Geotechnical Aspects of Oil-Contaminated Sands

Contamination due to chemicals and oil spills can influence the engineering behavior of soils. The results of an investigation conducted to study the effects of oil contamination on compaction characteristics, shear strength, one-dimensional compression, and hydraulic conductivity of a sand are presented in this article. The test results indicate that the compaction characteristics are influenced by oil contamination. The angle of internal friction of sand based on total stress condition was found to decrease with the presence of oil in the pore spaces. One-dimensional compression characteristics of sand are significantly influenced by oil contamination, resulting in a decrease in the value of the constrained modulus with increase in the degree of oil saturation. Hydraulic conductivity was observed to be a function of the initial viscosity and the degree of oil saturation.     

The effect of soil compaction on growth and P uptake by Trifolium subterraneum: interactions with mycorrhizal colonisation

The effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) colonisation on phosphorus (P) uptake and growth of clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) in response to soil compaction were studied in three pot experiments. P uptake and growth of the plants decreased as the bulk density of the soil increased from 1.0 to 1.6 Mg m^-3. The strongest effects of soil compaction on P uptake and plant growth were observed at the highest P application (60 mg kg^-1 soil). The main observation of this study was that at low P application (15 mg kg^-1 soil), P uptake and shoot dry weight of the plants colonised by Glomus intraradices were greater than those of non-mycorrhizal plants at similar levels of compaction of the soil. However, the mycorrhizal growth response decreased proportionately as soil compaction was increased. Decreased total P uptake and shoot dry weight of mycorrhizal clover in compacted soil were attributed to the reduction in the root length. Soil compaction had no significant effect on the percentage of root length colonised. However, total root length colonised was lower (6.6 m pot^-1) in highly compacted soil than in slightly compacted soil (27.8 m pot^-1). The oxygen content of the soil atmosphere measured shortly before the plants were harvested varied from 0.18 m³m^-3 in slightly compacted soil (1.0 Mg m^-3) to 0.10 m³m^-3 in highly compacted soil (1.6 Mg m^-3).     

Xylem ABA controls the stomatal conductance of field-grown maize subjected to soil compaction or soil drying

Stomatal conductance of individual leaves was measured in a maize field, together with leaf water potential, leaf turgor, xylem ABA concentration and leaf ABA concentration in the same leaves. Stomatal conductance showed a tight relationship with xylem ABA, but not with the current leaf water status or with the concentration of ABA in the bulk leaf. The relationship between stomatal conductance and xylem [ABA] was common for variations in xylem [ABA] linked to the decline with time of the soil water reserve, to simultaneous differences between plants grown on compacted, non-compacted and irrigated soil, and to plant-to-plant variability. Therefore, this relationship is unlikely to be fortuitous or due to synchronous variations. These results suggest that increased concentration of ABA in the xylem sap in response to stress can control the gas exchange of plants under field conditions.     

Root-soil contact of maize,as measured by a thin-section technique

In models of oxygen, water and nutrient uptake by plant roots, the degree of root-soil contact is an important parameter. An observation technique is required to evaluate to what extent root-soil contact depends on plant species, soil texture and structure. Thin sections for studying soil structure may be used for this purpose, provided that roots do not shrink during section preparation, and that all root cross sections are recognized.Maize was grown in pots with soil aggregates obtained by sieving and compacting to three bulk densities. Thin sections were made by freeze-drying samples before impregnating the soil with resin. Two checks were made on the validity of the method. Firstly, visual appearance of roots with intact epidermis, cortex and other tissues did not show signs of shrinkage. Secondly, the agreement was checked between root lengths obtained by washing duplicate soil samples and the number of root cross sections counted on horizonal and vertical thin sections. For the latter, the angle at which roots intersected the thin-section plane was determined from the shape of the cross sections. The frequency distribution of calculated angles was in agreement with the frequency distribution expected for a randomly oriented set of cylinders when an error term was included in the simulated measurements.Some results are presented for a field test of the thin-section method with barley on a calcareous marine sandy loam. Root hairs, apparently undamaged by sample preparation, are important for bridging the gap between roots and soil in this situation. According to the experience presented, the thin-section technique is suitable to derive the degree of root-soil contact, as influenced by species, soil texture and structure, in samples obtained from pot or field experiments.Communication No. 43 of the Dutch Programme on Soil Ecology of Arable Farming Systems.Communication No. 43 of the Dutch Programme on Soil Ecology of Arable Farming Systems.     

