约旦河谷土壤含盐量变化对其灌溉农业可持续发展的潜在危害研究

The integrated effect of irrigation and agricultural practices on soil salinity in the Jordan Valley （JV）, where over 60% of Jordan’s agricultural produce is grown, was investigated in this study during 2009-2010. Due to the differences in agricultural operations, cropping patterns, irrigation management, and weather conditions, 206 top- and sub-soil samples were taken every 1 to 3 km from representative farms along a north-south （N-S） transect with 1 to 2 km lateral extents. Soil electrical conductivity of saturated extract (EC_se), Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cl, and Na adsorption ratio （SAR） were determined in saturated paste extracts. Results indicated that about 63% of soils in the JV are indeed saline, out of which almost 46% are moderately to strongly saline. Along the N-S transect of the JV, EC_se increased from 4.5 to 14.1 dS m^-1 in top-soil samples. Similar increase was observed for the sub-soil samples. The major chemical components of soil salinity; i.e., Ca, Mg, and Cl, also showed a similar increase along the N-S transect of the valley. Moreover, compared to previous field sampling, results showed that changes in soil salinity in the JV were dramatic. In addition, it was found that Cl imposed an existing and potential threat to sensitive crops in 60% of the soils in the JV, where Cl concentrations were greater than 710 mg L^-1. Under the prevalent arid Mediterranean conditions, improving the management of irrigation water, crops, and nutrient inputs and increasing water and fertilizer use efficiencies should be indispensable to conserve and sustain the already fragile agricultural soils in the JV.     

A simple approach to soil loss prediction: a revised Morgan–Morgan–Finney model

A revised version of the Morgan–Morgan–Finney model for prediction of annual soil loss by water is presented. Changes have been made to the way soil particle detachment by raindrop impact is simulated, which now takes account of plant canopy height and leaf drainage, and a component has been added for soil particle detachment by flow. When tested against the same data set used to validate the original version at the erosion plot scale, predictions made with the revised model gave slopes of a reduced major-axis regression line closer to 1.0 when compared with measured values. The coefficient of efficiency, for sites with measured runoff and soil loss, increased from 0.54 to 0.65. When applied to a new data set for erosion plots in Denmark, Spain, Greece and Nepal, very high coefficients of efficiency of 0.94 for runoff and 0.84 for soil loss were obtained. The revised version was applied to two small catchments by dividing them into land elements and routing annual runoff and sediment production over the land surface from one element to another. The results indicate that, when used in this way, the model provides useful information on the source areas of sediment, sediment delivery to streams and annual sediment yield.     

Soil salinity dynamics in irrigated fields and its effects on paddy‐based rotation systems in southern Kazakhstan

Agricultural production in southern Kazakhstan has experienced significant economic difficulty since the 1980s, accelerating agronomic problems including the salinization of irrigated fields. A thorough understanding of the up‐to‐date situation of soil salinization and its effects on cropping systems is necessary in order to establish sustainable agricultural systems with avoiding land degradation for the region. This study examined the relationships between soil salinity, crop yield and affecting factors including local terrain for two farms. Both farms are characterised by a gentle slope, flat area and localised depressions. Most of the paddy fields showed wash‐out of salts during the irrigation period except in waterlogged fields situated in depressions. Rice yield was adversely affected by the remaining soil salinity, deep ponding water and insufficient drainage capacity in the lower part of the irrigation system. Salt accumulation in the upland fields appeared to increase with cropping years, and was associated with groundwater depth that became shallower at the lower parts of the irrigation systems, adversely affecting the crop growth in most fields. Since the cropping patterns had recently changed in the region, each pattern was compared against the recommendation of this study. Most patterns were concluded to be potentially effective for preventing soil salinization if conducted under an optimum economic and social system. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

