The installation of underground pipelines: effects on soil properties

Since the 1970s a network of underground pipes, up to 1200 mm diameter, has been installed in the UK to transmit crude oil to refineries and gas from onshore terminals for distribution. Chosen routes are subject to significant constraints. Current techniques for pipe installation involve topsoil removal and storage. Trench depth is set to allow a cover of 1200 mm overburden after pipes have been installed. The heavy machinery involved results in severe compaction of exposed subsoil. Subsoil is loosened comprehensively and topsoil replaced. Existing field drains are reconnected, and, if necessary, new drains with gravel backfill installed. Pipe installation usually takes place between April and October. Preventative measures to limit compaction during installation are not a practical option. If subsequent arable crops or grass are poorer or drainage more defective than before disturbance, the loss is assessed and compensation paid. To determine the cause of the loss >60, investigations have been made throughout the UK. Soil physical properties were assessed in an open trench using visual and tactile methods. Consistently, severe compaction in the subsoil was identified as the cause of poor crop growth or drainage; it was not observed in the topsoil. Specific recommendations for remedial action were made based on location, depth and severity of the compaction. These included the installation of additional land drains, increasing the amount of gravel above the drains, or further subsoil loosening orientated to cross gravel backfill. After appropriate remedial action, net compensation for crop losses was frequently small or negligible.     

Soil organic carbon stock variability in the Northern Gangetic Plains of India: interaction between agro‐ecological characteristics and cropping systems

Soil organic carbon (SOC) content and its spatial distribution in the Northern Gangetic Plain (NGP) Zone of India were determined to establish the cause–effect relationship between agro‐ecological characteristics, prevailing crop management practices and SOC stock. Area Spread Index (ASI) approach was used to collect soil samples from the NGP areas supporting predominant cropping systems. Exponential ordinary kriging was found most suitable geo‐statistical model for developing SOC surface maps of the NGP. Predicted surface maps indicated that 43.7% area of NGP had 0.5–0.6% SOC, while the rest of the area was equally distributed with high (0.61–0.75%) and low (< 0.5%) SOC content levels. Averaged across cropping systems, maximum SOC content was recorded in Bhabar and Tarai Zone (BTZ), followed by Central Plain Zone (CPZ), Mid‐Western Plain Zone (MWPZ), Western Plain Zone (WPZ) and South‐Western Plain Zone (SWPZ) of the NGP. The SOC stock was above the optimum threshold (> 12.5 Mg/ha) in 97.8, 57.6 and 46.4% areas of BTZ, CPZ and MWPZ, respectively. Only 9.8 and 0.4% area of WPZ and SWPZ, respectively, had SOC stock above the threshold value. The variation in SOC stock was attributed largely to carbon addition through recycling of organic sources, cropping systems, tillage intensity, crop or residue cover and land‐use efficiency, nutrient‐use pattern, soil texture and prevailing ecosystem. Adoption of conservation agriculture, balanced use of nutrients, inclusion of legumes in cropping systems and agro‐forestry were suggested for enhancing SOC stock in the region.     

西双版纳南览河流域常见观赏蝶种及其寄主植物资源调查

西双版纳勐海县境内南览河流域具有良好的天然植被,蝴蝶种类繁多。为了开展重要观赏蝶种的人工繁育试验,2013—2018年对南览河中低海拔地带的常见观赏蝴蝶及其野生寄主植物资源开展了进一步的深入调查,结果表明,经过5年定点调查和沿线观察,在区域内发现兼具较高观赏价值及人工繁育潜力的蝶种46个;通过观察野外成虫的产卵活动,结合野外套袋及室内饲养幼虫,发现蝴蝶寄主植物38种,初步查明了相关蝶种的野生寄主植物资源。调查工作可为筛选出当地适生优良寄主植物、进一步开展相关蝶种的人工养殖试验提供参考。     

Genotypic Variation for Tolerance to Transient Drought During the Reproductive Phase of Brassica rapa

Brassica rapa L. is a genetically diverse parent species of the allotetraploid species, oilseed rape (B. napus) and a potential source of drought tolerance for B. napus. We examined the effect of a 13‐day drought stress period during the early reproductive phase, relative to a well‐watered (WW) control, on subsequent growth and development in nine accessions of B. rapa and one accession of Brassica juncea selected for their wide morphological and genetic diversity. We measured leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, water use, and leaf and bud temperatures during the stress period and aboveground dry weight of total biomass at maturity. Dry weight of seeds and reproductive tissue were not useful measures of drought tolerance due to self‐incompatibility in B. rapa. The relative total biomass (used as the measure of drought tolerance in this study) of the 10 accessions exposed to drought stress ranged from 47 % to 117 % of the WW treatment and was negatively correlated with leaf‐to‐air and bud‐to‐air temperature difference when averaged across the 13‐day stress period. Two wild‐type (B. rapa ssp. sylvestris) accessions had higher relative total and non‐reproductive biomass at maturity and cooler leaves and buds than other types. We conclude that considerable genotypic variation for drought tolerance exists in B. rapa and cooler leaves and buds during a transient drought stress in the early reproductive phase may be a useful screening tool for drought tolerance.     

Effects of Glyphosate on Soil Salinization and Alkalization in Cotton Fields

We analyzed the effects of glyphosate to the index of salinization and alkalization by simulation in soils collected from cotton fields in Anyang, Henan and Anqing, Anhui, China, in 2014. The results showed that application of glyphosate changed electrical conductivity (EC), total alkalinity (TAL), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and pH of soil in both regions，compared with the blank control. With increased frequency of glyphosate application and increased concentration applied, all indices increased in the Anqing cotton fields soil which were treated with concentrations of 2.5-20 g·L^－1 . However, EC, TAL and ESP increased dynamically in Anyang soil to which high concentrations of 20 g·L^－1 were applied only four consecutive times. After different glyphosate treatments, the soil pH value showed an upward trend but smaller changes. Therefore, after repeated use of glyphosate to soils of two different region soils, although the changes of all indices were within the range of non-saline and non-sodic soils, the soils affected by salt in the glyphosate aqueous solution tended towards saline-sodic soils.     

