A multi-year experiment was conducted to compare the effects of conservation tillage (no-till and ridge-till) with conventional plow tillage on organic C, N, and resin-extractable P in an alkaline semi-arid subtropical soil (Hidalgo sandy clay loam, a fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Calciustoll) at Weslaco, TX (26890N 978570W). Tillage comparisons were established on irrigated plots in 19...

Heavy metals and a metalloid in agricultural soils in 19 communities in Tarkwa were analyzed to assess the potential ecological risk. A total of 147 soil samples were collected in June, 2012 and analyzed for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn. Mean concentrations (mg/kg dw) of heavy metals in the communities decreased in order of Zn (39) ˃ Cr (21) ˃ Pb (7.2) ˃ Cu (6.2) ˃ As (4.4) ˃ Ni (3.7) ...

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) can be found in high concentrations in sewage sludge and, hence, may enter the soil compartment as a result of sludge application. Here, LAS may pose a risk for soil-dwelling organisms. In the present probabilistic risk assessment, statistical extrapolation has been used to assess the risk of LAS to soil ecosystems. By use of a log-normal distribution model,...

Soil moisture is an important environmental variable that impacts military operations and weapons systems. Accurate and timely forecasts of soil moisture at appropriate spatial scales, therefore, are important for mission planning. We present an application of a \ soil moisture data assimilation system to military trafficability assessment. The data assimilation system combines hillslope-scale ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The Finite Element Method (FEM) has been used in recent years to simulate overturning processes in trees. This study aimed at using FEM to determine the role of individual roots in tree anchorage with regard to different rooting patterns, and to estimate stress distribution in the soil and roots during overturning. METHODS The FEM was used to carry out 2-D simulations of t...

Soil remediation is the act of removing or reducing availability contaminants from soil. In case agriculture, soil targets removal pollutants, including residual pesticides/herbicides, hydrocarbons, and toxic heavy metals. This often done by chemical treatments with multiple washes excavation soils, which are costly time-consuming. Therefore, finding cheaper, less time-consuming methods highly ...

Plants experience different soil conditions that may influence several aspects of their biology such as nutrient uptake, root competition, growth and even floral display (Mal & LovettDoust 2005). For clonal plants, the relative investment in sexual reproduction or vegetative growth can vary according to the context in which they grow (e.g. invaded soil vs. noninvaded) since environmental constr...

Lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) are common metal contaminants in terrestrial environments. Decisions on remediation of metal contaminated soil are often based on risk estimates derived from generic guideline values. Guideline values are used at the screening stage of Ecological Risk Assessments (ERA) and have been developed to represent “safe” levels of contaminants applicable over large geographical a...