Physical-hydraulic properties of tropical sandy-loam soil in response to rice-husk dust and cattle dung amendments and surface mulching

ABSTRACT

The effects of topsoil addition of rice-husk dust (RHD) and cattle dung (CD), alongside surface mulching with dry grasses/legume, on the infiltration characteristics and intrinsic structural properties of a deep, well-drained soil in southeastern Nigeria are assessed. Treatments are RHD-amended, CD-amended and “unamended”, each plot being either surface-mulched or left bare, with the unamended-bare plots as control. Amendments and mulch were applied at 20 t/ha equivalents. Their effects on the soil’s infiltration characteristics 7 months later were not evident; however, there was a tendency for differences: CD-amended ≥ RHD-amended ≥ unamended and surface-mulched ≥ bare-surface. By contrast, saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s ) differed thus: CD-mulched ≥ unamended-mulched > the rest. Similar values were recorded for K_s (50.89 cm/h) and final infiltration rate (50.74 cm/h) only under CD-amended plots, which also showed the highest values (43.50 cm/h) for transmissivity of the soil. Soil penetrometer resistance was lowest in CD-amended plots (113.44 kPa) and highest in unamended plots (166.78 kPa). Topsoil addition of cattle dung and surface mulching could increase infiltration, though marginally, and permeability of coarse-textured tropical soils beyond the season of their application when their effects on soil structure have almost waned.     

Accounting for the influence of runoff on event soil erodibilities associated with the EI30 index in RUSLE2

Soil erodibilities (K) associated with the EI₃₀ index vary not only with soil properties but also with soil moisture as it varies in time and space. In Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation Version 2 (RUSLE2), temporal variations in soil erodibility in the USA are calculated using monthly precipitation and temperature as independent variables. K_UM, the soil erodibility factor associated with the Q_REI₃₀ index, varies independently of runoff and the product of K_UM and the runoff ratio for the unit plot (Q_R1) provides an alternative to the temporally varying Ks currently used in predicting storm soil loss in RUSLE2. Comparisons were made between the product of Q_R1 and K_UM and RUSLE2 Ks for representative storms at four locations representing the north to south variation in climate in the USA. Peak erosion associated with the current approach used in RUSLE2 was slightly higher at two locations and slightly lower at the other two locations. One other location, Morris, MN, provided an exception with the peak loss predicted by using the product of Q_R1 and K_UM being 1.7 times that obtained using RUSLE2 Ks. In theory, average annual K_UM values should be better related to soil properties than the average annual values of K frequently used when the average annual values of EI₃₀ are used to predict soil loss. However, work has yet to be performed to determine how K_UM varies directly with soil properties and in space and time. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Increasing annual runoff—broadleaf or coniferous forests?

According to widely held belief, annual evapotranspiration (ET) for broadleaf forests is less than that for coniferous forests, resulting in higher annual runoff for broadleaf forests. We processed 82 catchment runoff and 126 interception loss data from temperate regions and found that although the belief is valid under conditions of broadleaf deciduous forests and high winter precipitation (e.g. the United States), it is invalid under conditions of broadleaf evergreen forests (e.g. New Zealand) or low winter precipitation (e.g. Japan). Thus, forest management policies based on this belief should be reconsidered on the basis of our results for regions with broadleaf evergreen forests or low winter precipitation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diffuse failure in geomaterials: Experiments,theory and modelling

This paper presents a synthesis of the works performed by various teams from France, Italy and Canada around the question of second‐order work criterion. Because of the non‐associative character of geomaterials plastic strains, it is now recognized that a whole bifurcation domain exists in the stress space with various possible modes of failure. In a first part these failure modes are observed in lab experimental tests and in discrete element modelling. Then a theoretical study of second‐order work allows to establish a link with the kinetic energy, giving a basis to explain the transition from a prefailure (quasi)static regime to a postfailure dynamic regime. Eventually the main features of geomaterials failure are obtained by applying second‐order work criterion to five different constitutive rate‐independent models—three being phenomenological and two micromechanical. As a whole this paper tries to gather together all the elements for a proper understanding and use of second‐order work criterion in geomechanics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical analysis of a one‐dimensional infiltration problem in unsaturated soil by a seepage–deformation coupled method

