00、0.50~1.00 mm团聚体黑碳含量,JF和JX处理提高>5.00、2.00~5.00 mm团聚体黑碳含量;JL处理提高>5.00、2.00~5.00、1.00~2.00、0.25~0.50 mm团聚体腐殖质碳含量。各还田方式对0~20 cm土层有机碳含量提高幅度高于20~40 cm土层,CK和JF处理团聚体腐殖质碳含量20~40 cm土层高于0~20 cm土层。CK、JF和JX处理>5.00、2.00~5.00、1.00~2.00 mm团聚体黑碳含量在0~20 cm土层最高。综合分析冀西北部寒旱区适宜采用春玉米大垄轮播秸秆还田方式。

粒状土孔隙率与其颗粒级配的分形关系

粒状土是填(构)筑地基、路基和土石坝等构筑物最常用的工程材料之一。对粒状土孔隙空间的研究有助于揭示其粒状结构承受和传递外力的机理。以仿真颗粒的相互作用为基础的颗粒离散元法是研究粒状土力学行为的有力有效工具。然而,仿真计算所耗时间与颗粒数量成正比,在计算颗粒数量较多的大模型时会受计算机计算性能的制约,阻碍了颗粒离散元法在工程中的普及。为了减小颗粒数量,常常忽略粒状土中细小的颗粒,带来的问题是,颗粒体的孔隙率被低估,同时影响粒状土中力的传递。借助颗粒流离散元法开展一系列仿真试验。结果表明,模型孔隙率随着最小颗粒粒径的变小而变小且两者呈分形关系。基于分形理论建立粒状堆积体孔隙率与最小粒径的数学关系。研究结果可用于提高颗粒流(或计算流体动力学-离散元法耦合)模型计算的准确性和效率。

Soil particle size distribution and its relationship with soil water and salt under mulched drip irrigation in Xinjiang of China

Soil particle size distribution(PSD),one of the most important soil physical attributes,is of great importance to soil water movement,soil erosion and soil solute migration.In this study,the soil PSD of 563 soil samples from the mulched drip irrigated cotton fields in Xinjiang of China were measured by laser diffraction particle size analyzer.The soil PSD characteristics and its relations with soil water and salt were studied by using the combined methods of textural triangle,fractal and multifractal analysis.The results showed very low clay content(about 1.52%) while really high sand content of the studied soil,and a complex shape of bimodal or unimodal of soil PSD.The results also showed that the two indices,i.e.,standard deviation and the peak value of soil particle relative volumes,were good indicators of soil PSD and thus had good relations with fractal and multifractal characteristics.The correlative analysis further indicated that the mulched drip irrigation had a significant impact on the distribution of the soil salt,while this impact withered for the deeper soil layer.The soil texture feature was found to dominate soil water and salt distribution,especially the surface soil salt content and the deep soil water content.

Soil Organic Carbon and Nutrients along an Alpine Grassland Transect across Northern Tibet

Soil carbon and nutrient contents and their importance in advancing our understanding of biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystem, has motivated ecologists to find their spatial patterns in various geographical area. Few studies have focused on changes in the physical and chemical properties of soils at high altitudes. Our aim was to identify the spatial distribution of soil physical and chemical properties in cold and arid climatic region. We also tried to explore relationship between soil organic carbon （SOC） and total nitrogen （TN）, total phosphorus （TP）, available nitrogen （AN）, available phosphorus （AP）, soil particle size distribution （PSD）. Samples were collected at 44 sites along a 300 km transect across the alpine grassland of northern Tibet. The study results showed that grassland type was the main factor influencing SOC, TN and TP distribution along the Gangdise Mountain-Shenzha-Shuanghu Transect. SOC, TN and TP contents were significantly higher in alpine meadow than alpine steppe ecosystems. SOC, TN, TP and AN contents in two soil layers （0-15 cm and 15-3o cm） showed no significant differences, while AP content in top soft （0-15 cm） was significantly higher than that in sub-top soil （15-30cm）. SOC content was correlated positively with TN and TP content （r = 0.901and 0.510, respectively）. No correlations were detected for clay content and fractal dimension of particle size distribution （D）. Our study results indicated the effects of vegetation on soil C, N and P seem to be more important than that of rocks itself along latitude gradient on the northern Tibetan Plateau. However, we did not found similar impacts of vegetation on soil properties in depth. Inaddition, this study also provided an interesting contribution to the global data pool on soil carbon stocks.

Determining the soil-water retention curve using mercury intrusion porosimetry test in consideration of soil volume change

It is well-known that a close link exists between soil-water retention curve(SWRC)and pore size distribution(PSD).Theoretically,mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)test simulates a soil drying path and the test results can be used to deduce the SWRC(termed SWRCMIP).However,SWRCMIP does not include the effect of volume change,compared with the conventional SWRC that is directly determined by suction measurement or suction control techniques.For deformable soils,there is a significant difference between conventional SWRC and SWRCMIP.In this study,drying test was carried out on a reconstituted silty soil,and the volume change,suction,and PSD were measured on samples with different water contents.The change in the deduced SWRCMIP and its relationship with the conventional SWRC were analyzed.The results showed that the volume change of soil is the main reason accounting for the difference between conventional SWRC and SWRCMIP.Based on the test results,a transformation model was then proposed for conventional SWRC and SWRCMIP,for which the soil state with no volume change is taken as a reference.Comparison between the experimental and predicted SWRCs showed that the proposed model can well consider the influence of soil volume change on its water retention property.

