TDR法测定土壤含水量的标定研究

用波兰ET FOM/mts型TDR水份测定仪对封丘地区两种质地土壤在不同的温度和容量条件下进行测定 ,结果表明 ,其介电常数的平方根 (ε)与土壤容积含水量 (θ)有良好的线性关系 (r≥ 0 .997)。标定曲线的误差 (Sθ/ε)范围为 0 .0 0 2～ 0 .0 2 7cm3cm- 3,其中砂质土壤在温度较低 (1 6℃ )条件下的误差最小 ,壤质粘土在温度较高 (2 6℃ )条件下误差最大。     

TDR在红壤和水稻土含水量测定中Ks值的标定及验证

时域反射仪(TDR)测定土壤水分具有自动、连续和原位监测等优点。根据TDR基本工作原理,标定曲线θv=(K1/2-K1/2w-1)中Ks取值直接关系到θv值测定的准确性,而KS值又与土壤性质(主要考虑质地)S)/(K1/2相关。因此,尽管TDR生产厂家一般均设定缺省Ks值,但为保证测定值的准确性,使用者仍需针对不同土壤类型进行标定和校正。我国南方红壤和水稻土质地粘重,土壤介电常数与砂性土壤和北方潮土等不尽相同,对MP-917型TDR用于测定该地区土壤含水量之基础参数Ks值进行标定,并用PVC土柱结合经典称重法加以验证。结果显示,用标定KS值,测红壤含水量的平均标准差(样本值相对真实值)为0.00484cm3/cm3,水稻土平均标准差为0.00468cm3/cm3,表明Ks标定值较合理。建议一般红壤的Ks=2.92,一般水稻土的Ks=2.90。     

土壤短期吹蚀的粒度分维研究

基于风洞实验数据 ,对砂质壤土与壤质砂土短期吹蚀的粒度分形结构及其分维变化进行了探讨。结果表明 :( 1)在砂质壤土与壤质砂土的不同吹蚀时段 ,各自床面的粒度组成是具有分形结构特征的 ,在风洞里不同风速与时间下的吹蚀并未改变两种土壤所具有的分形结构 ,改变的只是分形结构的定量描述参数分维 ;( 2 )无论是在初始状态还是在一定的风速和时间下 ,砂质壤土的分维都小于壤质砂土的分维 ;( 3)两种不同质地的土壤在不同的吹蚀时段床面粒度分维与 <0 0 5mm的颗粒 (即粉粘粒 )含量之间都存在着显著的正相关性 ;( 4 )两种土壤在吹蚀的过程中由于土壤性状的差异 ,其床面粒度分维会随时间和风速的不同而出现相异的变化过程     

TDR研制与应用方面的若干进展

通过分析近年来国内外关于TDR的文献,总结了TDR研制与应用方面的若干新进展,概括了在使用TDR时应注意的几个问题。结果表明,线圈型TDR探针可很好地解决TDR探针在物理长度上的限制;多功能TDR探针可用来同时测定含水量与基质势、含水量与土壤热学性质、含水量与盐度和温度。江温度在5－45℃之间变化时随着温度的升高,TDR在沙漠土中测定的土壤含水量降低,而在粘壤土和有机质含量高的土壤测定的土壤含水量值升高。TDR探针应以合适的角度插入土壤,同时尽量避免摇摆、两探针不平行插入等误操作。     

TDR研制与应用方面的若干进展

通过分析近年来国内外关于TDR的文献，总结了TDR研制与应用方面的若干新进展，概括了在使用TDR时应注意的几个问题。结果表明，线圈型TDR探针可很好地解决TDR探针在物理长度上的限制；多功能TDR探针可用来同时测定含水量与基质势、含水量与土壤热学性质、含水量与盐度和温度。当温度在5～45℃之间变化时随着温度的升高，TDR在沙壤土中测定的土壤含水量降低，而在粘壤土和有机质含量高的土壤测定的土壤含水量值升高。TDR探针应以合适的角度插入土壤，同时尽量避免摇摆、两探针不平行插入等误操作。     

