Effects of rock fragments on infiltration and evaporation in hilly purple soils of Sichuan Basin,China

This paper presents the results of laboratory experiments showing the effects of rock fragments contained in three different purple soils of the Sichuan basin of southwest China. The experiments investigated how these rock fragments alter the soil’s physical, chemical, and agronomical characteristics such as infiltration and evaporation. We found that the infiltration rate, whether horizontal or vertical, in the three soils has the following order: gray brown purple soil < reddish brown purple soil < brown purple soil. With increasing rock fragment contents the accumulated infiltration decreases, while the total time decreases first and then increases. The minimum occurs at approximately 10–20% of fragment content by weight. The infiltration rate also changes with the distance. In the 0–5 cm range, the initial infiltration rate increases with increasing rock fragment contents, while in the 5–10 cm range, the slope of infiltration curve increases with increasing rock fragment contents. With increasing distance, the slope gradually decreases and finally reaches a stable value. The presence of rock fragments reduces soil water content, the minimal value appearing when the rock fragments were on top of the soil column (soil + rock sample), decreasing with increasing rock fragments for other samples mixed with fragments. Under the constant 40°C temperature, the accumulated evaporation and evaporation rate are minimal for soils covered by rock fragments, and the accumulated evaporation decreases with increasing rock fragment for other soil samples. However, the evaporation rate increases with increasing rock fragments in the first 4 days and decreases thereafter.     

Effect of irrigation with olive mill wastewater on soil hydraulic and solute transport properties

To evaluate the effect of olive mill wastewater (OMW) application on soil hydraulic and transport properties, two treatment sites, which had been irrigated with OMW for 5 and 15 years, and one control site being irrigated with freshwater were compared. The transport and leaching experiment results showed that a portion of the total soil water was available for transport processes while the remaining of the soil water was considered immobile and not readily accessible for solutes. The separation in water fractions of different mobilities was surprisingly consistent among OMW treatments. The bromide recovery rate decreased with the application of OMW showing that tracer molecules became trapped within immobile water phases. The application of OMW increased significantly the soil water-holding capacity, whereas the soil hydraulic conductivity in the near saturation range decreased significantly with long-term OMW application. The soil irrigated with OMW had significantly higher organic matter content, lower bulk density and relatively higher total porosity, but lower macroporosity than that of control sites. We concluded that the soil was increasingly coated with complex organic molecules originating from OMW, as a result, solute exchange between inter- and intrasoil aggregate water was hindered. Although OMW could cause soil and water pollution, its use in agriculture is promoted because of high nutrients and organic matter contents.     

Soil moisture dynamics under different land uses on karst hillslope in northwest Guangxi,China

Temporal and spatial dynamics of soil moisture are little known on karst hillslope with shallow soil in subtropical region. The objectives of this paper were (1) to investigate the temporal dynamics of soil moisture at depth of 0–10 cm under different land uses; and (2) to understand the relationship between mean and coefficient of variation (CV) of moisture contents on karst hillslope in northwest Guangxi, China. Soil moisture contents had a moderate variation (CV 17.5–30.3%) over an 8-month period and they had a significant difference among different land uses at the 0.01 level with a decreasing order: native scrubland > abandoned cropland and sloping cropland > economic forestland. There were higher mean and lower CV of moisture contents in rainy season than those in drought season. Mean and CV of moisture contents had a significant negative linear relationship except in abandoned cropland with higher soil and vegetation heterogeneity. This suggested that spatial variability of soil moisture within sampling sites would decrease when soils were wet and increase when soils were arid. Compared with rainy season, more soil samples may be needed and the interval for sampling should be shortened in drought season. Such information provided some insights to better understand the dynamics and variability of soil moisture at a larger scale in karst region of southwest China.     

