Analysing flow patterns from dye tracer experiments in a forest soil using extreme value statistics

Preferential flow of water in soil is now recognized as a common phenomenon. It results in complex flow patterns that can be visualized by dye tracers and increases the risk of pollutants reaching greater depths. We analysed the behaviour of a risk index for vertical solute propagation based on extreme value theory. This risk index can be calculated from binary images of dye‐stained soil profiles and is defined as the form parameter of the generalized Pareto distribution. We did five tracer experiments with Brilliant Blue and iodide under changing initial (variable initial soil moisture) and experimental conditions (different irrigation rates). Our results indicate some persistence of the risk index against small changes of experimental conditions such as the irrigation rate. On the other hand, it seems to be affected by initial soil moisture. Comparisons of Brilliant Blue and iodide patterns show that the form parameter alone is not sufficient to estimate the risk of vertical solute propagation. Therefore we propose to combine the risk index with the scale parameter of the generalized Pareto distribution.     

土壤水流模式染色剂示踪及优先流程度评估

优先流是结构性土壤水分入渗的主要方式。为了直接利用土壤水流模式分析其优先流程度,该文采用亮蓝染色剂示踪原状与扰动土柱的土壤水运移,定量评估优先流的相对发育程度。研究结果表明原状土柱优先流发育,空间变异性强,受优先流通道的特征控制,其优先流水流模式以蚯蚓大孔隙流和土块裂隙优先流为主。扰动土柱的水流模式为活塞流,无优先流发育。该文提出了随深度变化的染色面积比的变异系数指示原状土柱优先流相对程度的评价准则:变异系数越低,优先流程度越高。变异系数≥0.5%为优先流程度一般发育,0.25%~0.5%之间为发育,≤0.25%为非常发育。并通过原状和扰动土柱灌溉模拟试验验证了评价准则的可靠性。     

Water flow patterns and pesticide fluxes in an upland soil in northern Thailand

Rapid percolation of water through soil facilitates both the recharge and the contamination of groundwater reservoirs. We have studied the variation of water flux and pesticide leaching through a soil in northern Thailand. At a depth of 55 cm, two pits were equipped with tensiometer-controlled glass suction lysimeters that were connected to a novel on-line solid-phase extraction device. Nine insecticides varying in water solubility from 10⁻² to 10⁺⁶ mg l⁻¹ were applied on the soil surface, and leaching was monitored for 8 weeks. Measured water fluxes were compared with simulated values. Total recovery ranged from traces (malathion, triazophos) to 1.3% (dimethoate) of the applied amount, showing a decreasing retardation with increasing polarity of the substances. All pesticides were detectable in the soil solution during the first rain after application. Due to fingering, 83% of the leachate was transported through 38% of the area at leaching rates of < 2 mm per day. A new adaptation of the Simpson Index revealed that the diversity of the flow pattern increased exponentially with decreasing rates of seepage water flux (R² = 0.80). No such correlation was found when leaching was faster, indicating that the flow pattern switched from a fingering- to a matric-dominated flux. No long-term leaching of insecticides was observed. The two profiles studied behaved similarly in terms of both water and pesticide transport. Therefore we suggest that the flow pattern is a stable property of the soil that can be accurately described by our combination of novel experimental setup and statistical analysis of the flow field.     

钙结石含量对土壤水分蒸发影响的模拟试验

通过在土柱中人工模拟黄土高原北部含钙结石土壤,在土壤总水分一致的情况下研究了钙结石含量对土壤水分蒸发过程的影响,以期为黄土高原特定土壤类型中土壤水平衡的计算和模拟提供试验依据。研究结果表明：不同钙结石质量分数（钙结石质量/（钙结石质量+土壤质量））的土壤水分累积蒸发在最初的7 d内差别不大,随后表现出一定的差异;试验期间不同处理的蒸发率差异很小。土壤水分蒸发量随钙结石质量分数的增加而降低,当钙结石质量分数为0.5时,土壤水分蒸发降低8 mm,占到土壤总水分的10%。土壤水分蒸发与钙结石含量之间的负相关关系与钙结石含量增加所导致的土壤含水率降低有关。钙结石对土壤水分蒸发的作用效果与钙结石吸水性、钙结石含量以及水分在钙结石和土壤之间的分配有关。     

