Particle Size Imbalance Index from Compositional Analysis to Evaluate Cereal Sustainability for Arid Soils in Eastern Algeria

For homogeneous fertilization and crop management practices, this work hypothesized that texture could influence cereal yield, particularly in dry regions. Particle size analysis could help improve knowledge of the soil-plant relationship to obtain favorable conditions for better yield. The objective of this work is to develop a single granulometric index for durum wheat (Triticum durum) that is well correlated with yield. For this purpose, 350 independent samples of cereal soils from eastern Algeria were taken and the recorded yields were linked to these samples. The cutoff yield, which separates sub-populations with acceptable yield from those with less acceptable yield, was determined from the inflection point of the cumulative variance ratio functions related to yield by the Richards’ equation. The result obtained is 2.0 Mg.ha−1, with a theoretical critical chi-square value of 4.2, close to 4.6, which is the critical value of r2granulo as obtained by the Cate-Nelson procedure. The five-granulometric indices were found to be symmetrical around zero as follows: ±0.83 for clay (IC), ±1.73 for fine silt (IFL), ±0.31 for coarse silt (ICL), ±0.44 for fine sand (IFS), and ±1.30 for coarse sand (ICS). The two fractions that most influence the textural imbalance are fine silt (IFL) and coarse sand (ICS), with a contribution of 41% and 37%, respectively. The critical single imbalance index r g r a n u l o 2 can be used for determining cereal suitability for soils in the arid region of eastern Algeria. The lower the r g r a n u l o 2 is, the better the soil for cereal crops.

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Dust Particle Size and Statistical Parameters

Atlas of Fallen Dust in Kuwait ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-66977-5_3 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 57-93

Author(s):

Noor Al-Dousari ◽

Modi Ahmed ◽

Ali Al-Dousari ◽

Musaad Al-Daihani ◽

Murahib Al-Elaj

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Grain Size ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Fine Sand ◽

Coarse Sand ◽

Optical Methods ◽

Size Analysis ◽

Coarse Silt ◽

Statistical Parameters ◽

Fine Silt

AbstractGrain ‘size’ can be specified and measured in several different ways. All methods of grain size determination have blemishes, and the choice of the most appropriate method is governed by the nature of the sample and the use to which the data are placed. Four main methods are currently used for size analysis of sands: (a) sieving; (b) settling tube analysis; (c) electro-optical methods, including Coulter Counter analysis and laser granulometry; and (d) computerized image analysis. The classification of the particle size distribution of Kuwait dust was mapped according to the parameters proposed by Folk And Ward (1957) which were widely used for quantitative comparisons between natural grain size distribution and the lognormal distribution that shows better sorted sediments have lower values of σ1. Maps of the distribution of dust in Kuwait were obtained that included: fine sand (F.S.), Coarse sand (C.S), Medium Sand (M.S), Very Fine Sane (V.F.S), Very Coarse Silt (V.C.Silt), Coarse Silt (C.Silt), Medium Silt (M.Silt), Fine Silt (F.Silt), Very Fine Silt (V.F.Silt), in addition to that, the deposition percentage of Clay, Sand, mud (silt plus clay) and silt were provided.

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Effects of different dispersion and fine fraction determination methods on the results of routine particle size analysis

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr9870347 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 347 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

PJ Thorburn ◽

RJ Shaw

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Fine Fraction ◽

Fine Sand ◽

Particle Size Analysis ◽

Coarse Sand ◽

Size Analysis ◽

Wide Range ◽

Effective Dispersion ◽

Determination Methods ◽

Fraction Determination

Particle-size analysis (PSA) methods to be used in routine situations need to be rapid, require no prior information about the sample and give precise results over a wide range of soil textures. Effects of three physical dispersion and two fine-fraction determination methods on PSA results were investigated over a wide range of soil textures to find the most appropriate technique for routine PSA. Interactions between physical dispersion and fine-fraction determination methods were also investigated. The reciprocating shaker produced significantly lower silt and fine sand and higher coarse sand (and clay, although not significant) values than either drink mixer or end-over-end shaker dispersions. This result was interpreted as the reciprocating shaker giving the most effective dispersion, with aggregated clay being dispersed to primary particles while coarse sand was not fragmented to fine sand or silt. The end-over-end shaker did not reliably disperse a heavy clay soil, and so cannot be recommended for routine use where similar soils may be encountered. When considered over all soils and dispersion methods, hydrometer clay and clay + silt values were higher than pipette values. These results were due to the effective depth of the hydrometer being greater, on average, than the depth of the pipette. However, there were interactions between dispersion and fine-fraction determination methods for the clay and clay +silt classes. Hydrometer values were greater than pipette values with drink mixer and end-over-end shaker dispersion, but were similar with reciprocating shaker dispersion. For the clay fraction, inferior dispersion given by the drink mixer and end-over-end shaker resulted in a significant mass of particles between the sampling depths of the pipette and hydrometer, causing the higher hydrometer values. For the clay +silt fraction, both drink mixer and end-over-end dispersion methods fragmented sands to a size which was recorded by the hydrometer but not the pipette. These interactions highlighted the requirement for effective dispersion where clay and silt are determined by the hydrometer, and may explain some of the conflicting observations of the precision of the hydrometer compared with the pipette. Reciprocating shaker physical dispersion combined with the hydrometer fine-fraction determination method was found the most appropriate PSA method combination for use in a routine situation.

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Modeling of Permanent Wilting from Particle Size Fractions of Coastal Plain Sands Soils in Southeastern Nigeria

ISRN Soil Science ◽

10.5402/2012/198303 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chinedu Innocent Obi ◽

Jude C. Obi ◽

Emmanuel U. Onweremadu

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Coastal Plain ◽

Particle Size Analysis ◽

Coarse Sand ◽

Size Analysis ◽

Southeastern Nigeria ◽

Size Fractions ◽

Particle Size Fractions ◽

Permanent Wilting Point ◽

Wilting Point

Permanent wilting points in soils have been found to correlate significantly with particle size fractions. This study was conducted to establish functional relationship between soil particle size fractions and permanent wilting point of soils of coastal plain sands in southeastern Nigeria. A total of 102 surface samples were collected from three different dominantly Ultisols toposequences (i.e., 34 samples from each). Permanent wilting point experiment was carried out in pots with the 102 samples in the greenhouse while the particle size analysis was carried out in the laboratory. There was significant correlation among the textural separates, permanent wilting point correlated significantly with clay (, ). The general linear model showed significant differences between permanent wilting point of soils found in the upper and lower slope positions. Regression equation established that 54% of the total variation in permanent wilting point could be accounted for by the clay and coarse sand content of the soils. Prediction of permanent wilting point of Ultisols formed on coastal plain sands soils of humid tropical southeastern Nigeria will effectively depend on reliability of determination of clay and coarse sand contents of the soils.

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