Carbonate pond deposits related to semi-arid alluvial systems: examples from the Tertiary Madrid Basin, Spain

Carbonate pond deposits occur associated with alluvial sediments in Miocene sequences of the Madrid Basin, central Spain. The ponds developed near the basin margins, either in floodplain environments (north) or mud-flat settings (south). Three main facies assemblages are recognized: (1) floodplain/mud-flat, (2) palaeosols and (3) pond deposits. In the northern part of the basin, ponds developed on the floodplain of terminal fluvial systems. The floodplain facies are typically red mudstones with interbedded sandstones and siltstones. Palaeosols associated with the ponds show a pedofacies relationship, the maturity of soils increasing with distance from the main channel. Carbonate pond deposits consist mainly of limestones, which display typical ‘palustrine’features. The formation and further accumulation of carbonate in the ponds took place in periods of reduced clastic sediment input and it is suggested that recharge into the pond areas was mainly from groundwater. In the south, ponds developed on mud-flats located between sheet-flood-dominated alluvial fans and evaporite lakes. Mud-flat facies consist of red mudstone that exhibits evidence of progressive soil development near both edges and beneath the carbonate pond lenses. Carbonate in the ponds is mainly dolomite and comprises two subfacies, mottled and laminated dolomicrites. This mineralogy, together with the presence of gypsum crusts below and in the lower part of the carbonate body, suggests higher evaporation rates and/or more saline waters filling the ponds in this part of the basin. In spite of differences in depositional setting and, to some extent, climatic conditions between the two areas of the basin, both facies associations and the sequential arrangement of the ponds show strong similarities that allow the proposal of a facies model for carbonate pond deposits related to semi-arid alluvial systems. The sequences recognized from the pond deposits record a set of facies clearly different to those forming in swampy lakes associated with many permanent fluvial systems developed in more humid climates.     

Shallow groundwater dynamics and origin of salinity at two sites in salinated and water-deficient region of North China Plain,China

Large salinated areas are distributed in the middle and east of the North China Plain (NCP), where the fresh water shortage is serious. In this study, two sites in Cangzhou (CZ) and Hengshui (HS) of Hebei Province were selected to study the dynamics of shallow groundwater level and salinity. Electrical conductivity (EC) of groundwater was combined with the isotope compositions of δ¹⁸O and δ²H to identify the origin of salinity. Results showed that the dynamics of groundwater level at both sites were mainly controlled by precipitation and evaporation. Soil texture and structure played a significant role in the dynamics of salinity. The summer precipitation diluted the EC of groundwater at the HS site with homogeneous soil of sand loam, suggesting the larger infiltration rate; however, it did not dilute the EC at the CZ site with heterogeneous soil of sand loam and silt loam, suggesting that the summer precipitation could not recharge the groundwater directly. In winter, the EC decreased rapidly due to the temperature gradient underground if the groundwater was above the threshold level (at least 3 m below the ground surface) after the rainy season. Isotopes of δ¹⁸O and δ²H showed that precipitation was the major recharge source for the groundwater at the two sites. The salt mainly comes from the dissolution of soil or rock at the CZ site. While, the evaporation effect was strong at the HS site leading to the increase of the salt concentration.     

Geochemical processes controlling the spatial distribution of selenium in soil and water,west central South Dakota,USA

Selenium (Se) is essential in the human diet, but has a low threshold for toxic concentration. It is recommended that nutrients such as Se should be consumed through foods as part of a normal diet. Se concentrations in crops and meat depend on the amount of labile Se in the soil where crops and forage are grown. Therefore, managing agriculture for optimal Se in grain crops and forage requires an understanding of the distribution and mobility of Se. Elevated concentrations of Se occur in waters, soils, and forage 120 km west of Pierre in west central South Dakota, USA. The research site lies in an elevated, dissected plain where soils developed on gently dipping Pierre Shale. Soils were sampled along catena transects and waters collected from soil, ponds, and shallow borings in areas of known elevated forage and crop Se. Soil extracts from saturated-paste extraction and acid (aqua regia and hydrofluoric acid) extraction were analyzed. Selenate was the dominant Se species in both acid and saturated-paste extracts; selenite and organic Se were below detection (<0.2 ppb) in the same soil extracts. On average, 98% of soil Se was not water-soluble. The distribution of total Se shows much less spatial variation than water-soluble Se in the areas sampled. Se shows correlation with organic carbon in soils and waters, suggesting its association with organic carbon. Ca shows some correlation to Se in acid extracts, but not in saturated-paste extracts or in waters. Total Se shows no significant correlation to Na, Mg, and total S in the soils. Se in saturated-paste extracts and water samples shows good correlations with Na, Mg, and SO₄, suggesting that evaporitic Na–Mg–sulfate minerals may temporarily concentrate water-soluble Se in shallow soils. The dissolution and precipitation of these Na–Mg–sulfate salts together with pH and oxidation–reduction conditions apparently control water-soluble Se distribution and mobilization in shallow subsurface environments.     

