The effects of two water regimes (well-watered condition or drought stress) on root length,root surface area and root volume were tested on two peanut genotypes (the drought-resistantvariety HuaYu 22 (HY22) and the drought-sensitive variety HuaYu 23 (HY23)), measured 101days after sowing. The roots were sampled from the upper (0–40 cm) and deeper (40–100 cm)soil layers. Root diameter was measur...

Soil moisture predictability and the associated predictability of continental climate are explored as an initialvalue problem, using a coupled land–atmosphere model with prescribed ocean surface temperatures. Ensemble simulations are designed to assess the extent to which initial soil moisture fields explain variance of future predictands (soil moisture, near-surface air temperature, and precip...

A box model for estimating bidirectional air– surface exchange of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) has been updated based on the latest understanding of the resistance scheme of atmosphere–biosphere interface transfer. Simulations were performed for two seasonal months to evaluate diurnal and seasonal variation. The base-case results show that water and soil surfaces are net sources, while veget...

Crop coefficient curves provide simple, reproducible means to estimate crop evapotranspiration (ET) from weather-based reference ET values. The dual crop coefficient sKcd method of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United States (FAO) Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56 (FAO-56) is intended to improve daily simulation of crop ET by considering separately the contribution of evapora...

The microtopography of the soil surface (mm to dm range) is a crucial factor in understanding and monitoring soil erosion. It influences the dissipation of rain-drop energy, determines the hydraulics of surface runoff, and it is changed by transport and sedimentation of soil particles. We used a high-resolution terrestrial laser scanner to assess erosion risks due to mechanized logging with cra...

Manure application can lead to excessive soil test P levels in surface soil, which can contribute to increased P concentration in runoff. However, manure application often results in reduced runoff and sediment loss. Research was conducted to determine the residual effects of previously applied compost, plowing of soil with excessive soil test P, and application of additional compost after plow...

Phosphorus (P) in irrigation runoff may enrich offsite water bodies and streams and be influenced by irrigation water quality and antecedent soil surface conditions. Runoff, soil loss, and P fractions in runoff using reverse osmosis (RO) water or mixed RO and well water (RO/ Tap) were studied in a laboratory sprinkler study to evaluate water source effects on P transport. A top- or subsoil Port...

The impact of soil mesofauna on the rehabilitation of soil surfaces sealed by rainfall was investigated in a long-term laboratory experiment. Fifteen undisturbed soil monoliths from the Ap horizon of a Gleyic Podzoluvisol/Haplic Luvisol derived from loess were obtained after conventional tillage and seedbed preparation. The soil of this site is known to be susceptible to surface sealing as a re...