保水剂粒径与不同质地土壤吸、失水特性的相关关系

通过室内模拟试验,对2种保水剂4个粒径(0.25~0.5mm,0.5~1mm,1~2mm,2~3mm)的吸、失水特性进行测定分析,同时研究2种保水剂4个粒径分别与砂壤土、壤砂土、砂粘壤土混合后吸、失水的变化特性。结果表明:①2种保水剂的4个粒径段中1~2mm粒径的保水剂吸水量和累积蒸发量最大,不同粒径保水剂随着吸水次数的增多吸水量逐渐降低,且粒径越小下降幅度越大;②保水剂与土壤混合后吸水量减小,初次吸水时土壤含水量与保水剂粒径成反比,随着吸水次数的增多3种质地土壤在保水剂作用下土壤含水量大小顺序分别为壤砂土-砂粘壤土-砂壤土(1~2次)、砂粘壤土-壤砂土-砂壤土(3~5次)、砂粘壤土-砂壤土-壤砂土(6~8次);③2种不同粒径保水剂的施用增加了3种质地土壤的累积蒸发量,壤砂土、砂壤土中0.5~1mm粒径的保水剂累积蒸发量最大,砂粘壤土中1~2mm粒径的保水剂累积蒸发量最大,0.25~0.5mm粒径保水剂在3种土壤中累积蒸发量最小。     

土壤溶液浓度的野外测定方法研究

为寻求一种野外快速有效测定土壤溶液浓度的方法,于新疆自治区南疆地区开展了田间试验。利用负压计监测土壤水分,在土壤达到饱和时,在相同深度分别借助土钻和土壤水提取器同时取土样和土壤水样,利用电导率仪测定土壤电导率(EC1:5)和饱和土壤电导率(ECe),使用火焰光度计和滴定法测定土壤水溶液浓度(C),并利用SPSS17.0软件对实测数据进行线性回归分析及检验。结果表明,南疆砂壤土条件下,EC1:5值在0~10000μS/cm范围内,EC1:5与土壤总盐含量呈显著线性关系土壤ECe可用土壤EC1:5进行推算,二者关系系数可以根据饱和重量含水量确定在土壤达到饱和,EC1:5在0~3000μS/cm时,土壤溶液浓度与EC1:5呈显著线性关系。因此,通过野外测得土壤样品的EC1:5,并确定其适用条件后,根据相关关系可直接计算得到ECe和C。     

黄河下游不同质地潮土孔隙形态特征

土壤颗粒排列及形成的团聚结构是影响孔隙形态的基本因素,为直观观察与定量测算不同质地土壤的孔隙形态及其变化特征,于山东省东昌府区采集壤土、粘壤土、砂壤土样品,通过常规方法和土壤薄片,研究了土壤孔隙形态特征。结果表明:(1)土壤容重均随深度增加而增加。土壤孔隙度均为表层向下逐渐减少且10月份低于6月份。(2)砂质壤土孔隙形状均以简单堆集孔隙为主。而粘壤土、壤土则以复合堆积孔隙为主,且土壤团聚作用较强。(3)砂质壤土的孔隙平均当量直径(ED)及孔隙形状系数(S)明显高于粘壤土及壤土,而砂质壤土的孔隙复杂度(D)明显低于粘壤土及壤土。且ED及S值分别与土壤砂粒含量呈显著正相关,与粉、粘粒含量呈显著负相关;D值与砂粒含量呈显著负相关,而与粉、粘粒含量呈显著正相关。综上,土壤质地(即砂、粉、粘粒含量)能够影响土壤孔隙形态。     

