Detection and quantification of soil compaction in a post-mining landscape by geophysical methods

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz Weihermüller ◽  
Jessica Schmäck ◽  
Mario Mertens ◽  
Manuel Endenich ◽  
Jan van der Kruk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Mining Company ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Local Soil ◽  
Electrical Conductivities ◽  
Opencast Mines

<p>Rhenish opencast mines located in the central west of Germany have used about 330 km<sup>2</sup> of land so far. Of this, some 230 km<sup>2</sup> have been recultivated, including 125 km<sup>2</sup> of arable land. After recultivation, the land is cultivated for at least seven years by the mining company before let to the farmers. Where new farmland is envisaged, the stackers spread pure loess mixed with soil material of the original Luvisols (loess loam) at the top of the refilled mining areas. After a certain settling time, this layer must be at least two meters thick. In a next step, the loess is levelled in a soil-sparing fashion using caterpillars with extra-wide rawler tracks. Even if care is taken that the loess layer will not be heavily compacted during levelling, local soil compaction is one of the major problems, as leveling often is performed during unfavorable moist soil conditions. These local compactions lead to reduced crop growth during either wet or dry growing seasons and result in yield losses over periods of many years. Localizing and evaluating such compacted field zones would enable the mining company to perform a physical soil melioration before handing over the land to a farmer.</p><p>To identify local soil compaction, a field study was performed in 2019 on a selected field with known variability in crop performance within the recultivated area of the Garzweiler mine in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Over the course of 5 months, the field was intensively investigated using geophysical methods such as electromagnetic induction (EMI) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). Additionally, soil samples were taken to determine soil water contents, bulk density, penetration resistance, and soil texture.</p><p>The geophysical maps gathered, clearly show zones of higher electrical conductivities in the soil, which were associated to conventionally measured subsoil compaction. Regression of bulk densities with EMI data yielded good results allowing to map out compacted zones within the field and also to quantify compaction. Hence, geophysical methods provide a promising approach to plan soil melioration measures.</p>

Monitoring of natural regeneration in a mixed deciduous forest

1999 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Tabari ◽  
N. Lust
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Seedling Stage ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Humus Layer ◽  
Beech Stand ◽  
Regeneration Phase

Monitoring  of natural regeneration in a dense semi-natural mixed hardwood forest on the  base    of ash, beech, oak and sycamore occurred over 3 years in the Aelmoeseneie  experimental    forest, Belgium. 40 permanent plots (4 m x 5 m) were selected in three  various humus types,    located in an ash stand and in an oak - beech stand. In all plots abundance  and top height of all    broad leaved regenerated species were determined at the end of the growing  seasons 1995 and    1998. In addition, the seedlings which appeared in the plots during 1996  and 1997 were    identified and followed up.    This study proves that in the investigated sites natural regeneration is  drastically poor and    diversity is low, in particular where the humus layer is more acidic (mull  moder) and the litter    layer is thick. No regeneration phase older than the seedling stage (h <  40 cm) is developed on    the different humus types. On average, total number of seedlings in 1995  amounts to 38    units/are in the ash stand and to 63 units/are in the oak - beech stand.  Survival rate over a 3-    year period is 37% and 42% respectively in the ash and oak - beech stands.  Total ingrowth    during the growing seasons 1996 and 1997 is virtually poor, indicating 16  and 8 units/are    respectively in above mentioned stands. Survival rate of occurring  seedlings, as well as the ingrowth of new seedlings are notably different (P < 0.05) according to the soil conditions of the    ash stand. Generally, the low presence of seedlings and the lack of  regeneration older than the    seedling stage reveal that the regeneration development encounters with a  critical problem. The    continuation of this process would likely result in a progressive  succession by the invasive and    the unwanted tree species.

scholarly journals Morphological Characterization of Root System Architecture in Diverse Tomato Genotypes during Early Growth

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurora Alaguero-Cordovilla ◽  
Francisco Gran-Gómez ◽  
Sergio Tormos-Moltó ◽  
José Pérez-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
System Architecture ◽  
Lateral Root ◽  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Root System Architecture ◽  
Morphological Characterization ◽  
Early Growth ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Wild Tomato Species ◽  
Local Soil

Plant roots exploit morphological plasticity to adapt and respond to different soil environments. We characterized the root system architecture of nine wild tomato species and four cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties during early growth in a controlled environment. Additionally, the root system architecture of six near-isogenic lines from the tomato ‘Micro-Tom’ mutant collection was also studied. These lines were affected in key genes of ethylene, abscisic acid, and anthocyanin pathways. We found extensive differences between the studied lines for a number of meaningful morphological traits, such as lateral root distribution, lateral root length or adventitious root development, which might represent adaptations to local soil conditions during speciation and subsequent domestication. Taken together, our results provide a general quantitative framework for comparing root system architecture in tomato seedlings and other related species.

