Hard-setting soils

Abstract. Hard-setting soils are widespread in dry regions. Their properties are described and a physical explanation for hard-setting behaviour is given. The limitations on soil management and physical fertility caused by hard-setting depend on timing of rainfall or irrigation with respect to cultivations and crop development, and much research is needed to quantify reductions in crop yield imposed by these limitations.     

Soil physical quality: Part II. Friability, tillage, tilth and hard-setting

The index of soil physical quality, S, which was introduced in Part I is applied to problems of agricultural soil mechanics, especially soil tillage and hard-setting. S is equal to the slope of the water retention curve at its inflection point. The retention curve must be plotted as the logarithm (to base e) of the water potential against the gravimetric water content (kg kg⁻¹). The use of S is illustrated with examples of soils with different friabilities, tillage at different water contents and the aggregate size distribution resulting from tillage. It is shown that friability, and hence the ease of working of the soil, is linearly and positively correlated with S. It is also shown in a short theoretical study that S can be used in a simple equation for estimation of the hard-setting behaviour of soil on drying. In combination with pedo-transfer functions, this enables the hard-setting behaviours of soils of different textures to be predicted and shows how hard-setting may be expected to increase with soil compaction. However, the predictions of hard-setting should be considered as speculative until they have been tested experimentally.     

冻融状态和初始含水率对土壤力学性能的影响

冻融状态影响土壤的抗剪强度从而威胁季节性冻土地区的工程安全、边坡稳定以及土壤流失。通过直剪试验测定了不同冻融状态和初始含水率对青藏地区(S1)和北京地区(S2)土体抗剪强度的影响。结果显示,2种土在未冻和已融状态下的抗剪强度相似,且均随着土含水率的增加而减小,但S1土抗剪强度比S2土大7.5%~9.7%;在冻融状态下,S1土抗剪强度随着土含水率的增加而增大,而S2土则随之减小。S1冻融土抗剪强度在低含水率(≤13.5%)时小于未冻土和已融土,而在高含水率(≥24.5%)时则反之;S2冻融土抗剪强度小于未冻土和已融土。在冻融状态下2种测试土的内摩擦角显著小于未冻土和已融土,而黏聚力整体上则大于未冻土和已融土。与未冻土或已融土相比,2种土在冻融状态下的强度相对较低,宜作为季节性冻土地区工程设计以及土壤流失防治的基本状态。     

水稻土的力学性质与水分含量的关系

土壤的抗剪强度和抗压强度以及变形性质是决定耕作阻力、机具的通行性能及耕作质量的重要因素,也是机具正确设计所必须考虑的因素。过去对于耕作土壤的强度研究,多从旱地的松散状况出发,把土体的粘结只归因于水膜的表面张力和水膜的数量,并得出结论:土壤强度与含水量呈抛物线关系。对于搅动后土壤粘结的机制,认为包括水膜粘结和分子引力粘结两种^[1]。最近山中金次郎指出^[2],在这二种不同粘结机制的转折处有明显的破折现象,但对水稻土的情况研究极少。     

亚热带低丘区退化红壤肥力质量恢复性能的研究

试验和分析结果表明 ,退化红壤主要肥力因素的恢复与农用物质的投入和土壤本身理化性质均存在明显的关系。随着物质投入量的增加 ,土壤肥力质量的恢复也逐渐加快。在自然条件下 ,土壤肥力因素的恢复主要与土壤本身属性有关 ,在肥力恢复过程中 ,土壤有机质的增加量与土壤本身有机质含量呈抛物线关系 ,约当土壤有机质含量在 2 0 g/ kg时 ,增幅最大 ;在一定的含氮范围内 ,土壤氮素的增加与土壤全氮含量呈正相关 ;而速效钾的增加量与土壤本身速效钾含量呈反相关。土壤水稳定性团聚体的恢复与土壤粘粒含量及有机质含量呈正相关。试验结果表明 ,在合理的管理条件下 ,红壤肥力质量可以逐渐得到改善     