海涂围垦区土壤盐分空间变异性随机模拟与不确定性评价

以苏北海涂围垦区典型地块为例, 把随机模拟技术引入土壤盐分空间变异性研究中, 利用普通克里格法和序贯高斯模拟方法对土壤盐分的空间分布进行估值和模拟, 将随机模拟值与克里格插值及实测值进行对比分析, 并采用序贯指示模拟对土壤盐分空间分布的不确定性进行评价。结果表明: 由普通克里格法得到的土壤盐分空间分布整体比较连续, 具有明显的平滑效应, 减小了数据间的空间差异性, 改变了数据的空间结构; 序贯高斯模拟结果整体分布相对离散, 突出了原始数据分布的波动性。对非盐化土、轻度盐化土、中度盐化土和重度盐化土的空间不确定性进行的序贯指示模拟结果显示, 围垦后研究区耕层土壤盐渍化的发生概率已显著降低。轻度盐化土的高概率区是改良利用的主要区域, 宜采用农业生物改良措施, 对中度盐化土高概率区应通过完善田间灌排设施以加强改良治理, 客土法是重度盐化土高概率区较为高效的改良治理途径。     

Usefulness of near‐infrared spectroscopy for the prediction of chemical and biological soil properties in different long‐term experiments

The prediction accuracy of visible and near‐infrared (Vis‐NIR) spectroscopy for soil chemical and biological parameters has been variable and the reasons for this are not completely understood. Objectives were (1) to explore the predictability of a series of chemical and biological properties for three different soil populations and—based on these heterogeneous data sets—(2) to analyze possible predictive mechanisms statistically. A number of 422 samples from three arable soils in Germany (a sandy Haplic Cambisol and two silty Haplic Luvisols) of different long‐term experiments were sampled, their chemical and biological properties determined and their reflectance spectra in the Vis‐NIR region recorded after shock‐freezing followed by freeze‐drying. Cross‐validation was carried out for the entire population as well as for each population from the respective sites. For the entire population, excellent prediction accuracies were found for the contents of soil organic C (SOC) and total P. The contents of total N and microbial biomass C and pH were predicted with good accuracy. However, prediction accuracy for the other properties was less: content of total S was predicted approximately quantitatively, whereas Vis‐NIR spectroscopy could only differentiate between high and low values for the contents of microbial N, ergosterol, and the ratio of ergosterol to microbial biomass C. Contents of microbial biomass P and S, basal respiration, and qCO₂ could not be predicted. Prediction accuracies were greatest for the entire population and the Luvisol at Garte, followed by the Luvisol at Hohes Feld, whereas the accuracy for the sandy Cambisol was poor. The poor accuracy for the sandy Cambisol may have been due to only smaller correlations between the measured properties and the SOC content compared to the Luvisols or due to a general poor prediction performance for sandy soils. Another reason for the poor accuracy may have been the smaller range of contents in the sandy soil. Overall, the data indicated that the accuracy of predictions of soil properties depends largely on the population investigated. For the entire population, the usefulness of Vis‐NIR for the number of chemical and biological soil properties was evident by markedly greater correlation coefficients (measured against Vis‐NIR predicted) compared to the Pearson correlation coefficients of the measured properties against the SOC content. However, the cross‐validation results are valid only for the closed population used in this study.     

Biological soil properties in a long‐term tillage trial in Germany

After 37 years of different soil‐tillage treatments in a long‐term field experiment in Germany, a number of biological soil characteristics was measured. The field trial comprised six major treatments with different implements and various depths. In this paper, results from a comparison of long‐term use of a plow (to 25 cm depth), a chisel plow (to 15 cm depth), and no‐tillage are presented. The biological soil characteristics measured include the soil‐organic‐carbon (SOC) content, microbial biomass, enzyme activities, and the abundance and biomass of earthworms. Long‐term use of a chisel plow and no‐tillage increased the organic‐C content in the uppermost soil layer (0–10 cm) compared with the plow treatment. The microbial biomass and the enzyme activities arginine‐ammonification, β‐glucosidase, and catalase decreased with depth in all treatments. Arginine‐ammonification and catalase were higher in the plow treatment in soil layers 10 to 30 cm. Additionally, the chisel plow caused an increase in number and biomass of earthworms compared to both other tillage treatments. Differences in earthworm numbers and biomass between plowing and no‐tillage were not statistically significant.     