Artificial neural networks for estimating soil hydraulic parameters from dynamic flow experiments

Inverse methods are often used for estimating soil hydraulic parameters from experiments on flow of water through soil. We propose here an alternative method using neural networks. We teach a problem‐adapted network of radial basis functions (RBF) the relationship between soil parameters and transient flow patterns using a numerical flow model. The trained RBF network accurately identifies soil parameters from flow patterns not contained in the training scenarios. A comparison with the inverse method (Annealing‐Simplex) reveals a similarly good prediction by both approaches for randomly perturbed data and data from the real world. Nonetheless, the inverse method showed dependency on initial parameter estimates not required by the RBF network. Training demands moderately more computation and manpower than the inverse technique, but the absolutely stable and simple network application requires negligible resources. Thus, for individual applications, the network approach is slightly surpassed by the Annealing‐Simplex method. However, the RBF network has to be trained only once and, subsequently, it can be applied easily and without effort upon any number of laboratory experiments with standardized experimental setups.     

Three-dimensional visualization and quantification of soil macroporosity and water flow patterns using computed tomography

Abstract. Efforts to assess the role of soil structure in soil and water processes have been limited by data based on two dimensional geometry or disturbed samples. Computed tomography (CT) is a non-invasive technique that allows for the three dimensional, non-destructive examination of heterogeneous materials. X-ray CT scanning was used to acquire serial images of contrasting soil types that could be used to render, and hence, quantify important soil constituents in three dimensions. By repeating the scanning techniques after an infiltration period, it was also possible to examine the nature of water movement in real time. Macropore architecture between different soil types was highly variable and generally appeared as unconnected pore segments at the resolution examined. As expected, water flow characteristics were similar to macropore structure, with wetting patterns resembling both Darcian and preferential flow identified in different soils. From this, it was found that in the sandy clay soil c . 90% of macropore space was active following infiltration, compared with c . 50% for the sandy loam soil. In addition, it was possible to visualize the three dimensional distribution of stones and other mineral material. The results illustrated the benefits of computed tomography over more conventional analyses of soil structure, and its potential as a tool for examining dynamic soil processes. However, problems associated with accessibility, resolution and artefacts still provide limitations of the technique.     

Squeezed soil-pore solutes — A comparison to lysimeter samples and percolation experiments

This paper presents data on the chemical composition of soil pore fluids that have been obtained by a high-pressure squeezing technique and lysimeter sampling. Cation-exchange capacity has been calculated from cations extracted by a simple percolation method. All pore water concentrations are greatly influenced by the pH in solution. Most pore water concentrations do not simply parallel the corresponding mineralogical and chemical composition of the solids. The depth of the acidification front, as determined by analysis of samples obtained by percolation, is much better reflected in the chemical composition of the squeezed soil pore fluids than in the lysimeter samples. Distinct gradients are seen in Al concentration. In the B-horizons, concentrations of Al are close to the solubility of gibbsite. The pore water concentration profiles of Si and K apparently indicate dissolution of K-silicates, in particular K-feldspar. Contrary to the squeezed pore solutions the sulphate maximum concentration in the soil profile is not recorded by lysimeter samples. Mineral saturation indices show that pore solutions by squeezing are close to the saturation concentrations for K-jarosite and K-alunite. Sulphur-rich phases from the soil are compatible with mixtures of alunite jarosite, zaherite, basaluminite, and hydrobasaluminite. In the upper soil horizons the liquid/solid ratios [calculated as: concentration in solution (µg/ml) * solution fraction in solids (ml/g)/concentration in solids (µg/g)] increase in the order Ph < OC ≈ Zn < Cd and range from 10^?6 to 10^?3, indicating that Ph is most strongly held and still accumulates in the organic top soil. In the underlying deeper mineral horizons the ratios for Pb, Zn, and Cd decrease by one order of magnitude.     