“旋松一体”耕作对潮土和砂姜黑土物理性质及作物生长的影响

为改善潮土和砂姜黑土容重大,穿透阻力强,犁底层紧实等结构障碍。研究提出一种“旋松一体”耕作方式,并在山东德州的典型潮土和安徽怀远的典型砂姜黑土进行试验。其中,潮土设置旋耕15 cm、旋松一体30 cm两个处理;砂姜黑土设置旋耕15 cm、深翻30 cm和旋松一体30 cm三个处理,研究旋松一体耕作对两种土壤0 ~ 40 cm土层土壤容重、紧实度、水分动态和小麦玉米根系及产量生长的影响。结果表明:与旋耕相比,旋松一体耕作显著降低了潮土和砂姜黑土容重和穿透阻力,与深翻相比,旋松一体耕作也显著降低了砂姜黑土容重和穿透阻力。旋松一体耕作显著提高了降水后土壤水分下渗速度、下渗量及下渗深度,进而提高潮土深层,砂姜黑土小麦季表层及玉米季深层土壤体积含水量。与旋耕相比,旋松一体耕作分别增加潮土和砂姜黑土小麦产量11.4%和7.1%,玉米产量6.7%和37%（受涝害胁迫）,提高直接经济收益1748和3277元hm?2。旋松一体耕作有效改善了潮土和砂姜黑土物理性质,提高作物产量和经济效益显著,可作为华北平原土壤耕层结构改良的新型耕作模式。     

生物炭碳固定于稳定性土壤团聚体中：土壤黏土矿物及其它土壤性质的作用

Aggregation and structure play key roles in water-holding capacity and stability of soils.In this study,the incorporation of carbon(C) from switchgrass biochar into stable aggregate size fractions was assessed in an Aridisol(from Colorado,USA) dominated by 2:1 clays and an Alfisol(from Virginia,USA) containing weathered mixed 1:1 and 2:1 mineralogy,to evaluate the effect of biochar addition on soil characteristics.The biochar was applied at 4 levels,0,25,50,and 100 g kg~(-1),to the soils grown with wheat in a growth chamber experiment.The changes in soil strength and water-holding capacity using water release curves were measured.In the Colorado soil,the proportion of soil occurring in large aggregates decreased,with concomitant increases in small size fractions.No changes in aggregate size fractions occurred in the Virginia soil.In the Colorado soil,C content increased from 3.3 to 16.8 g kg~(-1),whereas in the53 μm fraction C content increased from 5.7 to 22.6 g kg~(-1) with 100 g kg~(-1)biochar addition.In the Virginia soil,C content within aggregate size fractions increased for each size fraction,except the2 000 μm fraction.The greatest increase(from 6.2 to 22.0 g kg~(-1)) occurred in the 53–250 μm fraction.The results indicated that C was incorporated into larger aggregates in the Virginia soil,but remained largely unassociated to soil particles in the Colorado soil.Biochar addition had no significant effect on water-holding capacity or strength measurements.Adding biochar to more weathered soils with high native soil organic content may result in greater stabilization of incorporated C and result in less loss because of erosion and transport,compared with the soils dominated by 2:1 clays and low native soil organic content.     