Seasonal differences in tillage draught on a sandy loam soil with long‐term additions of animal manure and mineral fertilizers

Energy requirements for soil tillage are closely linked to soil properties, such as clay, water and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents. Long‐term application of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments affects SOC content but little is known about seasonal differences in tillage draught requirements of soils subject to contrasting nutrient management regimes. We assessed autumn and spring tillage draught following harvest of early‐sown and timely sown winter wheat grown on a sandy loam in the Askov Long‐Term Experiment on Animal Manure and Mineral Fertilizers. Draught force was related to soil texture, soil water and SOC content, shear strength and bulk density, nutrient management, and yield of the preceding winter wheat. Contents of clay and SOC ranged from 8.9 to 10.6% and from 0.98 to 1.36%, respectively. In the autumn and spring, SOC normalized by clay content explained 38 and 5% of the variation in specific draught, respectively. Specific draught did not differ significantly among individual fertilization treatments. SOC was closely correlated with clay and water contents and bulk density, and with yield of the preceding wheat. Draught force was significantly smaller in the spring than in the autumn. In the autumn when soils were drier (?700 hPa), tillage draught was correlated with several soil characteristics, whereas water content was the dominating parameter in the spring when soils were wetter (?100 hPa). The range of SOC contents observed in this study aligns with that observed in Danish sandy loams under intensive cultivation, and within this range, SOC per se had little effect on draught requirements.     

Soil quality indices for evaluation of long‐term land use and soil management practices in semi‐arid sub‐tropical India

Land use changes and soil management can potentially alter soil quality. A study was conducted to assess the long‐term (>20 years) effects of perennial trees (PT), vegetable crops (VC), rice–wheat (RW) system, sewage‐irrigated fields (SF), maize–wheat (MW) system and uncultivated soils (US) on soil quality. Soil physical quality parameters were significantly affected only in the SF system when compared with the US soil, particularly for bulk density (BD 1·51 Mg m⁻³ in SF vs. 1·34 in US). Among chemical parameters, electrical conductivity was high in SF, and soil nutrients (N, P, K, S, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn) were well above the critical limits of deficiency in all the systems. Soil parameters were integrated into soil quality indices (SQIs) by unscreened transformation and principal component analysis (PCA). SQI observed under each system were compared with the US to assess the degree of degradation. Mean SQI differences showed that PT (+16·02 per cent), VC (+4·80 per cent), RW (+10·04 per cent), and MW (+11·30 per cent) are aggrading, whereas SF (−2·06 per cent) is degrading with respect to the reference soil (US). Adoption of MW system proved to be better than traditional RW; and in general agricultural crops have a significant advantage than VC, in terms of maintaining soil quality. Sewage irrigation is not a sustainable practice and long‐term use may degrade the soil. Among the SQIs, PCA with nonlinear scoring function (NLSF) based SQI was effective in judging land degradation due to soil quality changes as affected by long‐term land use and soil management practices. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Forms of Al in soil and soil solution in a long‐term fertilizer application experiment

Under the conditions of a long‐term fertilizer experiment, this study aimed to determine the contents of total and exchangeable aluminium in soil as well as the Al concentration in the soil solution. Additionally, Al speciation was evaluated with the use of the MINTEQA2 software. The results obtained indicated that under the conditions of long‐term application of different mineral fertilizers or farmyard manure, the soil reaction changed to a great extent (pH 3.58–6.78). At the same time, the content of total Al in soil fluctuated from 18.85 to 22.13 g/kg and that of exchangeable Al ranged from 1.42 to 102.66 mg/kg. The concentration of Al in the soil solution was highly differentiated (5.19–124.07 μmol/L) as well as that of free aluminium ions (Al³⁺) (0–16.9 μmol/L). In acidic soils, aluminium complexes with organic matter are the predominant forms of Al in the soil solution. In soils with neutral soil reaction, there were no free aluminium ions. Soil liming and addition of organic amendment were the treatments that restricted the presence of toxic aluminium forms in soil.     

