Search results for " SOIL"

Combined proton NMR wideline and NMR relaxometry to study SOM-water interactions of cation-treated soils

2013

Abstract Focusing on the idea that multivalent cations affect SOM matrix and surface, we treated peat and soil samples by solutions of NaCl, CaCl2 or AlCl3. Water binding was characterized with low field 1H-NMR-relaxometry (20 MHz) and 1H wideline NMR spectroscopy (400 MHz) and compared to contact angles. From 1H wideline, we distinguished mobile water and water involved in water molecule bridges (WaMB). Large part of cation bridges (CaB) between SOM functional groups are associated with WaMB. Unexpectedly, 1H NMRrelaxometry relaxation rates suggest that cross-linking in the Al-containing peat is not stronger than that by Ca. The relation between percentage of mobile water and WaMB water in…

Testing the USLE-M family of models at the Sparacia experimental site in south Italy

2017

The modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE-M) was empirically deduced by a statistical analysis of the original data set of soil loss measurements used to derive the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). The USLE-M, including the effect of runoffin the event rainfall-runofferosivity factor, is characterized by a better capacity to predict event soil loss. At first, in this paper, using the soil erosion representative variables of USLE-M and the reference condition adopted in the USLE, the dimensional analysis and the self-similarity theory are applied to theoretically deduce a multiplicative equation similar to the USLE-M. Then using the database of the Sparacia experimental site, the a…

Impact of reforestations with exotic and native species on water repellency of forest soils

2017

Forest duff layer is usually water repellent due to the hydrophobic organic compounds resulting from degradation of tree tissues. Transition from hydrophobic to wettable conditions, or vice versa, is largely controlled by water content. The objective of this investigation was to assess the influence of soil moisture on the degree of soil water repellency (WR) in exotic and native tree forests. Occurrence of WR was investigated by the water drop penetration time (WDPT) and the ethanol percentage (EP) tests. Sampling was conducted in the forest soils of two exotic species (Pinus pinaster, P, and Eucaliptus camaldulensis, E), used in the past for reforestation, and two native species (Quercus …

Soil Water Content Assessment: Critical Issues Concerning the Operational Application of the Triangle Method

2015

Knowledge of soil water content plays a key role in water management efforts to improve irrigation efficiency. Among the indirect estimation methods of soil water content via Earth Observation data is the triangle method, used to analyze optical and thermal features because these are primarily controlled by water content within the near-surface evaporation layer and root zone in bare and vegetated soils. Although the soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer theory describes the ongoing processes, theoretical models reveal limits for operational use. When applying simplified empirical formulations, meteorological forcing could be replaced with alternative variables when the above-canopy temperatu…

Ecohydrology in Mediterranean areas: a numerical model to describe growing seasons out of phase with precipitations

2007

ECOHYDROLOGICAL MODELLING IN MEDITERRANEAN AREAS AND WETLANDS

2010

La seguente dissertazione verte sul campo di ricerca noto come Ecoidrologia. Sebbene tale scienza, che studia le mutue interazioni fra ciclo idrologico e gli ecosistemi naturali, sia stata recentemente oggetto di svariati studi, alcuni dei suoi numerosi aspetti rimangono tuttavia ancora alquanto inesplorati. L’obiettivo principale della presente tesi è quello di rivisitare la letteratura scientifica esistente sull’argomento, cercando di adattare concetti e modelli sviluppati per certi ecosistemi anche alle peculiarità di altri ambienti meno studiati, come quelli aridi e semiaridi tipici della zona Mediterranea o le cosiddette “wetlands”, zone umide e paludose. In particolare, viene approfon…

Soil microbial biomass and bacterial diversity in southern European regions vulnerable to desertification

2022

Abstract Soil functionality is strongly dependent on the soil microbiota, which in turn is affected by soil quality and climate. Among global change factors, desertification is the most threatening ecosystem change affecting southern Europe, but the effects on the soil microbiota are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated soil microbial biomass and bacterial diversity in regions of southern European countries (Spain, Portugal and Italy), most under desertification risk, and related to key soil chemical-physical indicators and land use. Soil microbial biomass was positively related, to soil organic carbon (SOC) but bacterial diversity was negatively correlated with it. pH was the mo…

Xeric grasslands of the inner-alpine dry valleys of Austria - new insights into syntaxonomy, diversity and ecology

2021

We are grateful to the IAVS for financial support for some of the participants. We would like to give special thanks to Dr. Ernst Partl, director of the Naturpark Kaunergrat for authorizing sampling in the protected areas and for helping with the organization of the field workshop.

Carbon sequestration in French agricultural soils: A spatial economic evaluation

2021

International audience; Soil organic carbon sequestration measures entail costs to farmers with different individual characteristics and located in different areas. A cost‐effective analysis taking into account these heterogeneities is crucial for developing effective public policy aimed at increasing carbon sequestration. We undertake such an analysis focusing on three soil organic carbon sequestration measures: no‐till, extension of temporary grasslands, and hedgerows. Through an optimization model applied to France, our results show that only extension of temporary grasslands can store carbon at low cost, though their potential for carbon sequestration is also low. For an ambitious carbo…

Electrochemical remediation of kaolin-soil contaminated by phenol: effect of several operative parameters

Electrochemical remediation technology is considered an appealing strategy for the remediation of fine- grained soils, characterized by a low hydraulic conductivity and large specific surface area, contaminated with inorganic, organic, and mixed pollutants. In both Electrokinetic (EK) and Electrochemical Geo-Oxidation (ECGO) technologies, an electric field is imposed on the contaminated soil to remove the pollutants by the combined mechanisms of electroosmosis, electromigration, and/or electrophoresis. Moreover, ECGO uses low voltage and both direct and alternating amperage (DC/AC) applied in a proprietary series to induce reduction-oxidation reactions on soil surfaces at the micro-scale. A…