中南地区典型地带性土壤团聚体抗张强度的变化及影响因素

团聚体的力稳性是决定土壤抗侵蚀能力的关键因素。为探究地带性土壤团聚体抗张强度的变化规律及其影响因素,自北向南选取我国中南部地区6种典型地带性土壤(褐土、黄褐土、棕红壤、红壤、赤红壤和砖红壤)的不同粒径(1~2,2~3,3~5,5~10mm)团聚体作为研究对象,通过测定团聚体的抗张强度(TS),探究其与土壤基本理化性质的关系,揭示该区域团聚体抗张强度的变化特点和稳定机制。结果表明:(1)供试土壤皆为黏性土壤,自北向南,随着水热条件的增加,土壤的pH值逐渐降低,高岭石含量和游离氧化物(Fe_d、Al_d)呈现明显的增加趋势;有机质含量随土壤深度的增加而降低。(2)同种土壤团聚体的抗张强度随着粒径的增大而逐步减小,从北至南,相同粒径团聚体的抗张强度整体呈现减小的趋势。(3)TS与pH、粉粒含量、蛭石含量呈极显著正相关(r0.63,p0.01),TS与黏粒含量、1.4nm过渡矿物含量、高岭石含量、游离氧化铁、铝(Fe_d、Al_d)呈显著负相关(r-0.53,p0.05)。(4)逐步回归分析表明,Fe_d和CEC可以较好的预测和评价3~5mm团聚体的抗张强度(R~2=0.80,p0.01)。总体而言,黏土矿物类型及其含量是影响地带性土壤团聚体力稳性的重要因素。研究结果可为该区域土壤侵蚀预测提供一定的理论依据。     

A comparison of soil and water properties in organic and conventional farming systems in England

Organic farming and improvements to agricultural sustainability are often seen as synonymous. However, an extensive European review demonstrated that in practice this is not always true. This study aims to compare the status of soil and water properties between separate fields managed in either an organic or a conventional manner. Soil samples were collected from 16 pairs of farms, throughout England, with both arable and grass fields within each pair on similar soil type. Chemical (nutrients, pesticides, herbicides) and physical (aggregate stability, field capacity, shear strength, soil organic matter, infiltration rates) soil properties were measured in four main soil texture classes in organic and conventional fields. The physical soil properties varied significantly between the different classes of texture and land use. The heavier textured soils have significantly higher soil organic carbon (SOC), aggregate stability and shear strength. The coarse‐textured soils have significantly lower field capacity moisture contents. The grassland has a significantly higher level of SOC, field capacity moisture content, aggregate stability and soil shear strength. However, there were no significant differences between organic and conventional treatments for any of the soil physical properties measured. There were fewer traces of agrochemicals in the soil water from the organic fields compared with the conventionally managed fields. The conventional arable fields had higher levels of total inorganic nitrogen than the other land uses and treatments. There was evidence to show that infiltration rates were significantly higher on organically managed grassland soils (7.6 mm/h) than conventionally managed grassland (2.5 mm/h) with lower stocking rates. The results suggest that improved grassland management, whether organic or conventional, could reduce predicted runoff by 28%.     

离子强度和pH对可变电荷土壤与铜离子相互作用的影响

研究了离子强度和pH对可变电荷土壤表面电荷与铜离子吸附的影响。作为对照 ,也研究了它们对恒电荷土壤黄棕壤的有关性质的影响。结果表明 ,随pH升高 ,土壤的表面负电荷增加 ,正电荷减少。对于可变电荷土壤 ,可出现电荷零点 (pH0 )。随pH升高 ,土壤对Cu2 的吸附量增大。随着离子强度增大 ,恒电荷土壤对Cu2 的吸附百分率明显降低 ,可变电荷土壤对Cu2 离子的吸附百分率也降低 ,但降低的幅度比恒电荷土壤者小得多。土壤中氧化铁的含量越高 ,降低的幅度越小。对于含 2 1 %左右游离氧化铁的铁质砖红壤 ,即使支持电解质NaNO3的浓度高达 1molL- 1,对Cu2 的吸附仍然几乎没有影响。从离子强度和pH与土壤表面电荷和铜离子吸附的关系 ,可以推测在土壤对铜离子的吸附中 ,既存在电性吸附 ,又存在专性吸附。在可变电荷土壤对铜离子的吸附中 ,专性吸附较为重要     

Soil quality attributes of conservation management regimes in a semi-arid region of south western Spain