低频探地雷达地波法测定土壤含水量的可行性研究

利用地波法来探讨低频探地雷达(GPR)在土壤含水量测定方面的可行性。分别采用50 MHz和100 MHz天线的探地雷达地波法对黄淮海平原潮土地区砂壤土和砂土中的含水量进行了探测研究。结果表明,50 MHz天线GPR分辨率过低,在砂土和砂壤土中均无地波信号。100 MHz天线在砂壤土中无地波信号,但在砂土中可清晰读取出空气波和地波。TDR测得含水量为6.3%的砂土,用100 MHz天线地波法3次测定结果分别为5.9%,6.2%和6.5%,绝对误差均在0.4%以内。采用共中点法(CMP)和固定间距法(FO)相结合探测土壤含水量,在FO最佳天线间距1 m时测得灌水前后的砂土含水量分别为6.5%和20.2%,与TDR测定结果6.3%和19.7%相比,绝对误差在0.5%以内。100 MHz天线CMP和FO相结合的方法兼顾了CMP法读取地波的精确和FO法的快速便捷,在砂土的含水量测定应用中是可信、可行的。     

基于高频探地雷达的土壤表层含水量测定

高精度快速探测土壤表层水分状况,对于精准农业生产、水资源精确管理及防治坡耕地水土流失具有重要意义。现有探地雷达(ground penetrating radar,GPR)低频探测技术不能满足表层土壤含水量高精度要求,需要发展和应用高精度探测技术。本研究采集江宁某蔬菜地水稻土表层(0~20cm)土壤(粉砂质黏壤土),通过室内模拟试验,利用高频(1 GHz和2 GHz)探地雷达在不同土壤含水量状况下进行探测,获取GPR数据图像信息,提取电磁波谱特征参数,分析其与土壤含水量之间的定量关系。结果表明:1 GHz和2 GHz频率GPR探测的土壤介电常数ε与实测土壤含水量θ拟合的ε~θ模型决定系数R2分别为0.94与0.97,高频探地雷达技术预测粉砂质黏壤土表层土壤含水量是可行的;与低频探地雷达技术相比,高频探地雷达技术能够高精度探测表层土壤含水量。     

在盐水浇灌条件下堆肥对土壤性质、小麦生长以及作物营养的影响

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to test and compare the suitability of saline compost and saline irrigation water for nutrient status amendment of a slightly productive sandy clay loam soil,to study the macronutrient utilization and dry matter production of wheat(Triticum aestivum c.v.Gemmiza 7) grown in a modified soil environment and to determine the effects of compost and saline irrigation water on soil productivity.The sandy clay loam soil was treated with compost of five rates(0,24,36,48,and 60 m 3 ha-1,equivalent to 0,3,4.5,and 6 g kg-1 soil,respectively) and irrigation water of four salinity levels(0.50(tap water),4.9,6.3,and 8.7 dS m-1).The results indicated that at harvest,the electrical conductivity(EC) of the soil was significantly(P < 0.05) changed by the compost application as compared to the control.In general,the soil salinity significantly increased with increasing application rates of compost.Soluble salts,K,Cl,HCO 3,Na,Ca,and Mg,were significantly increased by the compost treatment.Soil sodium adsorption ratio(SAR) was significantly affected by the salinity levels of the irrigation water,and showed a slight response to the compost application.The soil organic carbon content was also significantly(P < 0.05) affected by application of compost,with a maximum value of 31.03 g kg-1 recorded at the compost rate of 60 m 3 ha-1 and the irrigation water salinity level of 8.7 dS m-1 and a minimum value of 12.05 g kg 1 observed in the control.The compost application produced remarkable increases in wheat shoot dry matter production.The maximum dry matter production(75.11 g pot-1) occurred with 60 m 3 ha-1 compost and normal irrigation water,with a minimum of 19.83 g pot-1 with no addition of compost and irrigation water at a salinity level of 8.70 dS m-1.Significant increases in wheat shoot contents of K,N,P,Na,and Cl were observed with addition of compost.The relatively high shoot N values may be attributed to increases in N availability in the tested soil caused by the compost application.Similarly,significant increases in the shoot contents of Na and Cl may be ascribed to the increase in soil soluble K and Cl.The increases in shoot P,N,and K contributed to the growth stimulation since P supplied by the compost was probably responsible in saline and alkaline soils where P solubility was very low.     

