The high complexity of modern large scale construction projects leads their schedules to be sensitive to delays. At underground construction sites the earthwork processes are vital, as most of the following tasks depend on them. This paper presents a method for estimating the productivity of soil removal by combining two technologies based on computer vision: photogrammetry and video analysis. ...

The relationship between plant diversity and productivity in grasslands could depend, partly, on how diversity affects vertical distributions of root biomass in soil; yet, no prior study has evaluated the links among diversity, root depth distributions, and productivity in a long-term experiment. We used data from a 12-year experiment to ask how plant species richness and composition influenced...

We measured nutrient use efficiency (NPP/nutrient uptake) in three species of tropical trees, Hyeronima alchorneoides, Cedrela odorata, and Cordia alliodora. We tested the prediction that on fertile soils species with very different biomass and nutrient allocation and turnover would converge on a common value of nutrient use efficiency. Due to high soil fertility, nutrient use efficiencies of t...

A common hypothesis for northern ecosystems is that low soil temperatures inhibit plant productivity. To address this hypothesis, we reviewed how separate components of ecosystem carbon (C) cycling varied along a soil temperature gradient for nine welldrained, relatively productive boreal black spruce (Picea marianaMill. [B.S.P.]) forests in Alaska, USA, and Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. A...

A common hypothesis for northern ecosystems is that low soil temperatures inhibit plant productivity. To address this hypothesis, we reviewed how separate components of ecosystem carbon (C) cycling varied along a soil temperature gradient for nine welldrained, relatively productive boreal black spruce (Picea mariana Mill. [B.S.P.]) forests in Alaska, USA, and Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. ...

Slag-based silicate fertilizer has been widely used to improve soil silicon- availability and crop productivity. A consecutive early rice-late rice rotation experiment was conducted to test the impacts of steel slag on soil pH, silicon availability, rice growth and metals-immobilization in paddy soil. Our results show that application of slag at a rate above higher or equal to 1 600 mg plant-av...

Grazing cattle on forest plantations in the interior of British Columbia is a common practice. Soil compaction can occur following cattle use, although this may vary with stocking rate, vegetation type and age, soil type, soil water content, and climate. Several studies have shown that increased soil compaction can have a negative impact on growth of young tree seedlings and on productivity in ...

At national level, numerous institutions are active in the many fields involving soil information issues, for example: Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, Agency for Environment Protection and Technical Services, university soil science departments, Experimental Institute for Soil Study and Conservation, centres of the National Research Council, as CNR-IRPI). The National Committee for S...

soil organic carbon is a key factor in productivity and quality of soil and environment particularly in semi arid regions. in this article, the role of farm soil organic matter management in soil and in land is discussed. the variability of soil organic carbon in drylands is mainly controlled by tillage and crop residue management. results of this study indicated that usage of correct tillage m...