Aluminium chemistry of the soil solution in an acid forest soil as influenced by percolation rate and soil structure

The predicted activity of Al in the soil solutions of acid forest soils often differs from that observed in the field. We have investigated the influence of soil structure and flow rate of the soil solution on the aluminum release to explain this divergence. Disturbed and undisturbed samples of soil were collected from the A and B horizons of a dystric cambisol at Waldstein (Fichtelgebirge, Germany). The samples were irrigated with solutions mixed according to field data on throughfall or soil solution composition with pH 3.5 with flow rates of 4 mm d^?1, 12 mm d^?1 and 36 mm d^?1. The percolates were analysed for major ions. Resulting relations between pH and pAl were compared with batch experiments. In neither the A horizon nor in the B horizon did soil structure influence the relation between pH and pAl. The apparent equilibrium between pH and pAl was described as the pK_app value with pK_app= pAl—a pH (where a is an empirical constant). It was found that the pK_app values for the column percolates were in the range of variation of those found in batch experiments. Flow rate had no influence on pK_app at 4 and 12 mm d^?1. At 36 mm d^?1 a significant increase of pK_app was observed. This relative undersaturation of Al was more pronounced in the A horizon than in the B horizon. When flow is fast Al release into the percolating soil solution might be limited by diffusion.     

Effects of compaction on soil hydraulic properties,penetration resistance and water flow patterns at the soil profile scale

The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of compaction on water flow patterns at the soil profile scale. Control and trafficked plots were established in field trials at two sites. The trafficked treatment was created by four passes track‐by‐track with a three‐axle dumper with a maximum wheel load of 5.8 Mg. One year later, dye‐tracing experiments were performed and several soil mechanical, physical and hydraulic properties were measured to help explain the dye patterns. Penetration resistance was measured to 50 cm depth, with saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s), bulk density, and macroporosity and mesoporosity being measured on undisturbed soil cores sampled from three depths (10, 30 and 50 cm). Significant effects of the traffic treatment on the structural pore space were found at 30 cm depth for large mesopores (0.3–0.06 mm diameter), but not small mesopores (0.06–0.03 mm) or macroporosity (pores > 0.3 mm). At one of the sites, ponding was observed during the dye‐tracing experiments, especially in the trafficked plots, because of the presence of a compacted layer at plough depth characterized by a larger bulk density and smaller structural porosity and K_s values. Ponding did not induce any preferential transport of the dye solution into the subsoil at this site. In contrast, despite the presence of a compacted layer at 25–30 cm depth, a better developed structural porosity in the subsoil was noted at the other site which allowed preferential flow to reach to at least 1 m depth in both treatments.     

Flumioxazin soil persistence and mineralization in laboratory experiments

Flumioxazin is an herbicide registered for use in soybean and peanut. However, few published papers concerning the soil persistence of flumioxazin are available. Therefore, laboratory studies were initiated to determine the half-life (t(1/2)) of flumioxazin in Greenville sandy clay loam and Tifton loamy sand soils when incubated at 15 and 25 degrees C. Results indicated that temperature had little effect on flumioxazin persistence. The t(1/2) for the Greenville soil was 17.9 and 16.0 days while the Tifton soil was 13.6 and 12.9 days, at 15 and 25 degrees C, respectively. These data correspond to the greater clay content of the Greenville soil (32%) as compared to the Tifton soil (2%). Therefore, the Greenville soil had greater soil adsorption and less flumioxazin was generally available to be degraded by soil microorganisms. In soils that were heat treated to reduce microbe populations, 99% of initial flumioxazin was accounted for after 16 days. Mineralization of flumioxazin, measured as 14CO2 evolution, was also greater in the Tifton soil (2.2% after 64 days) than in the Greenville soil (2.0% after 64 days). From these data, it was concluded that microbes were the most influential factor concerning the degradation of flumioxazin.     

Simulation modelling of variable patterns of water movement through a cracking clay soil

Abstract. This paper describes the development and application of a simple empirical model describing differences in water movement through a cracking clay soil at Brimstone Farm, Wiltshire, UK. An extended data set comprising readings of soil water tension has been collected from an area of 9 m² instrumented with 4 nests each of 3 tensiometers. The cracks are responsible for considerable differences both in water pathway and flow magnitude. Variations in water flow suggested by changes in soil-water tension are described by a model developed using 'ModelMaker' and applied separately to each profile nest. The model envisages water flow to occur through three soil layers, and to be partitioned into matrix and macropore flow components. Water is lost via drainage to clay tile drains at 60 cm depth. Water flow between layers is described as a function of the hydraulic gradient using Darcy's Law, with additional drainage from structural voids within the soil. Differences in the effective hydraulic conductivity describing slow and rapid flow components equate to macro and matrix flow for each tensiometer profile. The results illustrate heterogeneous patterns of flow through a soil block and demonstrate that a comparatively simple model is able to represent satisfactorily water flow dynamics through a cracking clay soil.     