Soil quality is essential for plant growth and terrestrial ecosystem maintenance. Although soil properties can be influenced by the agricultural production system, this influence has seldom been studied under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions. We analyzed the effect of the management system on soil physical and chemical parameters and soil microbial communities over three consecutive years under different conventional and conservation management regimes: conventional tillage (CT), direct seeding (DS), direct seeding with a winter crop cover (DSC), and long-term conservation management after nine consecutive years of direct seeding with winter cover (DSC^LT). The study was conducted on a maize (Zea mays L.) crop under irrigation in south western Spain. An improvement of the physical, chemical and biological parameters of the DS and DSC soils with respect to the CT soil was observed after two years management. Soil water content increased around 30% during the three years in the DS and DSC soils; organic C, nitrogen, and aggregate stability increased after the second year; total culturable microorganisms were twice as numerous in DSC^LT as in the CT soil; and soil penetration resistance was 50% less in all soils under any of the conservation management regimes. Hence, there was a major improvement in soil quality related to a potential increase of crop yields, and a reduced environmental impact, after short-term as well as after long-term conservation management.     

生物炭对东北黑土持水特性的影响

为探究生物炭对东北黑土持水特性的影响,系统研究3种添加比例(2%、5%、10%)、3种粒径(0.25、0.5、1 mm)的杨木炭和竹炭对3种质地东北黑土(壤土、砂壤土、砂土)田间持水量和含水率的影响规律,构建添加生物炭黑土的水分特征曲线,并采用Van-Genuchten和Broods-Corey模型进行拟合。结果表明:生物炭能显著提高不同质地东北黑土的持水能力,黑土的田间持水量与生物炭的添加比例呈显著正相关,而与生物炭的粒径呈负相关,0.5 mm和1 mm粒径的生物炭对黑土田间持水量的影响差异不显著,杨木炭显著优于竹炭,0.25 mm、10%添加比例的杨木炭对东北黑土持水能力的提高效果最优,壤土、砂壤土、砂土3种质地黑土的田间持水量和饱和含水率分别可提高64.97%、66.42%、69.39%和47.60%、38.93%、31.18%;Van-Genuchten模型能更精确的模拟添加生物炭黑土的水分特征曲线,最佳离心时间为100 min,三次函数曲线能够较好的拟合添加生物炭黑土的体积含水率与离心吸力之间的多元动态关系,为生物炭对各种质地东北黑土水分运动规律的深入研究提供理论依据。     

TILTH MELLOWING

Effects of weathering action, mainly wetting and drying cycles, on the strength of the clods produced by tillage are studied. Experiments were carried out on sandy loam soils at two sites in South Australia, and on silt loam and clay soils at Wye College, England. It is found that tillage increases the amplitude of soil water content fluctuations. These bigger soil water content fluctuations resulted in a decrease in the clod strength and this in turn modified the size distribution of the clods produced by tillage in the South Australian soils. The decrease in clod strength, as measured by the drop shatter test, was followed by an increase in the proportion of the smaller aggregate size fraction produced by a second implement pass. It is suggested that, for soils in which the increase in the soil water content fluctuations after the first tillage implement pass decreases clod strength, a further implement pass should be delayed for several days. By doing this, the soil can be tilled with minimum energy and cost to produce a good seed bed.     

离子强度和三氧化物对土壤吸附Bt毒素的影响

Chemical reactions and fate of the toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt) in the soil environment are causing increasing concerns due to the large-scale cultivation of transgenic Bt plants.In this study,the effect of ionic strength(0-1 000 mmol kg 1) adjusted by NaCl or CaCl 2 on adsorption of Bt toxin by a lateritic red soil,a paddy soil and these soils after chemical removal of organic-bound or free Fe and Al oxides,as well as by pure minerals(goethite,hematite and gibbsite) which are widespread in these soils,were studied.The results indicated that when the supporting electrolyte was NaCl,the adsorption of Bt toxin by the lateritic red soil and paddy soil increased rapidly until the ionic strength reached 250 mmol kg 1 and then gradually slowed down with the increase of ionic strength;while in case the supporting electrolyte was CaCl 2,the adsorption of Bt toxin enhanced significantly at low ionic strength(< 10 mmol kg 1) and then decreased as the ionic strength increased.The adsorption of Bt toxin by the tested minerals and soils after the removal of organic-bound or free Fe and Al oxides also increased with increasing ionic strength controlled by NaCl.Removing organic-bound Fe and Al oxides obviously increased the adsorption of Bt toxin in the tested soils.Differently,removing free Fe and Al oxides increased the Bt adsorption by the paddy soil,but decreased the adsorption by the lateritic red soil.The study indicated that the varieties of ionic strength and the presence of Fe and Al oxides affected the adsorption of Bt toxin by the soils,which would contribute to the further understanding of the fate of Bt toxin in the soil environment and provide references for the ecological risk assessment of transgenic Bt plants.     