Comparative study of body composition of four fish species in relation to pond depth

Fish specimen of Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Hypophthalmicthys molitrix and Catla catla were sampled from three ponds of different depths (152 cm, 122 cm and 76 cm) to compare the body composition of these species in relation to pond depth. There was significant (P < 0.001) effect of pond depth on water, ash, organic, fat and protein contents (all % wet and dry body weight). It was observed that pond depth has significant effect (P < 0.01) on condition factor in pond B (122 cm depth) and no effect in pond A and C. Maximum mean values of body composition were observed in Labeo rohita in all the three ponds. Present study demonstrates that fish cultured in ponds of different depths have different values of protein which can help guide the farmers to select best pond depths to produce protein rich fish.     

Physico-chemical characterization of saline subsurface system near small endorheic ponds in Thailand

The problem of salt-ravaged lands is reported in many parts of the world and could be exacerbated by the presence of an endorheic pond normally associated with a saline low-lying area. An endorheic or playa pond accumulates dissolved salts which can be carried primarily by groundwater before discharging into the pond; then, intense evaporation produces salt residues which can wreak havoc on the adjacent areas. The objective of this study is to investigate the subsurface conditions and groundwater interactions beneath two endorheic saline ponds of Thailand’s Great Mekong Basin to have a better understanding and thereby efficiently manage the resources. A comprehensive analysis of the physical and geochemical properties (limited to pH, specific conductance and salinity) of the subsurface system was performed to determine the processes that regulated the migration of dissolved salt. The data collected from the deep and shallow groundwater of the basin were analyzed to determine their physical and chemical properties. Soil samples of various depths were examined to determine their respective geologic, chemical and unsaturated properties. The groundwater near the salt ponds was different from that of other areas in that its groundwater table was closer to the surface soil and its deep groundwater, which is of high pressure, was more saline than its shallow groundwater. As the capillary rise influences the topsoil, particularly in the saline pond areas, the vertical upward flow and the capillary force are thus the additional mechanisms of salt transportation to the endorheic ponds. Since these surface water bodies are the discharge sites for saline groundwater and are not perennial, a practical solution is to localize the saline groundwater.     

Shear Modulus and Damping Ratio of Organic Soils

The paper presents results from a laboratory investigation into the dynamic properties of natural intact and model organic soils by means of resonant-column tests. The natural intact organic soils were sands, cohesive soils and peats with varying content of calcium carbonate. The model organic soils were formed in laboratory by mixing kaolinite and paper pulp. The influence of various soil parameters, such as strain level, confining stress, void ratio, plasticity index, organic content and secondary consolidation time on shear modulus, G, and damping ratio, DT, is presented and discussed. The test results on natural organic soils show that only high organic contents (OC ≥ 25%) have significant influence on G and DT at both small and high shear strains. For the model organic soils, however, a significant influence of even lower values of organic content (5% ≤ OC ≤ 20%) on G at small strains and DT at both small and high strains is observed.     