Prediction of model pools for a long‐term experiment using near‐infrared spectroscopy

Fourty‐one soil samples from the “Eternal Rye” long‐term experiment in Halle, Germany, were used to test the usefulness of near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to differentiate between C derived from C₃ and C₄ plants by using the isotopic signature (δ¹³C) and to predict the pools considered in the Rothamsted Carbon (RothC) model, i.e., decomposable plant material, resistant plant material, microbial biomass, humified organic matter, and inert organic matter. All samples were scanned in the visible‐light and near‐infrared region (400–2500 nm). Cross‐validation equations were developed using the whole spectrum (first to third derivative) and a modified partial least‐square regression method. δ¹³C values and all pools of the RothC model were successfully predicted by NIRS as reflected by RSC values (ratio between standard deviation of the laboratory results and standard error of cross‐validation) ranging from 3.2 to 3.4. Correlations analysis indicated that organic C can be excluded as basis for the successful predictions by NIRS in most cases, i.e., 11 out of 16.     

In situ long‐term redox potential measurements in a dyked marsh soil

The long‐term measurement of soil redox potential (E_H) by permanently installed Pt electrodes may be restricted by electrode breakdown (electrode rupture and resin leakage) and contamination, especially under wet and strongly reducing soil conditions. The E_H of a slightly alkaline (pH 7.1 to 7.3) Calcaric Gleysol developed from marine sediment in the dyked marsh of Schleswig‐Holstein, Northern Germany, was monitored weekly during a 4‐year period using permanently installed Pt electrodes. Measurements were performed in fivefold at 10, 30, 60, 100, and 150 cm. Furthermore, water table level was recorded. Sulfide occurred in 150 cm as a heritage of the previous marine environment. Mean water table level was 84 cm below the soil surface but was characterized by both short‐term and seasonally strong fluctuations. Levels of water table ranged from 33 to >200 cm below soil surface. In consistence with water table level, the E_H continually decreased with soil depth. Mean redox conditions were oxidizing at 10 (550 mV) and 30 cm (430 mV), weakly reducing at 60 cm (230 mV), and moderately reducing at 100 (120 mV) and 150 cm depth (–80 mV). Soil hydrology differed markedly during the study as expressed by periods of water saturation for each depth. This was reflected by Pt electrodes response, since period of water saturation and E_H were significantly negatively correlated as calculated for each year and depth (r_s = –0.971; n = 20; P < 0.01). The 60‐cm depth was most frequently influenced by water table fluctuations, showed the largest E_H range (920 mV) and the most distinct seasonal pattern in E_H. Good function of the electrodes in this depth can be concluded even after long time of installation in soil. Although established in a sulfide‐bearing environment, three of five electrodes at 150 cm showed a substantial increase (+500 mV) in E_H during summer of the third and fourth years of investigation, which had low water tables. It is not clear whether the non‐response of two electrodes was due to electrode contamination or spatial variation in E_H. When operating in reducing systems, this problem can be circumvented by installing a large number of electrodes or by a regular replacement of electrodes. Using properly constructed and permanently installed Pt electrodes, soil E_H can be monitored for extended periods under wet and reducing soil conditions.     

咸水畦灌农田土壤水热盐动态及油葵生长的试验与模拟

为探究中国西北旱区咸水畦灌条件下农田土壤水热盐动态及其对作物生长的影响,采用大田试验和WASH-C模型(Layered Soil Water-Solute-Heat Transport and Crop Growth Model,土壤水热盐迁移和作物生长耦合的模拟模型)模拟相结合的方法,分析油葵全生育期内不同灌水量和矿...     

