The contamination of soil with petroleum products is a major environmental problem. Petroleum products are common soil contaminants as a result of human activities, and they are causing substantial changes in the biological (particularly microbiological) processes, chemical composition, structure and physical properties of soil. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of soil ...

Penetration experiments will find several applications in exploration missions in the near future. Penetrators are common tools for the investigation of physical surface properties. The techniques and theories are widely applied under 1g condition on Earth and the results are used by engineers and scientists. The main contribution to the bearing resistance of a soil is combined of shaft and bas...

Each year, millions of tons of agricultural residues such as wheat straw are produced worldwide. In this paper, we describe ongoing efforts to solve technological, infrastructural, and economic challenges to using this straw for bioenergy and bioproducts. Among these challenges, silica in straw forms a low-melting point eutectic with potassium, causing excessive slagging deposits in boilers. Th...

Hydraulic redistribution (HR) occurs in many ecosystems; however, key questions remain about its consequences at the ecosystem level. The objectives of the present study were to quantify seasonal variation in HR and its driving force, and to manipulate the soil-root system to elucidate physiological components controlling HR and utilization of redistributed water. In the upper soil layer of a y...

Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate effect of microwave irradiation of sandy loam soil on thermal energy absorption and control of plant-parasitic nematodes when air dry soil layers were placed on top of less moist, moist, and wet soil layers. The soil was packed in 12 cm high and 10 cm dia columns to a bulk density of 1.4 g/cm3. Moisture contents of air dry, less moist, moist, and we...

Although roots in dry soil layers are commonly rehydrated by internal hydraulic redistribution during the nocturnal period, patterns of tissue rehydration are poorly understood. Rates of nocturnal rehydration were examined in roots of different orders in Vaccinium corymbosum L. 'Bluecrop' (Northern highbush blueberry) grown in a split-pot system with one set of roots in relatively moist soil an...