Soil genetics in its complex stabilization

The problem of the inter-repair time of automobile roads in Russia can be solved by the reinforcing the subgrade soils with cement. Soil is a multicomponent system affecting the deformation and strength properties of the composition (cement and soil). The cement-soil composition has drawbacks, especially in seasonal freezing regions, which affects its durability.In order to increase the composition efficiency, the Nicoflok polymer-mineral additive is used to strengthen subgrade with cement. However, the influence of the type regional and genetic soil on strength properties of the cement-soil + Nicoflok composition is yet studied.The paper presents the factor analysis of the influence of soil genetics on the composition strength properties. The study of the multicomponent system includes the response surface of the soil genetics on the strength properties of the composition. Additional studies are required to move from the qualitative evaluation of the soil genetics on the composition (cement-soil + Nicoflok) to the quantitative evaluation. These studies must be carried out according to a single scheme, which regards the seasonal freezing of subgrade soils in the northern regions of European Russia and West Siberia.

Analysis of the Influence of Pesticides on the Soil in an Agricultural Area

The paper presents an analysis of the soil in an agricultural area, to determine the influence of pesticides on the soil where agricultural production is carried out. For the research of the soil quality, were analysed areas, for harvesting soil samples. On the samples collected were determined, the amount of nitrates and nitrites from the soil, were determination of heavy elements from soil composition, soil pH and it was observed of the impact of pollutants on the soil.

Field Jet Erosion Tests on Benbrook Dam, Texas

This report summarizes the results of eight field Jet Erosion Tests (JETs) performed on Benbrook Dam, TX. The results from these tests will be used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, in assessments of the erosion resistance of the Benbrook Dam with regards to possible overtopping by extreme flooding. The JETs were performed at four different locations, i.e., two locations at the lowest crest elevation and two locations at the mid-slope face of the downstream embankment. Variations in estimated critical hydraulic shear stress and erosion rate values may have been caused by differences in soil composition, i.e., when the material changed from silt/sand to clay. The resulting values of the Erodibility Coefficient, Kd, and Critical Stress, τc, are very useful information in assessing the stability of Benbrook Dam during an overtopping event. Because of the observed natural variability of the materials, combining the erosion parameters presented in this report with the drilling logs and local geology will be imperative for assessing erosion-related failure modes of Benbrook Dam.

NMR Tracing of Food Geographical Origin: The Impact of Seasonality, Cultivar and Production Year on Data Analysis

The traceability of typical foodstuffs is necessary to protect high quality of traditional products. It is well-known that several factors could influence metabolites content in certified foods, but soil composition, altitude, latitude and coded production protocols constitute the territorial conditions responsible for the peculiar organoleptic and nutritional properties of labelled foods. Instead, regardless of origin, seasonality, cultivar, collection year can affect all agricultural products, so it is appropriate to include them in data analysis in order to obtain a correct interpretation of the differences linked to growing areas alone. Therefore, it is useful to use a flexible all-round technique, and NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistical analysis is considered a powerful means of assessing food authenticity. The purpose of this review is to investigate the relevance of year, cultivar, and seasonal period in the determination of food geographical origin using NMR spectroscopy. The strategy for testing these three factors may differ from author to author, but a preliminary study of cultivar or collection year effects on NMR spectra is the most popular method before starting the geographical characterization of samples. In summary, based on the available literature, the most significant influence is due to cultivar, followed by harvesting year, however seasonality is not considered a source of variability in data analysis.

Environmental Sensitivity of Large Stealth Longwave Antenna Systems

This article presents an analysis of measurements collected during a six-month-long experimental deployment of a surface-placed horizontal magnetic loop antenna. The changes in the measured parameters of the loop are investigated in relation to the surrounding environment’s composition, temperature and water content. Basic functions describing these changes are formulated. The results are confronted with outcomes from similar experiments from previous years and different locations, showing good compliance. The developed functions and antenna system can be used for environmental monitoring of soil composition and humidity over large areas and volumes, helpful in, for example, flood awareness.