有机无机肥配施对滨海盐渍农田土壤盐分及作物氮素利用的影响

土壤盐渍化造成氮素的损失,限制了作物对氮素的有效利用。为研究滨海盐渍化农田等氮量投入条件下,有机无机肥配施对农田土壤盐分和作物氮素养分吸收利用及氮平衡的影响,以江苏东台滩涂围垦农田为研究平台,选取玉米品种‘长江玉8号’为供试作物,设6个处理：不施肥（CK）、全有机肥（OM1）、1/4化肥+3/4有机肥（OM3/4）、1/2化肥+1/2有机肥（OM1/2）、3/4化肥+1/4有机肥（OM1/4）、全化肥（OM0）。在玉米播种前、生长期和收获后采集土样,同时在收获后采集植株样品,分析土壤盐分、pH、水分、无机氮含量和玉米植株不同部位的氮含量和累积量,计算氮肥利用效率和氮平衡。结果表明：1）有机肥代替部分化肥的施入,降低了滨海盐渍化农田土壤的电导率,且呈现出随有机肥施用量增加电导率逐渐降低的趋势,但其对土壤pH影响不显著。2）有机肥的施入提高了土壤有机质含量,改善了土壤结构,降低了土壤容重,同时提高了土壤含水率,增强了土壤的持水性能。3）就不同处理玉米产量和吸氮量来看,OM1/4处理玉米产量、籽粒含氮量和全植株吸氮量最高。同时,氮收获指数、氮肥当季回收率、氮肥农学效率和氮肥偏生产力等指标也较高。4）就氮素平衡状况来看,氮素输入量远大于作物吸收量和土壤残留量,有很大一部分无机氮损失掉。其中,OM1/4处理氮素表观损失量较小。综合有机无机肥配施对降低土壤盐分和作物养分吸收利用两者来看,在225 kg·hm^-2氮用量条件下,OM1/4处理效果最好,既能在一定程度上降低土壤含盐量,又能维持较高的作物产量和氮素利用效率。同时对于改善土壤结构,提高土壤的保水性和土壤有机质含量都具有重要意义。     

Fate of phosphorus in soil during a long‐term fertilization experiment in Finland

Accumulation and depletion of soil phosphorus (P) was studied in a long‐term (37 y) field experiment in Southern Finland. The loam soil had a high pH (7.5–7.7) due to an earlier liming. Spring barley, spring wheat, oat, and ryegrass, grown in rotation, were annually fertilized with 0, 32, or 67 kg P ha^?1 y^?1 (P₀, P₁, and P₂K) and sufficient N. The average dry matter grain yield 2,600 kg ha^?1 of the P₀ plots increased by about 500 kg ha^?1 at P₁ treatment and another 600 kg ha^?1 by P₂K. Soil samples were collected in 1978 (beginning), 1995, 2005, and 2015. According to the Chang and Jackson sequential extraction, the P₂K and P₁ treatments increased the inorganic soil P by 732 and 32 kg P ha ^?1 in 37 years, respectively, while the P₀ plots were depleted by –459 kg P ha ^?1. The P₂K treatment increased all four P fractions, extracted with NH₄Cl (easily soluble), NH₄F (Al‐P), NaOH (Fe‐P), and H₂SO₄ (Ca‐P). Continuous depletion (P₀) decreased the NH₄Cl‐P and NH₄F‐P pools, NaOH‐P and H₂SO₄‐P pools remaining stable. None of the P pools changed significantly at P₁. The remarkable gap between the measured change and the balance for the P₂K and P₁ treatments cannot be explained solely by lateral soil movement, meaning that a significant proportion of the applied P was lost either in surface runoff or transported below the investigated depth of 40 cm. Despite large P applications, the degree of P saturation reached only 20% in the P₂K topsoil, assuming a 50% reactivity of Fe and Al oxides. As derived from sorption isotherms, a high EPC₀ (i.e., equilibrium P concentration at zero net P sorption or desorption) of 1.30 mg L^?1 had been built up in the P₂K treatment, while in the P₁ treatment EPC₀ (0.33 mg L^?1) had remained unchanged and P depletion (P₀) had caused a decrease to 0.12 mg L^?1. These results demonstrate that P sorption and desorption properties respond strongly to both P fertilization and null fertilization treatments and that in a long‐term field experiment only a low proportion of the residual fertilizer P can be recovered from soil.     