Soil Aggregation and Its Relationship with Organic Carbon of Purple Soils in the Sichuan Basin,China

The interaction of soil aggregate dynamics with soil organic carbon is complex with varied spatio-temporal processes in macro-and micro-aggregates. This paper is to determine the aggregation of soil aggregates in purple soils （Regosols in FAO Taxonomy or Entisols in USDA Taxonomy） for four types of land use, cropland [corn （Zea mays L.）], orchard （citrus）, forestland （bamboo or cypress）, and barren land （wild grass）, and to explore their relationship with soil organic carbon in the Sichuan basin of southwestern China. Procedures and methods, including manual dry sieving procedure, Yoder＇s wet sieving procedure, pyrophosphates solution method, and Kachisky method, are used to acquire dry, wet, and chemically stable aggregates, and microaggregates. Light and heavy fractions of soil organic carbon were separated using 2.0 g·mL^-1 HgI2-KI mixed solution. The loosely, stably, and tightly combined organic carbon in heavy fraction were separated by extraction with 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M NaOH-0.1M Na4P2O7 mixed solution （pH 13）. The results show that the contents of dry and wet macroaggregates 〉0.25 mm in diameter were 974.1 and 900.0 g·kg^-1 highest in red brown purple soils under forestland, while 889.6 and 350.6 g·kg^-1 lowest in dark purple soil and lowest in grey brown purple soils under cropland, respectively. The chemical stability of macroaggregates was lowest in grey brown purple soil with 8.47% under cropland, and highest in red brown purple soil with 69.34% under barren land. The content of microaggregates in dark purple soils was 587g·kg^-1 higher than brown purple soils, while 655g·kg^-1 in red brown purple soils was similar to grey brown purple soils （651g·kg^-1）. Cropland conditions, only 38.4% of organic carbon was of the combined form, and 61.6% of that existed in light fraction. Forestland conditions, 90.7% of organic carbon in red brown purple soil was complexed with minerals as a form of humic substances. The contents and stability of wet aggregates 〉 0.25 mm, contents and stability of chemically stable aggregates 〉0.25 mm, contents of microaggregates 〉 0.01 mm, contents of aggregated primary particle （d〈0.01 mm） and degree of primary particles （d 〈0.01 mm） aggregation were closely related to the concentrations of total soil organic carbon, and loosely and tightly combined organic carbon in heavy fraction. Soil microaggregation could be associated with organic carbon concentration and its combined forms in heavy fraction. There was a direct relationship between microaggregation and macroaggregation of soil primary particles, because the contents of wet aggregates 〉 0.25 mm and its water stability of aggregates were highly correlated with the contents of aggregated primary particle （d 〈 0.01 mm） and the degree of primary particles （d 〈 0.01 mm） aggregation.

Shear strength features of soils developed from purple clay rock and containing less than two-millimeter rock fragments

Soil shear strength is an important indicator of engineering design and an essential parameter of soil precision tillage and agricultural machinery and equipment design. Although numerous studies have investigated the characteristics of different soil shear strengths, only a few of these works have paid attention to soils containing considerable quantities of rock fragments. To date, most studies on the effects of rock fragments on the shear strength have paid attention to the role of rock fragments with sizes 〉2 mm. The effects of rock fragments 〈2 mm in soil are generally ignored. Similar to rock fragments 〉2 ram, the presence of rock fragments 〈2 mm could also change the mechanical properties of soils. Thus, in the present study we evaluated the potential influence of 〈2 mm rock fragments on soil shear strength via an unconsolidated undrained （UU） triaxial compression test. Our results were as follows： （1） A certain quantity of 〈2 mm rock fragments presented in purple soils developed from clay rocks; and an appropriate quantity of 〈2 mm rock fragments could improve the shear strength of soils. （2） The different PSDs of soils containin 〈2 mm rock fragment mainly caused variations in the internal friction angle of soils. （3） The shear strengths of the two mudstone-developed red-brown and gray-brown purple soils was more sensitive to water than that of the shale-developed coarse-dark purple soil. As the soil water content increased from 9% to 23%, the changes in the cohesion, internal friction angle, shear strength, and the maximum principal stress difference were smaller in the coarse dark purple soil than in the two other soils. We therefore concluded that 〈2 mm rock fragments in purple soils exerted important effects on soil shear strength. A better understanding of the differences among the shear strength features of purple soils could help improve the design of agricultural machinery and equipment.

Conventional tillage improves the storage of soil organic carbon in heavy fractions in the Loess Plateau, China

Soil labile organic carbon （C） plays an important role in improving soil quality. The relatively stable fractions of soil organic C （SOC） represent the bulk of SOC, and are also the primary determinant of the long-term C balance of terrestrial ecosystems. Different land use types can influence the distribution patterns of different SOC fractions. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In the present study, different fractions of SOC were determined in two land use types： a grazed grassland （established on previously cultivated cropland 25 years ago, GG） and a long-term cultivated millet cropland （MC）. The results showed that C concentration and C storage of light fractions （LF） and heavy fractions （HF） presented different patterns along the soil profiles in the two sites. More plant residues in GG resulted in 91.9% higher LF storage at the 0-10 cm soil depth, further contributed to 21.9% higher SOC storage at this soil depth; SOC storage at 20-60 cm soil depth in MC was 98.8% higher than that in GG, which could be mainly attributed to the HF storage 104.5% higher than in GG. This might be caused by the long-term application of organic manure, as well as the protection from plough pan and silt- and clay-sized particles. The study indicated that different soil management practices in this region can greatly influence the variations of different SOC fractions, while the conventional tillage can greatly improve the storage of SOC by in- creasing heavy fractions.