Recent studies suggest the long-standing discrepancy between measured and modeled leaf litter decomposition in drylands is, in part, the result of a unique combination of abiotic drivers that include high soil surface temperature and radiant energy levels and soil-litter mixing. Temperature and radiant energy effects on litter decomposition have been widely documented. However, under field cond...

Composting is a robust waste treatment technology. Use of finished compost enables plant nutrient recycling, carbon sequestration, soil structure improvement and mineral fertiliser replacement. However, composting also emits greenhouse gases (GHG) such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) with high global warming potential (GWP). This thesis analysed emissions of CH4 and N2O during composti...

Accurate latent and sensible heat flux prediction in response to land surface soil moisture at midlatitudes has been shown to be as important as sea surface temperature in making accurate precipitation prediction at mid-latitudes over land (Koster et al., 2000). Unfortunately, land surface models typically give a poor prediction of soil moisture and atmospheric feedback, with large differences ...

Biomass is a primary source of renewable carbon that can be utilized as a feedstock for biofuels or biochemicals production in order to achieve energy independence of energy importing countries. The low bulk density, high moisture content, degradation during the storage, and low energy density of raw lignocellulosic biomass are all significant challenges in supplying agricultural residues as a ...

Accurate prediction of soil moisture in a land surface model (LSM) is critical in improving land surface and atmosphere interactions in the atmospheric general circulation models used in numerical weather prediction and global climate models. Gravity is a relatively new source of remotely sensed data, available since the launch of the twin Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satelli...

* Linkages between plant growth rate and root responses to soil moisture heterogeneity were investigated. * Root dynamics were studied using genetically identical shoots (Vitis vinifera cv. Merlot) with genetically distinct root systems that promote higher (HSV) and lower (LSV) shoot growth rates (1103P and 101-14 Mgt, respectively). Three quantities of irrigation replenished different amounts ...

Vertical soil moisture profiles based on the principle of maximum entropy (POME) were validated using field and model data and applied to guide an irrigation cycle over a maize field in north central Alabama (USA). The results demonstrate that a simple two-constraint entropy model under the assumption of a uniform initial soil moisture distribution can simulate most soil moisture profiles that ...

A combined experimental and analytic approach to moisture diffusion analysis (MDA) has evolved in proof of principle form as a new instrument termed a ~ist~re ~rof~lometer .. The ob~ec~ive in m?isture profilometry is the quantitative analysis of the spat1al d1str1but~on of m?1stu~e.w1th1n compos1tes . and definition of localized internal stress fields. An electrolyt1c cell 1s ut1l1zed to record...