A model to predict the dry matter and yield of rapeseed under salinity and deficit irrigation

In this investigation, a model was developed to predict dry matter, seed yield and other crop parameters of rapeseed under deficit irrigation and salinity by using soil water and salt budget and other simple plant physiological relationships. Two-year experimental data were used. In calibration and validation of the presented model, results indicated that the model was able to estimate evapotranspiration, soil water content, leaf area index, evaporation, crop transpiration, dry matter and seed yield of rapeseed properly. The advantage of this model is its simplicity and easy calibration in other areas and climate conditions and it can be used to estimate yield and other crop parameters with common measurable data in the field. Prediction of crop yield by this model can be used for better management of agronomic systems to reduce administrative costs and in different environmental conditions. Finally, under scarce data, arid and semi-arid environments, this model is proposed to be used by irrigation managers and agricultural advisors.     

Effect of long‐term fertilization on the transformations of water‐extractable phosphorus in a fluvo‐aquic soil

Improved information on water‐extractable soil P (P_w) and its distribution in various forms is needed to assess its bioavailability and environmental impact. This study investigated P_w in a fluvo‐aquic soil solution in relation to the continuous application of inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and wheat straw–soybean‐based compost for 15 y. Phosphatase‐hydrolysis techniques were used to fractionate organic P (P_o) in water extracts of soil into phosphomonoester (P_om) and phosphodiester (P_od). In comparison with the noncomposted treatments, compost application significantly increased the levels of inorganic P (P_i) and P_o. P_om was the main form in water‐extractable soil P_o (71%–88%), in which sugar phosphate (P_os) occupied 48%–75%, inositol hexakisphosphate (P_op) comprised 13%–23%, and P_od only accounted for a small percentage (11%–26%). Long‐term compost application significantly increased the content of P_om, P_os, and P_od, but decreased the P_op content; the ratio of P_om to P_o increased significantly in compost‐treated soil, but the ratio of P_op to P_o and P_od to P_o significantly decreased. Thus, the equilibrium of phosphatase involved P transformations shifted to P_i in compost‐treated soil. The phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase activities were significantly higher in compost‐treated soil, which favored the transformations of P_od into P_om and P_om into P_i. The ratio of P_o to P_w in water extracts of compost‐treated soil was similar to that of control soils with no fertilizer input (CK), but was significantly lower than in NPK treatment, which demonstrated that a larger increase occurred for soil P_i in water extracts of compost‐treated soil. Long‐term compost application in the fluvo‐aquic soil changed the composition of P_w, promoted the rate of P transformations in soil solution, and significantly increased soil P bioavailability.     

Spatial variation of soil test phosphorus in a long‐term grazed experimental grassland field

