Search results for "Water content"
showing 10 items of 380 documents
X-ray Computed Tomography for Capillary Collapse of Loose Unsaturated Sand
2016
Abstract The collapse of unsaturated soils consists of the reduction in volume upon wetting at constant total stress. Several studies at the macro scale outline the influence of initial void ratio, confining pressure and matric suction on the onset of collapse of standard laboratory specimens. Conversely, few observations at the micro scale are available in the literature, although the influence of the particles arrangement and intergranular bonding has been formerly supposed. The collapse of fine sand derived by a pyroclastic soil of Southern Italy is investigated in this paper at the microscale using the X-ray Computed Tomography. The experimental procedure, formerly tested on similar pyr…
Soil water repellency assessment in olive groves in Southern and Eastern Spain
2016
Soil water repellency (SWR) has been reported under different soils, land uses and regions of the world, particularly in forest land and after wildfires, yet the understanding of this variable in agricultural lands is still rather limited. This study presents the characterization from field-based measurements of SWR in four contrasted olive groves (Olea europaea L.) in Spain in terms of different environmental conditions and management: abandoned and commercial farms under permanent cover crop, conventional tillage and herbicide use. The main objectives were [1] to evaluate the potential occurrence, intensity and persistence of soil water repellency in different types of olive groves and [2…
Potato pulp as a composting substrate
2014
Potato pulp is a waste, which is produced in considerable quantities by starch manufacturing industry. Addition of pulp fibre residue to soil results in beneficial effects on soil physical and biochemical properties. In this study, organic potato pulp was mixed with organic grass in three concentrations (75:25 (A), 50:50 (B) and 25:75 (C) % w/w) with the aim of comparing the dynamics of the composting process during a 30-day period. A mini-field experiment was conducted in 0.7 m 3 windrows which were left without covering and additional mixing during composting process, except sampling procedure. During 30-days’ experiment the C:N ratio decreased from 25÷30 to 13÷17 indicating the active co…
Effect of Drying Condition on the Quality of Dry Late Peaches of Leonforte
2015
The Late Peach of Leonforte [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] grown in Southern Italy matures in September and October and as late as November. Fruits are wrapped in paper bags to protect them from parasites and are harvested only when fully ripe. Protected inside the bags, they ripen late and take on a bright yellow colour with red streaks. Highly aromatic, the peach has yellow, firm flesh that is high in soluble solids and has a distinctive, slightly caramelized flavour. The aim of this work was to deter¬mine the best method of drying peach as a means of conserving the fruit after harvest due to its very limited shelf-life. Drying processes were carried out in a pilot plant utilising differen…
Evaluation of the soil fauna impact on decomposition in a simulated coniferous forest soil
1990
Long-term experiments (ca. 2 years) were carried out in laboratory systems that simulated the complexity of a coniferous forest floor. The test materials were partially sterilized by freezing and thawing, and reinoculated with (1) microbes alone or (2) microbes with fauna. Removable microcosms containing birch litter, spruce litter, or humus were inserted into a humus substrate. Two experiments used organic matter only, and another included a layer of mineral soil below the humus. Both were incubated in climate chambers that simulated both summer and winter conditions. The evolution of CO2 was measured at regular intervals. In order to determine the C content of the leachates, the macrocosm…
Water repellency as conditioned by particle size and drying in hydrophobized sand
2013
The effects of particle size and soil moisture on water repellency (WR) from hydrophobized sand are studied in this research. Quartz sand samples were separated into three sieve fractions: 0.5–2 mm (coarse sand, CS), 0.25–0.5 mm (medium sand, MS), and 0.05–0.25 mm (fine sand, FS). WR of sand was induced using different concentrations of stearic acid (SA; 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 g kg− 1). Moist samples have been exposed to two types of drying: air-drying at standard laboratory conditions and oven-drying at 50 °C. Change in moisture content, and water repellency has been monitored every 24 h for 10 days. After 1 day of drying, SA concentrations ≥ 10 g kg− 1 caused extreme WR in oven-dry samp…
Limits of the linear viscoelastic behaviour of polyamide 66 filled with TiO2 nanoparticles: Effect of strain rate, temperature, and moisture
2008
Abstract Limits of linear viscoelastic behaviour of TiO 2 nanoparticle-filled polyamides are estimated quantitatively by the results of uniaxial tension tests. The stress limit of the filled polymer is higher than that of the un-filled one. Their values are the lower, the higher the temperature and moisture content of test specimens, and the lower, the lower the strain rate. The concept of an energy threshold for the linear viscoelastic behaviour is used to comprehensively characterize the limits over a wide range of test conditions. The energy limit is not affected by the strain rate, temperature, or moisture, and its value for the filled polymer is higher than that for the un-filled one. …
EFFECT OF MOISTURE ON THE BULK PROPERTIES OF SALTED POLY(CAPROAMIDE).
1980
The glass-transition temperature (Tg) and the elastic modulus of nylon-6 and its mixtures with 4% w/w LiCl and with 2% LiCl+3% LiBr were investigated. In one set of experiments care was taken to avoid absorption of moisture during the measurements. In another set of experiments, samples were exposed to atmospheric humidity for different lengths of time. Both unoriented and oriented specimens were investigated. The presence of 4% LiCl almost doubles the amount of moisture absorbed at equilibrium by nylon-6. The Tg was found to be greatly affected by the moisture content and by salt type. When strict precautions to exclude moisture are taken, the addition of 4% LiCl raises the Tg of nylon-6 b…
Reduction of the frequency of herbaceous roots as an effect of soil compaction induced by heavy grazing in rangelands of SW Spain
2017
Rangelands in SW Spain constitute the most extensive ranching system on the Iberian Peninsula. During the last few decades, a significant increase in livestock numbers, along with a progressive substitution of cattle for sheep, have led to land degradation processes such as the reduction of grass cover and increased soil compaction in heavily grazed areas. Nevertheless, a better understanding of how soil compaction affects grass production is still needed. In this study, some of the effects of soil compaction due to heavy grazing are analysed, mainly the reduction of the frequency of herbaceous roots and its relationships with bulk density and soil penetration resistance. The study was carr…
Interactive Effects of Genotype and Molybdenum Supply on Yield and Overall Fruit Quality of Tomato
2019
Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential trace element for plant growth, development, and production. However, there is little known about the function and effects of molybdenum in tomato plants. The present study assessed the influences of different Mo concentrations on four tomato F1 hybrids (“Bybal” F1, “Tyty” F1, “Paride” F1, and “Ornela” F1) grown using a soilless system with different Mo levels [0.0, 0.5 (standard NS), 2.0, and 4.0 μmol L−1, respectively]. The crop yield, plant vigor, fruit skin color, TA, fruit water content as well as the accumulation of SSC, and some antioxidant compounds such as lycopene, polyphenols and ascorbic acid were evaluated. The minerals concentration, including n…