耕作及种植方式对土壤入渗参数和畦灌水流运动的影响

为探明耕作和种植方式对土壤入渗参数及畦灌水流运动的影响规律,试验设置了4个处理(深松+旋耕+等行距、深松+旋耕+三密一稀、旋耕+等行距、旋耕+三密一稀旋耕+三密一稀),每个处理中设3种不同畦田规格(畦长30、35、40 m,畦宽均为2 m),越冬和拔节期分别进行灌水,实测了入渗量、水深、水流推进时间等,基于采用Kostiakov入渗公式计算的土壤入渗参数和WinSRFR4.1软件优化法求解的入渗参数,研究不同处理下入渗参数变异对畦灌水流运动的影响。结果表明:1)田间试验实测值和基于WinSRFR4.1软件优化模拟值间入渗系数和入渗指数相对误差最大值分别为1.24%和1.57%,表明采用2种方法确定不同耕作和种植方式下土壤参数均可行;2)耕作和种植方式的不同会对土壤入渗参数产生较大影响,前者影响更大。3)越冬期和拔节期灌水时入渗系数变异系数最高分别为0.34和0.22,入渗指数变异系数最高分别为0.14和0.13。2次灌水期间相同处理入渗参数也发生了时间变异性,处理深松+旋耕+等行距和深松+旋耕+三密一稀的入渗系数和入渗指数均发生中等变异性,处理旋耕+等行距和旋耕+三密一稀发生弱变异性。4)在土壤入渗参数的变异性影响下,2次灌水过程中,不同处理水流运动时间均发生了变异性。5)基于土壤入渗参数变异性,确定了2次灌水不同耕作及种植方式冬小麦畦灌条件下土壤入渗系数和入渗指数。研究结果可为畦灌系统设计和管理评价提供理论依据和技术支撑。     

Sensitivity of simulated hillslope subsurface flow to rainfall patterns,soil texture and land use

Knowledge of the generation of subsurface flow for hillslopes is important for controlling agricultural nonpoint nutrient losses. This study used a physically based hillslope hydrologic model HYDRUS‐2D to assess the sensitivity of simulated subsurface flow to the interactions between precipitation, soil texture and land use. Soil moisture data from 1 January 2013 to 23 August 2014 at two monitoring sites on a tea plantation hillslope were used to calibrate the van Genuchten–Mualem hydraulic parameters for this model. For six different textural classes (loamy sand, loam, silt, silt loam, clay loam and clay) and four land‐use types (tea garden, forest, grassland and bare soil), scenario‐based simulations were carried out for varied precipitation intensities (6.0, 15.0, 30.0, 45.0, 60.0 and 76.0 mm/day) and frequencies (time intervals of 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days). Results indicated that the hillslope run‐off was dominated by subsurface flow, which was influenced by precipitation and antecedent moisture conditions. A threshold value of 0.18 m³/m³ of mean hillslope soil moisture was observed for the initiation of subsurface flow. High precipitation intensity (i.e. 75.0 mm/day) substantially increased subsurface flow for all soil textures. In addition, the sensitivity of the bare soil hillslope to rainfall patterns was more than two times higher than that of the vegetated (i.e. grassland, tea garden and forest) hillslope. These findings suggest that extreme precipitation events and land‐use change will increase the risks of subsurface flow on hillslopes. Therefore, optimal fertilizer application strategy and land‐use planning should be proposed for controlling the hillslope nonpoint nutrient losses.     