Evaluating soil salinity status from bulk electrical conductivity and permittivity

In the range of volumetric water content, θ, from about 0.12 cm³ cm^–3 to saturation the relation between bulk electrical conductivity, C_b, and bulk electrical permittivity, ε, of mineral soils was observed to be linear. The partial derivative ?C_b/?ε appeared independent of the moisture content and directly proportional to soil salinity. We found that the variable X_s = ?C_b/?ε determined from in situ measurements of C_b(θ > 0.2) and ε(θ > 0.2) can be considered as an index of soil salinity, and we call it the ‘salinity index’. Knowing the index and sand content for a given soil we could calculate the electrical conductivity of the soil water, C_w, which is a widely accepted measure of soil salinity. The two variables from which the salinity index can be calculated, i.e. C_b and ε, can be read simultaneously from the same sensor by time-domain reflectometry. Quantities and symbols a constant /dS m^–1 b constant c constant /dS m^–1 C _b electrical conductivity of bulk soil /dS m^–1 C _b′ constant equal to 0.08 dS m^–1 C _s electrical conductivity of a solution used to moisten soil samples /dS m^–1 C _w electrical conductivity of soil water defined as the soil salinity /dS m^–1 C _wref reference salinity (that truly existing) resulting from the procedure of moistening samples, expressed as C_s + C_r/dS m^–1 C _r baseline value of C_s due to residual soluble salts present in the soil /dS m^–1 d constant D dry soil bulk density /g cm^–3 l slope r ratio S sand content /% by weight t time /s X _s salinity index /dS m^–1 X _si initial salinity index when distilled water is used to moisten soil samples /dS m^–1 Y a moisture-independent salinity-dependent variable /dS m^–1 z coordinate along direction of flow of the soil solution ε′ constant equal to 6.2 ε relative bulk electrical permittivity (dielectric constant) of the soil θ volumetric water content determined thermogravimetrically using oven-drying /cm³ cm^–3     

Is CO2 evolution in saline soils affected by an osmotic effect and calcium carbonate?

Salt-affected soils are widespread, particularly in arid climates, but information on nutrient dynamics and carbon dioxide (CO₂) efflux from salt-affected soils is scarce. Four laboratory incubation experiments were conducted with three soils. To determine the influence of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) on respiration in saline and non-saline soils, a loamy sand (6.3% clay) was left unamended or amended with NaCl to obtain an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.0 dS?m^?1 in a 1:5 soil/water extract. Powdered CaCO₃ at rates of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 10.0% (w/w) and 0.25-2 mm mature wheat residue at 0% and 2% (w/w) were then added. Cumulative CO₂-C emission from the salt amended and unamended soils was not affected by CaCO₃ addition. To investigate the effect of EC on microbial activity, soil respiration was measured after amending a sandy loam (18.8% clay) and a silt loam (22.5% clay) with varying amount of NaCl to obtain an EC_1:5 of 1.0–8.0 dS?m^?1 and 2.5 g glucose C?kg^?1 soil. Soil respiration was reduced by more than 50% at EC_1:5?≥?5.0 dS?m^?1. In a further experiment, salinity up to an EC_1:5 of 5.0 dS?m^?1 was developed in the silt loam with NaCl or CaCl₂. No differences in respiration at a given EC were obtained between the two salts, indicating that Na and Ca did not differ in toxicity to microbial activity. The effect of different addition rates (0.25–2.0%) of mature wheat residue on the response of respiration to salinity was investigated by adding NaCl to the silt loam to obtain an EC_1:5 of 2.0 and 4.0 dS?m^?1. The clearest difference between salinity levels was with 2% residue rate. At a given salinity level, the modelled decomposition constant ‘k’ increased with increasing residue addition rate up to 1% and then remained constant. Particulate organic carbon left after decomposition from the added wheat residues was negatively correlated with cumulative respiration but positively correlated with EC. Inorganic N (NH ₄ ⁺ -N and NO ₃ ^? -N) and resin P significantly decreased with increasing salinity. Resin P was significantly decreased by addition of CaCl₂ and CaCO₃.     