The effect of soil strength on the growth of pigeonpea radicles and seedlings

The effect of soil strength on the growth of pigeonpea radicles and seedlings was investigated in cores of three clay soils prepared at different water contents and bulk densities in the laboratory.Radicle elongation directly into soil cores was reduced from 50–70 mm d^-1 at strengths less than 0.5 MPa to 0 mm d^-1 at 3.5–3.7 MPa. The response to soil strength was affected by the water content of the soil, presumably as a result of reduced oxygen availability in wetter soil. This effect was apparent in soils wet to air-filled porosities less than 0.15 m³ m^-3.Radicles were more sensitive to high soil strength (>1.5 MPa) than were seedling roots which encountered the same conditions at 60 mm in the profile. Radicle growth ceased at 3.5 MPa which reduced seedling root growth by only 60%.Despite a 60% reduction in root length in the high strength zone, seedling roots compensated in zones of loose soil above and below the compacted layer, and total root length and shoot growth were unaffected. There was no evidence of a root signal response which results in reduced shoot growth in some species in response to high soil strength.The proliferation of roots in surface layers and the delayed penetration of the root system to depth in compacted soil are likely to expose seedlings to a greater risk of water-deficit in the field, particularly under dryland conditions where plants rely on stored subsoil water for growth.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can contribute to maintain antioxidant and carbon metabolism in nodules of Anthyllis cytisoides L. subjected to drought

The symbiosis legume-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-nitrogen fixing bacteria is of relevant interest in Mediterranean regions where Anthyllis cytisoides L. grows. In these areas, nitrogen is one of the nutrients that most limits plant growth. In addition, the long periods of water deficit decrease the diffusion rate of phosphorus and, consequently, also decrease the biological nitrogen fixation. It is well known that mycorrhizal fungi can improve phosphorus uptake and, recently, some authors have found that antioxidant activities in mycorrhizal plants can delay drought-induced nodule senescence. The objective of our work was to evaluate weather mycorrhizal fungi could preserve the nodule metabolism in A. cytisoides subjected to drought. Results showed that a low soil water content associated with an enhancement of soil compaction accelerated the senescence of nodules in both non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants. However, while total soluble protein, leghaemoglobin (Lb) content, as well as carbon and antioxidant metabolism significantly decreased in nodules from non-mycorrhizal A. cytisoides subjected to drought, nodules from stressed mycorrhizal plants maintained Lb levels, showed greater rates of carbon metabolism, and exhibited higher enzymatic activities related to the removal of reactive oxygen species. In addition to the greater activity of antioxidant enzymes, other mechanisms related or unrelated to enhanced nodule water status could also be implied in the better nodule functioning observed in mycorrhizal plants under stressful conditions.     

Contribution of root cap mucilage and presence of an intact root cap in maize (Zea mays) to the reduction of soil mechanical impedance

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The impedance to root growth imposed by soil can be decreased by both mucilage secretion and the sloughing of border cells from the root cap. The aim of this study is to quantify the contribution of these two factors for maize root growth in compact soil. METHODS: These effects were evaluated by assessing growth after removing both mucilage (treatment I -- intact) and the root cap (treatment D -- decapped) from the root tip, and then by adding back 2 micro L of mucilage to both intact (treatment IM -- intact plus mucilage) and decapped (treatment DM -- decapped plus mucilage) roots. Roots were grown in either loose (0.9 Mg m(-3)) or compact (1.5 Mg m(-3)) loamy sand soils. Also examined were the effects of decapping on root penetration resistance at three soil bulk densities (1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 Mg m(-3)). KEY RESULTS: In treatment I, mucilage was visible 12 h after transplanting to the compact soil. The decapping and mucilage treatments affected neither the root elongation nor the root widening rates when the plants were grown in loose soil for 12 h. Root growth pressures of seminal axes in D, DM, I and IM treatments were 0.328, 0.288, 0.272 and 0.222 MPa, respectively, when the roots were grown in compact soil (1.5 Mg m(-3) density; 1.59 MPa penetrometer resistance). CONCLUSIONS: The contributions of mucilage and presence of the intact root cap without mucilage to the lubricating effect of root cap (percentage decrease in root penetration resistance caused by decapping) were 43 % and 58 %, respectively. The lubricating effect of the root cap was about 30 % and unaffected by the degree of soil compaction (for penetrometer resistances of 0.52, 1.20 and 1.59 MPa).     

