Search results for "Soil"
showing 10 items of 3493 documents
Soil genetic erosion: New conceptual developments in soil security
2019
In the last decades, in some Mediterranean areas, pedodiversity decreased mainly due to pedotechnique application in large-scale farming that transformed original soils into Anthrosols. Supporting the consideration that soils can be considered as living systems, the original concept of 'soil genetic erosion' is re-proposed. Data, extrapolated and modeled from a Soil Information System in a study case representative of a Mediterranean landscape, predicted that most of the soil types would disappear in few years leading to a decrease of the soil diversity and originating soil genetic erosion. This circumstance is intentionally here told in form of a story where the fairy tale characters are s…
Testing soil water repellency in a Sicilian area two years after a fire
2019
The water drop penetration time (WDPT) technique was applied in 2018 to check persistence of soil water repellency (SWR) in a Sicilian mountain area affected by a wildfire on June 2016. A total of four sites, that were severely water repellent immediately after burning, were sampled. Depending on the site, wettable soil conditions, less SWR and maintenance of a noticeable SWR were detected two years later. At the site showing a near-constant SWR, WDPTs were particularly high in the top soil layer (0-0.03 m) and they appreciably decreased more in depth. Signs of decreasing SWR in drier soil conditions and in association with coarser soil particles were also detected at this site. High gradie…
Comparing two applicative criteria of the soil erosion physical model concept
2017
The physical model represented by a replicated plot has been suggested to be the best possible, unbiased, real world model to predict plot soil erosion. The aim of this investigation was to compare the original applicative criterion of the physical model concept proposed by Nearing with that later suggested by Bagarello et al. The comparison was performed by using three empirical soil erosion models (the Universal Soil Loss Equation [USLE], a modified USLE [USLE-MM], and the Central and Southern Italy [CSI] model) and plot soil loss data collected at the experimental station of Sparacia, in Sicily (southern Italy). The investigation showed that (i) the new criterion was generally more restr…
Analytical approach extending the Granier method to radial sap flow patterns
2020
Abstract The Granier thermal dissipation (TD) method is probably the most applied method to compute the transpiration flux of trees, due to its simplicity and effective compromise between theory and data availability. Starting from the heat transfer equations at the basis of Granier’s method, the objective of this paper is to derive an analytical solution for the transpiration flux to extend the sap flow equations to the radial domain. We adopted a flexible approach to cope with the differences in radial sapflow density (SFD) profile shapes that are known to occur in relation to wood anatomy (diffuse porous vs. ring- or non-porous xylem). With this purpose, we investigated the robustness of…
Soil conservation and sustainable development goals(SDGs) achievement in Europe and central Asia: Which role for the European soil partnership?
2021
Abstract Voluntary soil protection measures are not sufficient to achieve sustainable soil management at a global scale. Additionally, binding soil protection legislation at national and international levels has also proved to be insufficient for the effective protection of this non-renewable natural resource. In 2012, the FAO Members established the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) with the mission to facilitate and contribute exchange of knowledge and technologies related to soils, and develop dialogue and raise awareness for the need to establish a binding global agreement for sustainable soil management. Moreover, region-specific aspects of implementation are considered and strengthened th…
Determining hydraulic properties of a loam soil by alternative infiltrometer techniques
2015
Testing infiltrometer techniques to determine soil hydraulic properties is necessary for specific soils. For a loam soil, the water retention and hydraulic conductivity predicted by the BEST (Beerkan Estimation of Soil Transfer parameters) procedure of soil hydraulic characterization was compared with data collected by more standard laboratory and field techniques. Six infiltrometer techniques were also compared in terms of saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, Ks. BEST yielded water retention values statistically similar to those obtained in the laboratory and Ks values practically coinciding with those determined in the field with the pressure infiltrometer (PI). The unsaturated soil hyd…
Influence of processing parameters and initial temper on Friction Stir Extrusion of 2050 aluminum alloy
2017
Abstract Friction Stir Extrusion is an innovative production technology that enables direct wire production via consolidation and extrusion of metal chips or solid billets. During the process, a rotating die is plunged into a cylindrical chamber containing the material to be extruded. The stirring action of the tool produces plastic flow in the extrusion chamber, densifying and heating the charge so that finally, fully dense rods are extruded. Experiments have been carried out in order to investigate the influence of process parameters and initial temper of the base material on the process variables and on the extrudates’ mechanical properties.
Influence of residual stress, surface roughness and crystallographic texture induced by machining on the corrosion behaviour of copper in salt-fog at…
2012
International audience; The influence of quadratic stress, crystallographic texture, lubrication and surface roughness generated by superfinish turning on the corrosion behaviour of pure copper was quantified in salt-fog atmosphere. This was done using statistical analysis (Pearson's correlation matrix). Three compounds were found after corrosion tests: atacamite/paratacamite and a black layer (mixture of the lubricant and the salt atmosphere). Surface characteristics were classified according to their decreasing influence on the formation of atacamite/paratacamite as follows: surface roughness and quadratic stress. Lubrication and the crystallographic texture have the lowest influence on c…
Uncovering Technological and Environmental Potentials of Aluminum Alloy Scraps Recycling Through Friction Stir Consolidation
2020
Conventional metal chips recycling processes are energy-intensive with low efficiency and permanent material losses during re-melting. Solid state recycling allows direct recycling of metal scraps into semi-finished products. It is expected that this process category would lower the environmental performance of metals recycling. Friction Stir Consolidation is a new solid-state technique taking advantage of friction heat generation and severe plastic deformation to consolidate chips into billets. In this research, the feasibility of Friction Stir Consolidation as aluminum chips recycling process is analyzed. Specifically, an experimental campaign has been carried out with varying main proces…
Aluminium sheet metal scrap recycling through friction consolidation
2019
Abstract In the last decades, several direct-recycling techniques have been developed and investigated in order to avoid material remelting, typical of the conventional aluminum alloys recycling processes. Moreover, the remelting step for aluminum recycling is affected by permanent material losses. Solid-state recycling processes have proven to be a suitable strategy to face such issues. Friction Consolidation is an innovative solid state-recycling technology developed for metal chips. During the process, a rotating die is plunged into a hollow chamber containing the material to be processed. The work of friction forces decaying into heat soften the material and, together with the stirring …