Soil development on recent end moraines of the Klutlan Glacier,Yukon Territory,Canada

Data on soils with six Neoglacial moraines of the Klutlan Glacier have been compared with those from moraines at the warm, moist coastal site of Glacier Bay, 160 km south. Percentage organic matter increases rapidly for the first 100 to 150 yr of soil development and then continues to rise gradually for the next 100 yr. Soil pH falls from 8.0 in recent till to approximately 6.0 in 200-yr-old soils. Nitrogen levels in the mineral soil increase from near zero in recent tills to 0.7% in soils 175–200 yr old; organic horizons of soils associated with spruce forests in later successional stages contain approximately 1% nitrogen. Concentrations of certain inorganic phosphate ions in the different-aged soils increase continually throughout the succession. Data for nine chemical variables were subjected to a principal components analysis; the major pattern in the data reflects the differences between soils of low organic content and high pH present in early successional stages, and nutrient-rich soils with high organic content and low pH present after succession has progressed toward the spruce forest. These trends in soil development with time are strikingly similar to those reported from Glacier Bay, except that the changes in soil properties appear to be delayed by 50–100 yr at the Klutlan terminus. Although numerous signs of nitrogen deficiency have been identified in plants growing on new soils at Glacier Bay, none was observed visually in living plants or in nutrients measured in samples of foliage from three plant taxa (Epilobium latifolium, Salix spp., and Populus balsamifera) taken from the Klutlan moraines. Concentrations of nitrogen and other nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, total P) in the foliage samples show no clear trends with increasing soil development. Low temperatures, a short growing season, and very low mean annual precipitation probably limit plant growth and account for the delayed soil development on the Klutlan moraines.     

成都地区土壤硼元素含量及其养分管理建议

成都地区浅层土壤中全量硼较为丰富,但是部分地区土壤有效硼较为缺乏。土壤中有效硼的含量与土壤有机质含量、pH值呈正相关,与土壤类型也有关系,而与硼全量关系不大。有效硼的缺乏主要是由于有机质缺乏、土壤pH值较低引起。黄壤地区酸性土壤种植油菜会有缺硼症状;水稻土和紫色土有效硼含量达到植物正常生长所需要的临界值,种植油菜就不缺乏硼,但是种植小麦仍然会缺硼。开展硼的区域生态地球化学评价时,不能只用土壤硼全量来评价其丰缺,还应该考虑用有效硼、有机质、pH值、土壤类型以及不同的植物种类等进行综合评价,更有利于指导农业生产土壤养分管理和选择种植适宜的植物。增加土壤有效硼含量的主要措施是施用硼肥,同时施用有机肥,酸性土壤适量施用石灰。     

Soil evidence for historical human-induced land degradation in West Iceland

Human impacts have been severe on Icelandic soils and vegetation. In order to assess human impact on soils soil quality, soil organic C (SOC), soil bulk density (BD), soil moisture content (SMC), soil mass, and SOC sequestration were measured from two Histosol cores in West Iceland. The cores cover a period from around 665 BC to present, capturing the initial human settlement of Iceland in AD 871. Tephrochronology allowed for a reliable correlation and comparison between the two cores. The initial settlement had profound impacts on the soil quality, causing decreased SOC concentration and SMC, and increased vegetation degradation, soil exposure, eolian deposition, and BD. The total SOC pool was 34.6 kg C m² at one of the sites, of which 60.1% was formed during historic times, driven by increased soil mass deposition from surrounding eroded areas. The SOC pool was 43.7 kg C m² at the other site, of which 31.4% was formed during historic time, constrained by water cycling and decomposition.     

Soil properties and moisture characteristics and their relationship with crop mid-day stress in the Sudan Gezira

This study is mainly about the relationship of the moisture holding and release capacity of soils with their texture, particularly the clay fraction. Soil samples collected from various sites in the Sudan Gezira were analysed for physical and chemical properties and moisture characteristics. Generally the soils were clayey except the recent alluvium which was loamy. The pH was alkaline and the electric conductivity < 1.0 dS m^–1. The studied soils were calcareous and very poor in organic matter, their intermediate to high water holding capacity being due mainly to the presence of large quantities of clay. Matric potentials of –0.4 to –1.5 MPa reduced soil moisture for all types of soils but the effects were not necessarily quantitatively equal. Permanent wilting point — moisture content at – 1.5 MPa — varied widely (10.5 – 22.0%) amongst the different soils and this was mainly attributed to texture and mineralogy of the soil clays. Bulk density decreased with increase in clay content. Calcium carbonate content was found to have no apparent relationship with the moisture content of these soils. The amount of silt fraction seems to have an overriding effect on the relationship between soil moisture availability in the recent alluvium soil and its subsequent release to growing plants. The results are discussed in relation to the phenomenon of mid-day stress observed in all grown crops of the Sudan Gezira.     