A multiphase coupled elasto‐viscoplastic finite element analysis formulation, based on the theory of porous media, is used to describe the rainfall infiltration process into a one‐dimensional soil column. Using this framework, we have numerically analyzed the generation of pore water pressure and deformations when rainfall is applied to the soil. A parametric study, including rainfall intensity, soil–water characteristic curves, and permeability, is carried out to observe their influence on the changes in pore water pressure and volumetric strain. From the numerical results, it is shown that the generation of pore water pressure and volumetric strain is mainly controlled by material parameters α and n′ that describe the soil–water characteristic curve. A comparison with the laboratory results shows that the proposed method can describe very well the characteristics observed during the experiments of one‐dimensional water infiltration into a layered unsaturated soil column. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrologic procedures of storm event watershed models: a comprehensive review and comparison

Currently, many watershed models are available that have various complexities, strengths, and weaknesses. The basic mathematical foundations of these mathematical models are often overlooked due to high demands on convenient applications with graphical user interfaces. Although this and other factors are important while selecting a model, the mathematical foundation should also be taken into account, as performance or efficiency and accuracy of a model depend on its simplicity or complexity. A comprehensive review of 14 storm event watershed models was conducted. Hydrologic procedures (rainfall excess, flow routing, and subsurface flow) of the models are presented and compiled. Among the procedures, flow routing has the most influence on model performances (speed and accuracy). Overland and channel flow routing procedures using different flow‐governing equations, having various approximations and solved by different methods, are compared based on their relative levels of physical bases, complexities, and expected accuracies in simulating the dynamics of water flow. Models using more mathematical terms in the flow‐governing equations are more physically based and expected to be more accurate than models using approximations, however, are more complex due to more intensive but approximate numerical schemes (inefficient). Models using approximate equations with analytical solutions may provide a balance between complexity and accuracy. The review and comparisons are useful to modellers, water resources managers, and researchers in understanding the basic foundations of the models and making informed selections for practical applications or further developments. Other factors such as data intensiveness, user friendliness, and resource requirements are also important considerations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于流动电位正演模型的非饱和带水流过程监测

为了获取非饱和带水流过程的信息,借助流动电位正演模型,通过数值实验探讨非降雨和降雨两种条件下非饱和带流动电位和水流过程的关系,然后用南京中山植物园试验场地野外观测的流动电位和张力数据加以对比和验证。野外试验表明:流动电位可以有效地反映非饱和带水流过程。在夏季无降雨入渗的条件下,日周期变化的地表地下温度差导致水分的运动,流动电位准确地指示了非饱和带含水量和毛细压力的变化情况,从而指示出了水分运移的方向;在夏季有降雨入渗的条件下,降雨锋面推进之处,含水量和流动电位同时有明显的响应,进而根据不同位置的流动电位对降雨入渗响应的时刻差,直接求出入渗锋面的推进速度。     

渐缩渐扩洞塞消能和空化特性

建立了三维RNG k-ε紊流数学模型和突缩突扩洞塞泄流的物理模型试验,利用实验结果对数学模型进行了验证,利用验证后的数学模型对突缩突扩洞塞和渐缩渐扩洞塞的水头损失系数和空化数进行了计算。结果表明,洞塞渐缩(或渐扩)段相对长度一定时,随着渐扩(或渐缩)段相对长度的增加,水头损失系数减小,最小空化数增加。当渐缩段和渐扩段几何尺寸互换时,水头损失系数和最小空化数的变化不大;其他几何参数一定的情况下,随着横断面半径收缩比的减小,水头损失系数增加,最小空化数降低。圆弧连接情况下,随着圆弧夹角的增加,水头损失系数呈现先降低后增加的趋势;而最小空化数呈现先增加后降低的趋势。其他几何参数一定的情况下,圆弧连接的水头损失系数小于斜线连接的对应值,最小空化数则相反。在水头损失系数和最小空化数权重相等的假定条件下,初步探讨了渐缩渐扩洞塞几何体型参数的优化方法,给出了渐缩渐扩洞塞的最优几何体型参数。     

国内外地质灾害长期变化的趋势

利用国际自然灾害数据库,分析全世界及典型国家地质灾害的变化规律。在此基础上,分析我国地质灾害的趋势和人类活动对地质灾害的影响,为我国地质灾害调查的宏观部署提供依据。世界范围内,地质灾害随经济社会的发展呈上升趋势,对经济社会的负面影响亦呈加大态势。国内从上世纪九十年代中期开始地质灾害进入频发状态,所导致的人员伤亡和经济损失尚未得到有效遏制。     

YR-3井井身井管结构设计及固井技术

以YR-3井为例,阐述了牛驮镇地热田从下伏石灰岩-白云岩完整地层钻取地热水时的多级成井结构及固井技术。该技术可有效地克服因地层漏失造成的孔壁坍塌及因设备能力偏小而造成的固井困难。经多眼井施工证明,该方法是牛驮镇地热田及类似地层地热井施工的有效方法。