COUNTER DIFFUSION OF Rb86 AND Sr89 IN COMPACTED SOIL

Counter-diffusion coefficients of Rb⁸⁶ and Sr⁸⁹ counter diffusing against H⁺ ions were measured in Dundee silt loam and Sharkey clay soils at differing soil bulk-densities. The cation exchange complex of each soil was saturated with either Rb⁺, Sr⁺⁺, or H⁺ and washed free of salts before making diffusion measurements. The water content of the soil on an oven-dry weight basis was maintained at a constant value for all bulk-densities; 14.2 and 28.0 per cent for the Dundee and Sharkey soils respectively. These moisture contents correspond to a tension of 2/3 bar for sieved soil. The diffusion coefficients were dependent upon concentration. Average counter-diffusion coefficients were calculated and related to soil bulk-density. Soil compaction of Dundee silt loam had little or no effect upon the counter diffusion of Rb⁸⁶. The average counter-diffusion coefficients of Sr⁸⁹ in Dundee silt loam and Sharkey clay were significantly and linearly related to bulk-density; as bulk-density increased the average counter-diffusion coefficients increased. The average counter-diffusion coefficients were approximately 0.5–0.75 of the corresponding self-diffusion coefficients measured previously in these soils. The applicability of counter- and self-diffusion data to practical field problems are discussed.     

In situ determination of electrical conductivity of potting media using time domain reflectometry

Abstract

The possibility of measuring both the volumetric water content (_{ν θ}) and bulk electrical conductivity (EC_b) of media using a single instrument makes time domain reflectometry (TDR) invaluable for greenhouse potting media _ν and EC_b determination. Laboratory experiments in three different potting media instrumented with triple‐wire TDR probes were performed to calibrate the TDR system for the determination of potting media water electrical conductivity (EC_w). The performance of the TDR for in situ determination of EC_w, using the experimentally‐determined conductivity model, was investigated using packed columns of potting media. Linear relationships between the EC_b‐EC_w data were found for all the tested media at the three water contents (0.30, 0.36, 0.45 cm³cm^‐3) for four solute concentrations ranging from 1.481 to 3.797 dS m^‐1. Linear regression coefficient of determination, r², of between 0.97 and 0.99 were achieved. Calibration accuracies ranged from 94% to 98% for EC_wpredictions. Results indicate that TDR is a useful technique for the accurate determination of potting media Ec_b. TDR allows determination of EC_w, from the measured EC_b and θ_ν, to be made quickly and simultaneously using a single and relatively inexpensive probe combined with the TDR cable tester.     

Suitability of a hydraulic‐conductivity model for predicting salt effects on swelling soils