An experiment in the control of the ground water-level in a fen peat soil

1951 ◽  
Vol 41 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 149-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. Nicholson ◽  
G. Alderman ◽  
D. H. Firth
Keyword(s):  
Ground Water ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Peat Soil ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Ground Water Level ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Local Soil

1. The methods of investigation of the effect of ground water-level on crop growth, together with tho field installations in use, are discussed.2. Direct field experiments are handicapped by the difficulties of achieving close control on a sufficiently large scale, due to considerable variations of surface level and depth of peat within individual fields and to rapid fluctuations in rainfall and evaporation. Many recorded experiments are associated with climatic conditions of substantial precipitation during the growing season.3. Seasonal fluctuations of ground water-level in Fen peat soils in England, in natural and agricultural conditions, are described.4. The local soil conditions are outlined and the implications of profile variations are discussed.5. The effective control of ground water-level on a field scale requires deep and commodious ditches and frequent large underdrains to ensure the movement of water underground with sufficient freedom to give rapid compensatory adjustment for marked disturbances of ground water-level following the incidence of heavy rain or excessive evaporation.6. A working installation for a field experiment in ordinary farming conditions is described and the measure of control attained is indicated.

Effect of Heterogeneous Field Conditions on Corn Seeding Depth Accuracy and Uniformity

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 819-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurelie M. Poncet ◽  
John P. Fulton ◽  
Timothy P. McDonald ◽  
Thorsten Knappenberger ◽  
Joey N. Shaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Unit Weight ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Volumetric Soil Water Content ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Unit Depth ◽  
Planter Performance ◽  
Volumetric Soil Water

Abstract. Optimization of planter performance such as uniform seeding depth is required to maximize crop yield potential. Typically, seeding depth is manually adjusted prior to planting by selecting a row-unit depth and a row-unit downforce to ensure proper seed-soil contact. Once set, row-unit depth and downforce are usually not adjusted again for a field although soil conditions may vary. Optimization of planter performance requires automated adjustments of planter settings to varying soil conditions, but development of precision technologies with such capabilities requires a better understanding of soil-planter interactions. The objective of this study was to evaluate seeding depth response to varying soil conditions between and within fields and to discuss implications for development and implementation of active planting technologies. A 6-row John Deere MaxEmerge Plus planter equipped with heavy-duty downforce springs was used to plant corn ( L.) in central Alabama during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. Three depths (4.4, 7.0, and 9.5 cm) and three downforces (corresponding to an additional row-unit weight of 0.0, 1.1, and 1.8 kN) were selected to represent common practices. Depth and downforce were not readjusted between fields and growing seasons. Seeding depth was measured after emergence. Corn seeding depth significantly varied with heterogeneous soil conditions between and within fields and the planter failed to achieve uniform seeding depth across a field. Differences in corn seeding depth between fields and growing seasons were as high as 2.1 cm for a given depth and downforce combination. Corn seeding depth significantly co-varied with field elevation but not with volumetric soil water content. Seeding depth varied with elevation at a rate ranging from -0.1 cm/m to -0.6 cm/m. Seeding depth co-variation to field elevation account for some but not all site-specific seeding depth variability identified within each field trial. These findings provide a better understanding of site-specific seeding depth variability and issues to address for the development of site-specific planting technologies to control seeding depth accuracy and improve uniformity. Keywords: Depth control, Downforce, Planter, Precision agriculture, Seeding depth, Uniformity.

scholarly journals Investigating the influence of topographic irregularities and two-dimensional effects on surface ground motion intensity with one- and two-dimensional analyses

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1773-1788 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ç. İnce ◽  
L. Yılmazoğlu
Keyword(s):  
Ground Motion ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Response Analysis ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
Equivalent Linear ◽  
Local Soil ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Earthquake Response Analysis

