scholarly journals Influence of Sustainable Biochars Produced from Kitchen Waste, Pig Manure, and Wood on Soil Erosion

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 2296
Author(s):  
Xilong Huang ◽  
Renjie Niu ◽  
Xiaoli Huang ◽  
Yongxue An ◽  
Junhao Li ◽  
...  

The influence of biochars on water retention, mitigating nutrient leaching, and pollutant removal in green infrastructure has been explored in the past. However, there is a lack of understanding on how feedstock (i.e., biomass) would affect biochar physicochemical properties and hence, overall erosion control (including infiltration, surface, and sub-surface runoff) in green infrastructure. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of biochars produced from three different feedstocks (pig manure, wood, and kitchen waste) on the erosion of granite residual soil. Flume experiments were conducted to measure and analyze soil erosion, runoff, and infiltration. The result showed that the runoff and soil erosion of kitchen waste biochar (KWB) samples were reduced by 17.7% and 21.7%, respectively. On the contrary, wood biochar (WB) and pig manure biochar (PMB) were found to enhance runoff and soil erosion. In addition, biochar particles were found in runoff and infiltration in erosion experiment. Thus, it is important to note that measures should be taken to prevent biochar loss when using biochar as a soil amendment. Additionally, the effects of different types of biochar on soil hydraulic and hydrophobicity properties should be taken into account as a selection criterion for choosing amendments in green infrastructure. This study finds that kitchen waste biochar has better performance in improving soil hydraulics and erosion.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Chen ◽  
Xue-wen Lei ◽  
Han-lin Zhang ◽  
Zhi Lin ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractThe problems caused by the interaction between slopes and hydrologic environment in traffic civil engineering are very serious in the granite residual soil area of China, especially in Guangdong Province. Against the background of two heavy rainfall events occurring during a short period due to a typhoon making landfall twice or even two typhoons consecutively making landfall, laboratory model tests were carried out on the hydrological effects of the granite residual soil slope considering three vegetation types under artificial rainfall. The variation in slope surface runoff, soil moisture content and rain seepage over time was recorded during the tests. The results indicate that surface vegetation first effectively reduces the splash erosion impact of rainwater on slopes and then influences the slope hydrological effect through rainwater forms adjustment. (1) The exposed slope has weak resistance to two consecutive heavy rains, the degree of slope scouring and soil erosion damage will increase greatly during the second rainfall. (2) The multiple hindrances of the stem leaf of Zoysia japonica plays a leading role in regulating the hydrological effect of slope, the root system has little effect on the permeability and water storage capacity of slope soil, but improves the erosion resistance of it. (3) Both the stem leaf and root system of Nephrolepis cordifolia have important roles on the hydrological effect. The stem leaf can stabilize the infiltration of rainwater, and successfully inhibit the surface runoff under continuous secondary heavy rainfall. The root system significantly enhances the water storage capacity of the slope, and greatly increases the permeability of the slope soil in the second rainfall, which is totally different from that of the exposed and Zoysia japonica slopes. (4) Zoysia is a suitable vegetation species in terms of slope protection because of its comprehensive slope protection effect. Nephrolepis cordifolia should be cautiously planted as slope protection vegetation. Only on slopes with no stability issues should Nephrolepis cordifolia be considered to preserve soil and water.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 788
Author(s):  
Alessio Russo ◽  
Wing Tung Chan ◽  
Giuseppe T. Cirella

More communities around the world are recognizing the benefits of green infrastructure (GI) and are planting millions of trees to improve air quality and overall well-being in cities. However, there is a need for accurate tools that can measure and value these benefits whilst also informing the community and city managers. In recent years, several online tools have been developed to assess ecosystem services. However, the reliability of such tools depends on the incorporation of local or regional data and site-specific inputs. In this communication, we have reviewed two of the freely available tools (i.e., i-Tree Canopy and the United Kingdom Office for National Statistics) using Bristol City Centre as an example. We have also discussed strengths and weaknesses for their use and, as tree planting strategy tools, explored further developments of such tools in a European context. Results show that both tools can easily calculate ecosystem services such as air pollutant removal and monetary values and at the same time be used to support GI strategies in compact cities. These tools, however, can only be partially utilized for tree planting design as they do not consider soil and root space, nor do they include drawing and painting futures. Our evaluation also highlights major gaps in the current tools, suggesting areas where more research is needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 520-532
Author(s):  
Xinyu Liu ◽  
Xianwei Zhang ◽  
Lingwei Kong ◽  
Xinming Li ◽  
Gang Wang

Author(s):  
Xianwei Zhang ◽  
Xinyu Liu ◽  
Lingwei Kong ◽  
Gang Wang ◽  
Cheng Chen

Most previous studies have focused on the small strain stiffness of sedimentary soil while little attention has been given to residual soils with different properties. Most studies also neglected the effects of the deviator stress, which is extensively involved in civil engineering. This note considers the effects of the deviator stress on the small-strain stiffness of natural granite residual soil (GRS) as established from resonant column tests performed under various stress ratios. Although increasing the stress ratio results in a greater maximum shear modulus for both natural and remolded residual soils, remolded soil is more sensitive to changes in the stress ratio, which highlights the effects of soil cementation. The data herein offers new insights to understand the stiffness of residual soil and other weathered geomaterials.


2011 ◽  
Vol 312-315 ◽  
pp. 1172-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Topa Gomes ◽  
A. Viana Da Fonseca ◽  
A. Silva Cardoso

The seepage analysis in geotechnical problems, namely in excavations, was typically performed assuming saturated conditions in the ground. It is now know that the flow in the non saturated part of the ground assumes also relevant importance and hence it is vital to characterize its behaviour. The Soil Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) of the soil is probably the most important parameter in defining this behaviour and particularly for estimating the permeability of the soil. This paper presents the definition of the SWCC for a granite residual soil using pressure plates and the filter paper method. Based on experimental data some equations are adjusted and the results obtained are discussed. At the end of the paper some predictions of the non saturated permeability of the ground are also performed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 955-959 ◽  
pp. 2093-2097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nik Norsyahariati Nik Daud ◽  
Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed

The palm industry in Malaysia is a growing industry as from a mere 400 hectares planted in 1920, the hectarage increased to 5 million hectares in 2011 [1]. A by-product known as palm oil fuel ash (POFA) was a waste from the palm industry. Uncontrolled dumping of POFA give a serious impacts to environmental which creates pollution and health hazard. In this paper, the material characterization of POFA as an additive material to granite residual soil in terms of physical, mineralogical, chemical and mechanical properties has been investigated for the potential usage of the material. Results showed a general improvement of soil sample when mixed with POFA in all physical properties. The domain mineral present in natural soil is kaolinite. The mechanical behaviour also showed an improvement especially when compared to the landfill hydraulic barrier requirements.


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