Many empirical approaches have been developed to analyze changes in hydraulic conductivity due to concentration and composition of equilibrium solution. However, in swelling soils these approaches fail to perform satisfactorily, mainly due to the complex nature of clay minerals and soil–water interactions. The present study describes the changes in hydraulic conductivity of clay (Typic Haplustert) and clay‐loam (Vertic Haplustept) soils with change in electrolyte concentration (TEC) and sodium‐adsorption ratio (SAR) of equilibrium solution and assesses the suitability of a model developed by Russo and Bresler (1977) to describe the effects of mixed Na‐Ca‐Mg solutions on hydraulic conductivity. Four solutions encompassing two TEC levels viz., 5 and 50 mmol_c L^–1 and two SAR levels viz., 2.5 and 30 mmol^1/2 L^–1/2 were synthesized to equilibrate the soil samples using pure chloride salts of Ca, Mg, and Na at Ca : Mg = 2:1. Diluting 50 mmol_c L^–1 solution to 5 mmol_c L^–1 reduced saturated hydraulic conductivity of both soils by 66%, and increasing SAR from 2.5 to 30 mmol^1/2 L^–1/2 decreased saturated hydraulic conductivity by 82% and 79% in clay and clay‐loam soils, respectively. Near saturation, the magnitude of the change in unsaturated hydraulic conductivity due to the change in TEC and SAR was of 10³‐ and 10²‐fold, and at volumetric water content of 0.20 cm³ cm^–3, it was of 10¹⁴‐ and 10⁶‐fold in clay and clay‐loam soils, respectively. Differences between experimental and predicted values of saturated hydraulic conductivity ranged between 0.6% and 11% in clay and between 0.06% and 2.1% in clay‐loam soils. Difference between experimental and predicted values of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity widened with drying in both soils. Predicted values were in good agreement with the experimental values of hydraulic conductivity in clay and clay‐loam soils with R² values of 0.98 and 0.94, respectively. The model can be satisfactorily used to describe salt effects on hydraulic conductivity of swelling soils in arid and semiarid areas, where groundwater quality is poor.     

Salinity effects on carbon mineralization in soils of varying texture

In salt-affected soils, soil organic carbon (SOC) levels are usually low as a result of poor plant growth; additionally, decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) may be negatively affected. Soil organic carbon models, such as the Rothamsted Carbon Model (RothC), that are used to estimate carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission and SOC stocks at various spatial scales, do not consider the effect of salinity on CO₂ emissions and may therefore over-estimate CO₂ release from saline soils. Two laboratory incubation experiments were conducted to assess the effect of soil texture on the response of CO₂ release to salinity, and to calculate a rate modifier for salinity to be introduced into the RothC model. The soils used were a sandy loam (18.7% clay) and a sandy clay loam (22.5% clay) in one experiment and a loamy sand (6.3% clay) and a clay (42% clay) in another experiment. The water content was adjusted to 75%, 55%, 50% and 45% water holding capacity (WHC) for the loamy sand, sandy loam, sandy clay loam and the clay, respectively to ensure optimal soil moisture for decomposition. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was used to develop a range of salinities: electrical conductivity of the 1:5 soil: water extract (EC_1:5) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 dS m⁻¹. The soils were amended with 2% (w/w) wheat residues and CO₂ emission was measured over 4 months. Carbon dioxide release was also measured from five salt-affected soils from the field for model evaluation. In all soils, cumulative CO₂-C g⁻¹ soil significantly decreased with increasing EC_1:5 developed by addition of NaCl, but the relative decrease differed among the soils. In the salt-amended soils, the reduction in normalised cumulative respiration (in percentage for the control) at EC_1:5 > 1.0 dS m⁻¹ was most pronounced in the loamy sand. This is due to the differential water content of the soils, at the same EC_1:5; the salt concentration in the soil solution is higher in the coarser textured soils than in fine textured soils because in the former soils, the water content for optimal decomposition is lower. When salinity was expressed as osmotic potential, the decrease in normalised cumulative respiration with increasing salinity was less than with EC_1:5. The osmotic potential of the soil solution is a more appropriate parameter for estimating the salinity effect on microbial activity than the electrical conductivity (EC) because osmotic potential, unlike EC, takes account into salt concentration in the soil solution as a function of the water content. The decrease in particulate organic carbon (POC) was smaller in soils with low osmotic potential whereas total organic carbon, humus-C and charcoal-C did not change over time, and were not significantly affected by salinity. The modelling of cumulative respiration data using a two compartment model showed that the decomposition of labile carbon (C) pool is more sensitive to salinity than that of the slow C pool. The evaluation of RothC, modified to include the decomposition rate modifier for salinity developed from the salt-amended soils, against saline soils from the field, suggested that salinity had a greater effect on cumulative respiration in the salt-amended soils. The results of this study show (i) salinity needs to be taken into account when modelling CO₂ release and SOC turnover in salt-affected soils, and (ii) a decomposition rate modifier developed from salt-amended soils may overestimate the effect of salinity on CO₂ release.     