The spatial variation of soil test P (STP) in grassland soils is becoming important because of the use of STP as a basis for policies such as the recently EU‐introduced Nitrate Directive. This research investigates the spatial variation of soil P in grazed grassland plots with a long‐term (38 y) experiment. A total of 326 soil samples (including 14 samples from an adjacent grass‐wood buffer zone) were collected based on a 10 × 10 m² grid system. The samples were measured for STP and other nutrients. The results were analyzed using conventional statistics, geostatistics, and a geographic information system (GIS). Soil test P concentrations followed a lognormal distribution, with a median of 5.30 mg L^–1 and a geometric mean of 5.35 mg L^–1. Statistically significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation between STP and pH was found. Spatial clusters and spatial outliers were detected using the local Moran's I index (a local indicator of spatial association) and were mapped using GIS. An obvious low‐value spatial‐cluster area was observed on the plots that received zero‐P fertilizer application from 1968 to 1998 and a large high‐value spatial‐cluster area was found on the relatively high‐P fertilizer application plots (15 kg ha^–1 y^–1). The local Moran's I index was also effective in detecting spatial outliers, especially at locations close to spatial‐cluster areas. To obtain a reliable and stable spatial structure, semivariogram of soil‐P data was produced after elimination of spatial outliers. A spherical model with a nugget effect was chosen to fit the experimental semivariogram. The spatial‐distribution map of soil P was produced using the kriging interpolation method. The interpolated distribution map was dominated by medium STP values, ranging from 3 mg to 8 mg L^–1. An evidently low‐P‐value area was present in the upper side of the study area, as zero or short‐term P fertilizer was applied on the plots. Meanwhile, high‐P‐value area was located mainly on the plots receiving 15 kg P ha^–1 y^–1 (for 38 y) as these plots accumulated excess P after a long‐term P‐fertilizer spreading. The high‐ or low‐value patterns were in line with the spatial clusters. Geostatistics, combined with GIS and the local spatial autocorrelation index, provides a useful tool for analyzing the spatial variation in soil nutrients.     

地膜覆盖滴灌棉田土壤上水分动态的数值模拟

Drip irrigation under plastic mulch has been widely applied in arid Northwest China as a water-saving irrigation technology.A comprehensive knowledge of the distribution and movement of soil water in root zone is essential for the design and management of irrigation regimes.Simulation models have been proved to be efcient methods for this purpose.In this study,the numerical model Hydrus -2D was used to simulate the temporal variations of soil water content in a drip irrigated cotton field under mulching.A concept of partitioning coefcient,calibrated to be 0.07,was introduced to describe the efect of plastic mulch on prevention of evaporation.The soil hydraulic parameters were optimized by inverse solution using the field data.At the optimized conditions,the model was used to predict soil water content for four field treatments.The agreements between the predictions and observations were evaluated using coefcient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE).The results suggested that the model fairly reproduced the variations in soil water content at all locations in four treatments,with R2 ranging from 0.582 to 0.826 and RMSE from 0.029 to 0.050 cm3 cm-3,indicating that the simulations agreed well with the observations.     

SoilFlex: A model for prediction of soil stresses and soil compaction due to agricultural field traffic including a synthesis of analytical approaches

Soil compaction is one of the most important factors responsible for soil physical degradation. Soil compaction models are important tools for controlling traffic-induced soil compaction in agriculture. A two-dimensional model for calculation of soil stresses and soil compaction due to agricultural field traffic is presented. It is written as a spreadsheet that is easy to use and therefore intended for use not only by experts in soil mechanics, but also by e.g. agricultural advisers. The model allows for a realistic prediction of the contact area and the stress distribution in the contact area from readily available tyre parameters. It is possible to simulate the passage of several machines, including e.g. tractors with dual wheels and trailers with tandem wheels. The model is based on analytical equations for stress propagation in soil. The load is applied incrementally, thus keeping the strains small for each increment. Several stress–strain relationships describing the compressive behaviour of agricultural soils are incorporated. Mechanical properties of soil can be estimated by means of pedo-transfer functions. The model includes two options for calculation of vertical displacement and rut depth, either from volumetric strains only or from both volumetric and shear strains. We show in examples that the model provides satisfactory predictions of stress propagation and changes in bulk density. However, computation results of soil deformation strongly depend on soil mechanical properties that are labour-intensive to measure and difficult to estimate and thus not readily available. Therefore, prediction of deformation might not be easily handled in practice. The model presented is called SoilFlex, because it is a soil compaction model that is flexible in terms of the model inputs, the constitutive equations describing the stress–strain relationships and the model outputs.