汶川地震区崩滑堆积体强度现场直剪试验研究

以汶川震区漩口一带地震诱发的松散堆积体为研究对象,开展碎石土原状样和重塑样的现场直剪对比试验,探讨不同法向应力、不同粒度组成和不同含水率等条件下碎石土的剪切强度特性。研究结果表明,地质成因和岩土体结构相似、粒度组成不同且级配不良的碎石土的剪切强度特性具有相似性;原状样剪切强度明显高于相同干密度和含水率的重塑样;级配良好的碎石土应变硬化程度略高于级配不良的碎石土,当粒径大于5 mm的粗颗粒含量大于42.9%时,随粗颗粒含量增加,碎石土的内摩擦角增加,而粘聚力则先减小后增大;抗剪强度指标与含水率呈线性负相关关系,随着含水率增高,碎石土抗剪强度降低,其中粘聚力较内摩擦角下降更明显。综合前人研究和本次试验结果,建议汶川震区类似结构组分碎石土天然状态下的剪切强度指标c值取15±3 k Pa,φ值取30°±2°。     

土壤入渗特性的空间变异规律及其变异源

以封丘地区典型的4种土地利用类型(传统耕作地、免耕地、金银花地和杨树林地)为例,系统研究了不同土地利用方式下土壤入渗特性的空间变异强度、空间变异结构及其主要变异源。结果表明,频繁的耕作会降低土壤异质性,弱化土壤特性空间变异结构,扰动较小的免耕地和金银花地的土壤入渗特性则具有相对明显的空间变异结构,扰动最小的杨树林地土壤的入渗特性具有最为明显的空间变异结构和最小的变程。容重、有机质含量和初始含水量是耕作地入渗的最主要变异源,初始含水量则是金银花地入渗的唯一显著性变异源;杨树林地入渗变异的主要变异源是有机质和初始含水量;影响免耕地入渗特性变异的变异源并不显著。在有些情况下,水温也可能成为入渗特性空间变异研究的重要干扰因素。     

石灰土改良试验及其岩溶作用响应研究

依据石灰土的特点,采用常规有机肥料进行改良石灰土对比试验研究。试验结果表明: ( 1)有机肥处理,降低了石灰土pH值和钙镁元素含量,增强了土壤的溶蚀能力,大大提高了土壤营养元素有效态含量,改善了土壤物理性状,玉米产量和植株性状也远高于和好于对照地; ( 2)不同改良方案因有机肥搭配类型和施肥方式的不同,对埋藏于其中的灰岩试片溶蚀强度和土壤改良的效果存在显著差异。从施肥方式上看,以积制堆肥半腐熟时挖沟施入土壤效果最好,作物增产率为47. 82% ,灰岩试片的溶蚀速率为3. 43 mg /cm2 . a;直接混合挖沟埋入土壤效果次之,增产率为43. 94% ,溶蚀速率为3. 26 mg /cm2 . a;积制堆肥完全腐熟后挖沟施入土壤效果最差,增产率为30. 99% ,溶蚀速率为3. 17mg /cm2. a。从搭配类型来看,塘泥+ 沼渣(液)+ 鲜绿肥> 秸秆+ 塘泥+ 沼渣(液) > 秸秆+ 人畜粪便+ 塘泥。      