Influence of drying and ageing on the stabilization of earthworm (Lumbricidae) casts

The influence of drying and ageing on the stabilization of casts produced by the endoge′ic earthworm, Aporrectodea rosea, from a soil, which was hard-setting and low in organic matter, were investigated in the laboratory. Casts and uningested soil were aged-most for up to 32 days, dried for up to 21 days, or subjected to different wetting and drying cycles over 30 days. The dispersion index of aged-moist casts decreased from 0.40 to 0.25 over 32 days, while dispersion index of dried casts decreased from 0.40 to 0.01 over 21 days. The dispersion index of air-dried casts was not significantly increased by five cycles of wetting and drying. The dispersion index of dried casts was not significantly less than that of dried soil. In soils wetter than a matric potential of approximately –35kPa, stabilization of casts was probably due to a combination of cohesion of soil particles, age-hardening and growth of microorganisms. However, in soils drier than –35kPa, cementation was probably the major mechanism of stabilization. The addition of wheat straw to the soil prior to ingestion by earthworms increased dispersion from aged-moist casts, but did not influence dispersion from dried casts. The addition of wheat straw decreased the number of air-dried casts which slaked severely. The concentration of soluble carbohydrate decreased with dispersion index as casts and uningested soil were each dried. This suggested that soluble carbohydrate may have been denatured with or without being bonded to soil particles during drying. Received: 7 May 1996     

陕南坡改梯填筑土的击实特性与抗剪强度试验研究

陕南梯地建设中存在的主要问题是土坎梯地垮坎严重,为了从土性方面探索梯地垮坎防治的途径与措施,该文按土工试验规程规定的方法测定了土料的主要物性物态指标,研究了修地筑坎土料的击实特性和抗剪强度与主要物性物态指标之间的关系。研究表明,陕南几种典型筑坎土料的最大干密度和相应的最优含水量与土粒平均粒径d₅₀、小于0.005mm土粒含量P、塑性指数I_p、塑限含水量ω_p之间存在显著的相关关系:填筑土的抗剪强度主要受含水量控制,其强度指标与填筑含水量之间存在显著的线性负相关关系。分析表明,含水量对抗剪强度的削弱效应远大于干密度对抗剪强度的加强度效应     

INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC MATTER ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME EAST ANGLIAN SOILS OF HIGH SILT CONTENT

A comparison was made of the physical properties of pairs of silt soils differing only in organic matter content. Within the textural group studied, the member of the pair with more organic matter had better physical properties relating to both plant growth and soil management. Increased organic matter give higher water holding capacities and porosities, and decreased compaction, breaking strength and bulk densities. Organic matter content alone was not sufficient to explain differences in aggregate stability to water.     