Abstract. In this work, the surface ground motion that occurs during an earthquake in ground sections having different topographic forms has been examined with one and two dynamic site response analyses. One-dimensional analyses were undertaken using the Equivalent-Linear Earthquake Response Analysis (EERA) program based on the equivalent linear analysis principle and the Deepsoil program which is able to make both equivalent linear and nonlinear analyses and two-dimensional analyses using the Plaxis 8.2 software. The viscous damping parameters used in the dynamic site response analyses undertaken with the Plaxis 8.2 software were obtained using the DeepSoil program. In the dynamic site response analyses, the synthetic acceleration over a 475-year return period representing the earthquakes in Istanbul was used as the basis of the bedrock ground motion. The peak ground acceleration obtained different depths of soils and acceleration spectrum values have been compared. The surface topography and layer boundaries in the 5-5' cross section which cuts across the study area west to east were selected in order to examine the effect of the land topography and layer boundaries on the analysis results, and were flattened and compared with the actual status. The analysis results showed that the characteristics of the surface ground motion change in relation to the varying local soil conditions and land topography.

scholarly journals Geophysical identification of voids and loosened zones in the shallow subsurface of post-mining areas

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 01001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zenon Pilecki
Keyword(s):  
Rock Mass ◽  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Hard Coal ◽  
Shallow Subsurface ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Upper Silesian Coal Basin ◽  
Discontinuous Deformation ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Terrain Surface

The shallow historic exploitation of Zn-Pb/Fe ore deposits as well as hard coal has generated many discontinuous deformations on the terrain surface in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin/Poland. Discontinuous deformations occur in different forms as sinkholes, synclines, cracks, faults or ditches. The basic cause of their occurrence is the presence of void and loosened zones in the shallow subsurface. If the appropriate conditions arise, the sinkhole process begins to move upwards and may cause a discontinuous deformation on the terrain surface. Typically, geophysical methods are used for void and loosened zone identification. The most effective methods are gravimetric, seismic, electric resistivity and ground penetrating radar (GPR). Geophysical testing, requires distinct changes in the physical properties in the rock mass. The identified geophysical anomalies should be verified by control borehole and borehole tests to confirm the presence of the void and loosened zones in the rock mass. The results of control drilling and borehole tests determine the need to apply treatment works. In order to assess the threat of the occurrence of discontinuous deformations in the areas of historical shallow mining in Upper Silesia, a classification system based on geophysical tests has also been developed.

REGRESSION ANALYSES OF GRAIN YIELD OF CORN, LEVEL OF LEAF N P K AND SOIL CONDITIONS IN A LONG-TIME ROTATION EXPERIMENT ON BROOKSTON CLAY

1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. DIRKS ◽  
E. F. BOLTON
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Nutrient Level ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Fertilizer Treatment ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Yield Difference ◽  
Soil Measurements ◽  
Leaf N

Regression and covariance analysis of a 13-yr rotation experiment of corn on Brookston clay soil showed that grain yield of corn could be related to each of nine other plant and soil measurements. Soil compaction as measured by bulk density was negatively associated with the level of leaf K in the plants, as well as available soil moisture. The major part of the yield difference between fertilized continuous corn and fertilized corn following alfalfa could be accounted for by multiple regression of grain yield on leaf N and K nutrient levels, soil compaction and soil moisture. Soil compaction was not affected or modified by fertilizer treatment. Response of corn grain yield to soil conditions, moisture and plant nutrient level appears to vary with rotation and fertilizer input.

scholarly journals The Influence of Biochar, Slow-Release Molasses, and an Organic N:P:K Fertilizer on Transplant Survival of Pyrus communis ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Schaffert ◽  
Glynn Percival
Keyword(s):  
Slow Release ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Pyrus Communis ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Transplant Survival ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Growing Seasons

High mortality rates result from transplanting bare-rooted plants into urban landscapes where unsuitable soil conditions, such as low fertility and poor structure, often exist. Coupled with little aftercare, these losses can cause high economic losses to the industry. Previous studies have shown lowered transplant stress and higher survival rates through the addition of soil amendments at the time of planting to improve soil conditions. The efficacy of three soil amendments applied singly and in combination—biochar, slow-release molasses, and an organic N:P:K fertilizer—were investigated for their potential to reduce transplant losses of Pyrus communis ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien. Results of this investigation showed that use of these soil amendments in virtually all cases had significant positive effects on tree growth and vitality across two growing seasons. For example, all amendments reduced mortality of Pyrus communis ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’ by 20% compared to none in treated controls, while increases in fruit yield and crown canopy coverage per tree ranged from 19.3% to 46.7% and 14.4% to 31.1% over non-amended soils when averaged over two growing seasons. Amendments of biochar with an organic N:P:K fertilizer and an organic N:P:K fertilizer alone showed, on average, the highest improvements in vitality and growth. Results indicate use of biochar, slow-release molasses, and organic N:P:K fertilizer amendments offer potential for increasing bare-root transplant survival and establishment of Pyrus communis ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien.

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