Zeolite Effects on Immobile Water Content and Mass Exchange Coefficient at Different Soil Textures

The concern for groundwater pollution by agrichemicals through solute movement within the soil is widespread. Zeolite is a type of soil amendment that is utilized to improve physical properties of soil and ameliorate polluted soil. The high negative charge of the zeolite and its open space structure allows adsorption and access of heavy metals and other cations and anions. The objectives of this research were (i) to determine the effects of different application rates of zeolite (0, 2, 4, and 8 g kg^?1) on the immobile water content and mass exchange coefficient in a loam soil and then (ii) to determine the effects of optimum application rate of zeolite on the immobile water content and mass exchange coefficient of sandy loam and clay loam soils in saturated conditions by a mobile and immobile (MIM) model. In a disturbed soil column, a method was proposed for determination of MIM model parameters, that is, immobile water content (θ_im), mass exchange coefficient (α), and hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient (D_h). Breakthrough curves were obtained for different soil textures with different zeolite applications in three replicates, by miscible displacement of chloride (Cl^?1) in disturbed soil column. Cl^?1 breakthrough curves were evaluated in terms of the MIM model. The results showed that the pore water velocity calculated based on the total soil volumetric water content (θ_im+ θ_m) and real pore water velocity calculated based on the mobile water content (θ_m) increased in the loam soil with an increase in zeolite application rate, so that, between these different rates of zeolite application, the maximum value of pore water velocity and real pore water velocity occurred at zeolite application rates of 8.6 and 11.5 g kg^?1, which are indicated as the optimum application rates. However, the comparison between different soils showed that the zeolite application rate of 8 g kg^?1 could increase pore water velocity of sandy loam and loam soils by 31% more than that of clay loam soil. The immobile water content and mass exchange coefficient of loam soil were correlated with the zeolite application rate and reduced with an increase in the rate of applied zeolite. In a comparison between different soils at zeolite application rate of 8 g kg^?1, the immobile water contents of the zeolite-treated soil decreased by 57%, 60%, and 39% on sandy loam, loam, and clay loam soils, respectively, compared with the untreated soil. Furthermore, zeolite application could reduce mass exchange coefficient by 9%, 43%, and 21% on sandy loam, loam, and clay loam soils, respectively. A positive linear relationship was found between θ_im and α. Zeolite application increased real pore water velocity of sandy loam soil by 39% and 46% compared with loam and clay loam soils, respectively. In other studies there was a decrease in ammonium and nitrate leaching due to the zeolite application, and therefore, an increase in real pore water velocity due to zeolite application in sandy loam soil, as compared with the loam and clay loam soils, may not show more rapid movement of solute and agrichemicals to the groundwater.     

Soil Shrinkage Characteristics as Affected by Solution Composition and Mineral Contents

Soil-shrinkage characteristics affect fluid transport and soil mechanical properties, with broad implications for environmental flows, crop production, and civil engineering designs. We quantified mild-saline-solutions effects on soil shrinkage curves and developed pedotransfer functions to predict curve parameters. Seven soil and soil mixes were equilibrated with solutions of 0.5-to-8 dS m^?1 and 0-to-20 sodium adsorption ratios (SAR). Saturated paste rods were dried; water contents and isotropic shrinkage measured. Texture affected shape-forming factors when clay and smectite contents were >260 and 140 g kg^?1, respectively. Solutions ≥2 dS m^?1 affected the coefficient of linear extensibility for smectitic soils containing clay ≥300 g kg^?1. Solution SAR affected only the highest clay content (530 g kg^?1) and mixed mineralogy soils. However, the solution salinity levels were not high enough to affect shape factors of the shrinkage curves. Pedotransfer functions successfully described soil shrinkage with root-mean-squared-errors 1 to 4 magnitudes lower than the highest measured values.