Soil property differences among high‐ and average‐yielding soya bean areas in Arkansas,USA

Soya bean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] yields >6719 kg/ha (100 bu/ac) have only recently and infrequently been achieved. Quantifying soil property differences between high‐ and average‐yielding areas can help to further identify non‐plant‐related properties contributing to soya bean yield potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of region and soil depth on soil property differences between high‐ and average‐yielding areas. In each of the seven regions of the ‘Grow for the Green’ yield contest in Arkansas, prior to or just after harvest in 2014 and 2015, soil samples were collected from the top 20 cm of one contest high‐yield (HY ) area that was in close proximity to an average‐yield (AY ) area. Across all regions and both years, soya bean yields differed (P  <  0.05) between yield areas, averaging 4701 and 5498 kg/ha in AY and HY areas, respectively. Averaged across soil depth and years, numerous soil properties differed (P  <  0.05) between HY and AY areas within at least one of seven regions. Total soil C content was at least 20.2% greater in the HY than in the AY area in three of seven regions. Extractable soil P content was, on average, 19.4 kg/ha greater in HY than in AY areas in three of the seven regions. Results from this study have the potential to help producers better understand soil properties that contribute to or hinder achieving ultra‐high (>6719 kg/ha) soya bean yields.     

复盐胁迫下结缕草K~+、Na~+吸收与运输的特点

用2种中性盐(Na Cl和Na2SO4)模拟江苏沿海滩涂土壤盐碱条件,配制不同复盐浓度,对大穗结缕草(Zoysia macrostachya)和中华结缕草(Zoysia sinica)进行30 d复盐胁迫处理,分别测定根和叶中K~+、Na~+含量,探讨复盐胁迫下2种结缕草K~+、Na~+吸收与运输特点。结果表明:随着盐胁迫浓度的增加,2种结缕草根和叶中Na~+的含量逐渐升高,中华结缕草的Na~+含量大于大穗结缕草;2种结缕草根和叶中K~+的含量呈现不同的变化趋势,根中2种结缕草K~+含量先增加后降低,但大穗结缕草K~+含量增加较大,叶中2种结缕草K~+含量总体呈现增加的趋势。2种结缕草根和叶片中K~+/Na~+随盐浓度增加而逐渐降低,但叶片中K~+/Na~+大于根中K~+/Na~+,表明盐胁迫促进了K~+向叶片运输。大穗结缕草的SK,Na逐渐降低,中华结缕草的SK,Na先降低后升高,说明2种结缕草对K~+和Na~+的选择性运输特点不同。     

防洪堤施工中筑堤粗粒土控制干密度的合理性分析

文章对相对密度控制问题进行分析,并提出几点建议。     

Influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand in the Qarhan Desert,Qaidam Basin of China: A wind tunnel experiment

Determination of the threshold shear velocity is essential for predicting sand transport, dust release and desertification. In this study, a wind tunnel experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand. Saline sand samples (mean particle size of 164.50-186.08 μm and the total silt, clay and salt content of 0.80%-8.25%) were collected from three saline sand dunes (one barchan dune and two linear dunes) in the Qarhan Desert, Qaidam Basin of China. Original saline sand samples were placed in two experimental trays for wet and dry processing to simulate deliquescence and desiccation, respectively. Surface moisture content ranging from 0.30% to 1.90% was generated by the steam method so that the saline sand can absorb water in a saturated water vapor environment. The motion of sand particles was determined by the observers with a solid laser. The laser sheet (0.80 cm thick), which was emitted by the solid laser, horizontally covered the sand surface and was bound to the sand. Results show that the cohesion of saline sand results from a combination of salt and water. The threshold shear velocity increases exponentially with the increase in crust thickness for the linear sand dunes. There is a positive linear correlation between the original moisture content and relative threshold shear velocity. The threshold shear velocity of dewatered sand is greater than that of wet sand with the same original moisture content. Our results will provide valuable information about the sand transport of highly saline soil in the desert.     

基于变分法的FY-3C土壤水分产品适用性分析

FY-3C作为我国风云三号首颗业务卫星,其上搭载的微波成像仪(MWRI)可提供全天候土壤水分数据。【目的】获取高质量土壤水分数据可以对合理利用土壤水资源提供参考,为农田干旱监控和预报提供基础参数。【方法】选取山东省农业气象站土壤水分数据对FY-3C土壤水分产品进行检验,为获取更高质量FY-3C土壤水分产品,选用变分订正方法对FY-3C土壤水分产品进行偏差订正。【结果】FY-3C升降轨土壤水分产品与地面站土壤水分相关系数R分别为0.481 6和0.408 2,RMSE分别为0.099 6和0.091 0 cm~3/cm~3。订正后FY-3C升降轨土壤水分产品与地面站土壤水分R分别为0.701 4和0.892 4,RMSE分别为0.021 7和0.011 cm~3/cm~3。对2016年3—4月山东省干旱过程订正前、后FY-3C土壤水分变化情况进行对比,订正后FY-3C土壤水分更准确地反映出此次干旱过程。【结论】FY-3C土壤水分产品可以准确反映土壤水分随时间的变化趋势,订正后FY-3C土壤水分产品与地面站土壤水分间误差减小、相关性提高。