典型新建绿地上海辰山植物园土壤水库特征及其影响因子

研究不同植被类型、压实方式和土壤基本理化性质对典型新建绿地上海辰山植物园土壤水库的影响.结果表明:相对自然林地,植物园土壤总库容、滞洪库容、有效库容均较低,但死库容较大,占总库容的60.6%,这导致绿地蓄洪排涝能力减弱.植物园不同植被类型土壤总库容和滞洪库容大小依次为灌木地﹥乔木地﹥草地﹥竹林地﹥裸地,有效库容以灌木和乔木较高,而裸地和竹林地相对较低,裸地和竹林地死库容占总库容的比例最大,分别为65.5%和67.6%.灌木地总库容、滞洪库容和有效库容与裸地差异显著,植被能显著提高土壤的蓄水持水能力,但机械压实和人为践踏显著降低土壤总库容、滞洪库容和有效库容.土壤容重、饱和导水率、毛管孔隙度、非毛管孔隙度、总孔隙度、黏粒和有机质含量显著影响土壤水库,改善土壤理化性质能显著提高城市绿地土壤水库库容.     

Habitat structure is more important than vegetation composition for local‐level management of native terrestrial reptile and small mammal species living in urban remnants: A case study from Brisbane,Australia

Abstract As urban areas continue to expand and replace natural and agricultural landscapes, the ability to manage and conserve native wildlife within urban environments is becoming increasingly important. To do so we first need to understand species' responses to local‐level habitat attributes in order to inform the decision‐making process and on‐ground conservation actions. Patterns in the occurrence of native terrestrial reptile and small mammal species in 59 sites located in remnant urban habitat fragments of Brisbane City were assessed against local‐level environmental characteristics of each site. Cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling ordination, and principal axis correlation were used to investigate relationships between species' occurrences and environmental characteristics. Native reptiles were most strongly associated with the presence of termite mounds, a high amount of fallen woody material, and a moderate amount of weed cover. Native small mammals were most strongly associated with the presence of grass trees (Xanthorrhoea spp.), and both reptiles and small mammals were negatively influenced by increased soil compaction. Significant floristic characteristics were considered to be important as structural, rather than compositional, habitat elements. Therefore, habitat structure, rather than vegetation composition, appears to be most important for determining native, terrestrial reptile and small mammal species assemblages in urban forest fragments. We discuss the management implications in relation to human disturbances and local‐level management of urban remnants.     

成垄压实施肥对氮素运移及氮肥利用率的影响

黄土高原地区夏玉米生长正逢雨季,是N素淋溶的主要时期,为此提出氮肥施用的成垄压实法,通过连续两年的田间小区试验,研究了夏玉米生长期成垄压实施肥方式下夏玉米产量和氮肥利用率,以及土壤NO3^--N迁移规律,并结合室内模拟实验探讨了该施肥法的影响因素。结果表明,在供水量接近研究区同期多年平均降雨量(370mm)的年份,平地施肥条件下,NO3^--N可被淋溶至90cm以下的土层;而成垄压实施肥可明显减少施肥区NO3^--N随入渗水分向土壤深层迁移,至60cm以下土层,土壤NO3^--N含量小于10mg·kg^-1,NO3^--N主要累积于近地表20～40cm土层,该土层土壤NO3^--N含量约为80～90mg·kg^-1。成垄压实施肥法局部存在的大容重障碍层对作物生长发育无影响在240.0kgN·hm^-2施氮量条件下,成垄压实较平地施肥没有显著提高玉米生物产量和经济产量,但却能极显著地增加作物吸氮量,使氮肥利用率提高9％左右。成垄压实施肥条件下,障碍层容重对NO3^--N迁移影响明显,随障碍层容重的增加,NO3^--N迁移深度减小,大田条件下,垄坡度对NO3^--N迁移影响不明显。