不同施肥制度下我国东部典型土壤易分解与耐分解碳的组分特征

【目的】土壤易分解碳库(labile organic carbon,Lab-C)和耐分解碳库(recalcitrant organic carbon,Rec-C)是土壤有机质的重要组分,其组分大小与比例可反映土壤有机碳的周转与固存特性。因此,研究长期不同施肥制度下土壤易分解碳库与耐分解碳库的大小与比例,对土壤养分管理及肥力培育具有重要的意义。【方法】利用我国东部23年长期不同施肥制度下的黑土、潮土、红壤和32年水稻土共四类土壤的典型土样为代表,以不施肥(CK)、施化肥(NPK)、化肥配施秸秆(NPKS)和化肥配施有机肥(NPKM)4个处理土壤,采用颗粒密度相结合的方法,将土壤有机碳分为易分解碳和耐分解碳2个组分,分析了其不同组分碳含量及比例的变化特征。【结果】土壤经该方法分组后,四种土壤的平均质量回收率和碳回收率均超过95%,是一种测定土壤易分解碳和耐分解碳的可行方法。旱作土壤(黑土、潮土和红壤)易分解碳的平均含量为1.91 g/kg低于水田的2.42 g/kg,而易分解碳占总有机碳的平均比例为15.4%,高于水田的9.9%。NPKM处理下,黑土、潮土和红壤易分解碳含量显著高于NPKS、NPK及CK处理(P0.05),较NPK处理增加的比例分别为98.4%、43.7%和71.2%,同时提高了易分解碳占总有机碳的比例,但无显著差异性;NPK和NPKS处理下黑土与潮土易分解碳的含量较不施肥无显著变化,而红壤易分解碳含量较不施肥显著降低(P0.05),降低的比例分别为33.1%和29.6%;水稻土4个处理间易分解碳的含量及其占全碳的比例无显著差异性。四类土壤耐分解碳的含量与总有机碳含量的变化一致,均表现为NPKMNPKSNPKCK。NPKM处理下,四种土壤耐分解碳含量显著增加(P0.05),黑土、潮土、红壤和水稻土较NPK处理增加的比例分别为68.8%、42.7%、17.6%和17.2%,同时耐分解碳占全碳的比例降低;NPKS处理下黑土、潮土和水稻土耐分解碳的含量较NPK处理也增加,对应增加的比例分别为10.9%、15.1%和18.0%。同时,易分解碳和耐分解碳的含量与土壤总有机碳含量之间有极显著的正相关关系。【结论】旱作土壤易分解碳含量比水田土壤更易受不同施肥处理的影响,有机无机配施(NPKM与NPKS)可提高旱作与水田土壤易分解碳与耐分解碳的含量,同时相对提高了易分解碳占全碳的比例,且NPKM处理的效果优于NPKS处理,更优于化肥处理。     

干湿循环条件下重庆地区三种土壤抗剪强度的动态变化

选择广泛分布于重庆丘陵山区的黄壤、钙质紫色土和中性紫色土3种土壤,通过对室内三轴剪切试验,测定含水率和干密度交互作用对土壤抗剪强度指标的影响,在含水率和干密度对土壤抗剪强度影响分析的基础上,3土壤按各自最优含水率和干密度制作干湿循环试验土样,进行干湿循环条件下土壤抗剪强度的动态变化分析。试验结果显示：(1)在相同干密度情况下,3种土壤粘聚力c值随着含水率的增加呈现出先增加后减小的趋势,在相同土壤含水率水平下,土壤粘聚力c值随干密度增大而增大,3种土壤内摩擦角φ值在各干密度条件下均随着含水率增加呈明显减小的趋势。(2)含水率和干密度的交互作用对土壤粘聚力c值有显著影响,粘聚力c值在1.3-1.7g/cm₃干密度范围内随着干密度的增大而增大,且每一个干密度都有一个含水率与之对应,在这样一个交互作用下粘聚力c值达到最大,含水率和干密度的交互作用对内摩擦角φ值影响相对较小,同一干密度下,其φ值差异不大,随干密度的增大缓慢增大。(3)3种土壤的粘聚力c值均随干湿循环次数的增加均呈减小趋势,且前两次循环c值衰减幅度都很大,从第三次干湿循环到第五次干湿循环粘聚力c值衰减幅度很小,趋于稳定。(4)3种土壤在干湿循环后内摩擦角φ值总体呈减小趋势,但不同土壤类型间存在差异,第五次循环结束后,黄壤为24.6?,中性紫色土为22.6?,钙质紫色土为19.3?。