Hydrothermal pattern of frozen soil in Nam Co lake basin,the Tibetan Plateau

Hydrothermal processes and the regimes of frozen soil formed in alpine regions with glaciers and lake area are complex and important for ecological environment but have not been studied in Tibet. Based on soil temperature and moisture data from October 2005 to September 2006 collected in the Nam Co lake basin, Tibetan Plateau (TP), those questions were discussed. The mean annual air temperature was −3.4°C with 8 months below 0°C. Air and soil temperature varied between −25.3~13.1°C and −10.3~8.8°C, respectively. Soil moisture variations in the active layer were small with the minimum value of 1.4%, but were influenced greatly by snowmelt, rainfall and evaporation, varying up to 53.8%. The active layer froze later, thawed earlier and was thinner, however, the lower altitude limit of permafrost is higher than that in most areas of TP. The effects of soil moisture (unfrozen water content) on soil temperature, which were estimated through proposed models, were more significant near ground surface than the other layers. The surface soil temperature decreased with snowcover, the effect of cold snow meltwater infiltration on soil thermal conditions was negligible, however, the effect of rainfall infiltration was evident causing thermal disruptions.     

Nekton Density Patterns in Tidal Ponds and Adjacent Wetlands Related to Pond Size and Salinity

We examined the distribution of nekton across the marsh landscape using a 1-m² drop sampler to compare nekton densities across three different salinity zones (intermediate, brackish, saline), three pond sizes (diameter <40 m = small, ∼250–300 m = medium, >750 m = large), and two habitat types (pond, adjacent marsh) in the Barataria Bay Estuary, Louisiana. Nekton assemblages of ponds and the adjacent marsh appeared to be structured by the responses of individual species to the estuarine salinity gradient at the landscape scale and to pond habitat attributes locally. Our results indicate that ponds in the brackish and saline zones are more important nursery areas for most fishery species than ponds in the intermediate zone. Medium and large ponds supported higher densities of most species than small ponds. Most species of nekton were associated with vegetation structure, and individuals of these species were either concentrated among plant stems at the marsh edge or within submerged aquatic vegetation in ponds.     

An assessment of soil contamination due to heavy metals around a coal-fired thermal power plant in India

Combustion of coals in thermal power plants is one of the major sources of environmental pollution due to generation of huge amounts of ashes, which are disposed off in large ponds in the vicinity of the thermal power plants. This problem is of particular significance in India, which utilizes coals of very high ash content (∼55 wt%). Since the thermal power plants and the ash ponds are located in densely populated areas, there is potential chance for contamination of soil and groundwater of the surrounding areas from the toxic trace elements in the ash. An attempt has been made to study the extent of soil contamination around one of the largest thermal power plants of India located at Kolaghat, West Bengal India. Chemical analysis of the top soils and the soils collected from the different depth profiles surrounding the ash ponds, show that the top soils are enriched in the trace elements Mo, As, Cr, Mn, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Be, V, Zn, which show maximum enrichment (2–5) in the top soils collected from all the soil profiles. These elements are also enriched in the pond ash. Since there are no other sources of industrial effluents, it can be said that the enrichment of the trace elements (Mn, Co, Mo, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Ni, Be, V) is attributed to their input from ash from the disposal pond. The study has been further strengthened by log-normal distribution pattern of the elements.     

Study on Movement Evolution Law of Soil Water in Condition of Agronomic Water Saving Irrigation

Fresh water supplied are often limited in mainland China, reducing agricultural productivity. However the use of straw mulch is the main management technique for agronomic water saving. This paper investigates the movement of soil water under straw mulch compared to a non-mulch test plot. Results demonstrated that straw mulch effected soil water movement primarily during drought periods and throughout shallow soil (i.e. depths of less than 200 cm). The soil moisture and soil water potential at the mulch test plot in drought period are both higher than that of contrast test plot, and along with increasing soil depth, the straw mulch effect weakens. When evaporation is dominated by surface evaporation, straw mulch will effectively restrict the evaporation of soil water; when evaporation dominated by vegetation transpiration, the straw mulch promotes the transpiration of vegetation. In drought periods, straw mulch is not effective for deep soil water infiltration, but is advantageous for soil water utilization of mid- and shallow- soils (0-120 cm), however the infiltration speed rate of straw mulch point during high water period is higher than that of contrast plot. This paper highlights the importance of good management practices of agricultural land in order to limit soil water losses, which is essential when water is such a limited resource.