W-OH固化剂对土壤水渗漏及硝态氮淋失的影响

采用盆栽试验结合天然降雨观测,研究了不同W-OH喷施浓度(1%、3%和5%)对作物(大豆、玉米和大蒜)地土壤水渗漏及硝态氮淋失的影响。结果表明:本试验条件下W-OH的保水作用受降雨量和作物类型影响;小雨和中雨条件下,玉米地土壤水渗漏量随W-OH施用浓度的增加呈先减小后增加,浓度为3%的处理渗漏量最低,保水效益明显;当降雨量达大雨及以上级别时,W-OH的保水作用与其喷施浓度成正比;W-OH对大豆和大蒜地的保水作用不受降雨量的影响,且其对二者土壤水渗漏量的影响规律相似,与对照(不喷施WOH)相比,各处理水分渗漏量随W-OH浓度增加而增加。在作物生长初期,W-OH的保肥作用与其施用浓度成正比,经历后续降雨渗流多次淋溶,保肥作用趋于稳定;玉米和大蒜地喷施中、高浓度(3%和5%)的WOH即可减少硝态氮淋失量,大豆地1%浓度的W-OH即可减少硝态氮淋失。     

长期定位试验条件下的水稻田土壤有机质含量变化研究

依托湖北武汉、重庆北碚、湖南望城、湖南祁阳、江西南昌、浙江杭州6个水稻土壤肥力长期定位试验历史样品及数据,分析和讨论了土壤有机质含量变化趋势及对施化肥和有机肥的响应差异。施有机肥提升土壤有机质含量显著高于施化肥的效果。施化肥NPK处理,6个试验点土壤有机质含量都呈现提升趋势;但是,有机质平均年增量、有机质累计增量与累计有机肥施用量的比值都是逐年下降的,固定施肥方法提高土壤有机质含量是有限的,最高达到平衡点,施化肥的有机质含量的平衡点低于施有机肥的,土壤有机质含量提升不仅对施有机肥有响应,而且与累积产量也有一定的相关关系。     

Temperature adaptability of soil respiration in short-term incubation experiments

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The soil is the largest carbon pool in the terrestrial ecosystem. Changes of soil respiration with the climate warming are essential for the carbon cycling between...     

Simulation of gravity fingering in porous media using a modified invasion percolation model

We introduce a modified invasion percolation (MIP) model for the immiscible displacement of a nonwetting fluid by a wetting fluid within a porous network. The model includes the influence of gravity and is applicable in the quasi-static limit of infinitesimal flow rate where viscous forces are negligible with respect to gravity and capillary forces. The incorporation of gravity alone creates complicated, pore-scale gravity fingers. To properly model wetting fluid invasion where macroscopic gravity fingers form, we incorporate a pore-scale geometric capillary smoothing function we refer to as facilitation.Facilitation models the physics of wetting fluid invasion of pores by modifying the capillary pressure required to fill a pore based on the number of adjacent necks connecting the pore to the invading wetting fluid. The wetting fluid invasion facilitation process creates compact clusters and macroscopic fronts in horizontal simulations and in combination with gravity, creates macroscopic, gravity fingers that are in qualitative agreement with physical experiments. The MIP model yields much different imbibition front structures than standard invasion percolation. For MIP, capillary fingering, capillary facilitation, and gravity fingering compete to determine the wetted network structure as a function of pore-size distribution.     

纵轴流联合收割机切流脱粒分离装置的研制与试验

为了分析纵轴流联合收割机切流脱粒分离装置的脱粒分离性能,在自行研制的纵轴流脱粒分离清选试验台上,对钉齿和刀形齿切流脱粒分离装置进行了台架试验,测定了切流脱粒滚筒、强制喂入轮以及纵轴流复脱滚筒的功耗,分析切流脱粒分离装置的结构和运动参数对籽粒脱粒性能的影响。试验结果表明,切流脱粒分离装置的籽粒脱净率范围约为67.19%～82.37%,功耗约占脱粒总功耗的20%,刀形齿式切流脱粒滚筒消耗的功率较少,采用切流与纵轴流组合式脱粒分离装置的小麦脱净率均能达到99.90%以上,夹带损失率小于0.25%,配置刀形齿式切流脱粒滚筒的切流与纵轴流脱粒分离装置的总功耗较少,强制喂入轮和纵轴流复脱滚筒的功耗分别约占脱粒总功耗的14%和66%,研究结果对纵轴流联合收割机的研制具有指导意义。