Search results for "SOILS"
showing 10 items of 157 documents
Soil interpretation in the context of anthropedogenic transformations and pedotechniques application
2018
Abstract Following a long and vigorous study carried out by the International Committee on Anthropogenic Soils (ICOMANTH), the Soil Taxonomy (ST) classification system recently incorporated a number of changes to include Human-Altered and Human-Transported soils, generally called anthropogenic soils. These changes underwent careful scrutiny as they affect the current classification of existing soil series, and as the proposals and logics are as yet untested against existing data and descriptions. Particular attention was given to the diagnostic characteristics of the anthropogenic soils and to the Subgroups for Human-Altered and Human-Transported soils. In this study, we consider a frequent…
The safety of an industrial archaeological heritage
2013
The present paper analyses an underground and inactive quarry of calcarenite, which belong to a localised area called Cave di calcarenite in Contrada Cuccidenna that has been recognised as a typical example of industrial archaeological heritage. The study of this typical quarry is finalised to the preservation and safe fruition of this site, which represents the history of manufacturing technologies of rocky ashlars. Rock samples from the pillars have been collected and, at first, a petrographic characterisation has been performed. The strength parameters have been estimated by means of triaxial and isotropic compression tests. Through a finite element analysis, the mechanical characterizat…
Variability of near-surface saturated hydraulic conductivity for the clay soils of a small Sicilian basin
2019
Abstract Proper characterization of saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, of clay soils in a hillslope or a basin is still a challenge for soil science. In this investigation, the clay soils of the Maganoce (Sicily, Italy) basin were sampled at 19 sampling sites by the BEST procedure of soil hydraulic characterization. More OM implied less compact conditions (decreasing dry soil bulk density; coefficient of determination, R2 = 0.67), more stability to water of the soil aggregates (increasing water stable aggregates; R2 = 0.83) and, consequently, higher Ks values (R2 = 0.54). Variability of Ks was lower in the steeper zones of the basin than in the flatter ones. A comparison with the Ks data…
The influence of weathering processes on labile and stable organic matter in Mediterranean volcanic soils
2008
The relationship and mechanisms among weathering processes, cation fluxes, clay mineralogy, organic matter composition and stability were studied in soils developing on basaltic material in southern Italy (Sicily). The soils were transitions between Phaeozems and Vertisols. Intense losses of the elements Na, Ca and Mg were measured indicating that weathering has occurred over a long period of time. The main weathering processes followed the sequence: amphibole, mica, volcanic glass or if ash was the primary source→smectite→interstratified smectite–kaolinite→kaolinite. Kaolinite formation was strongly related to high Al, Mg and Na losses. The good correlation between oxyhydroxides and kaolin…
Mercury Speciation in Floodplain Soils and Sediments along a Contaminated River Transect
1998
A novel mercury-specific sequential extraction procedure (SEP) for the assessment of mercury (Hg) speciation in soils and sediments, with emphasis on studying the interaction between Hg and organic matter (OM), was developed and tested. It was applied to determine Hg speciation in floodplain topsoils and surface sediments along the Hg-contaminated part of the river Elbe, and to simultaneously derive some information on the (re)mobilization potentials for Hg from these matrices. The majority of the total Hg in the ecosystem today is bound in the floodplains, which also still geographically reflect the historic emission record. Most of the Hg in both matrices is bound strongly to OM, suggesti…
The use of mineral materials for salinity control in roadside soils
2023
This paper presents the results of a fi eld study on using mineral materials (fi ne-grained sand and medium- -grained gravel) to reduce the concentration of readily soluble salts in a roadside environment. The investigated soils were Rendzic Sceletic Leptosols from an urban area characterized by a shallow humus horizon with a high content of skeletal parts, as well as a lack of homogeneity of the material in the soil profi le. All soil samples were taken from fi ve plots located along the main streets in the city of Opole (Southern Poland). It was revealed that the use of fi ne-grained sand and medium-grained gravel improved the structure of the surface soil layer, and thusfavoured the migr…
Economic aspects of pedotechnique applications in large scale farming: a case study
2016
Conference of the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation
Análisis y valoración de los sistemas de evaluación de suelos en España. Evolución, tendencias actuales y perspectivas futuras
1997
23 páginas, 5 cuadros.
Characterization of the 3D printing process for fine-grained soils
2023
The purpose of this study was to explore the 3D printing process of fine-grained soils with a geomechanichal approach. In particular, identifying the factors (including geomechanical characteristics of the soil, geometry of the problem, and 3D printer settings) that influence the behavior of 3D printed samples. To answer this question, three groups of materials differing in mineralogy, consistency limits and consistency, and three types of equipment have been used – an extruder and two 3D printers – to widely investigate the behaviour of the fine-grained soils when subjected to the process. First, the extrusion process has been studied finding that the parameter to take into account to pred…
Forest Sharing® as an Innovative Facility for Sustainable Forest Management of Fragmented Forest Properties: First Results of Its Implementation
2023
The forestry sector in Italy and throughout Europe is going through a critical period due to ongoing natural and anthropological processes, such as climate change and the abandonment of rural areas. These processes lead to a constant fragmentation of properties in small forest parcels, with direct impacts on management capacity. In this framework, new sustainable forest management methods are being tested and are shown to be good practices to oppose the decline of forest ecosystems. Their innovative aspects concern the introduction of a form of shared and circular economy, where management is built on the process, rather than on the product. Their technical activities are based on precision…