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A model for the one-dimensional consolidation of saturated clayey soils, considering creep, is proposed, based on the consolidation mechanism idealized by Terzaghi (1941). The effective vertical stress is divided into two parts: one corresponding to the "solid" contacts, and other relating to the "viscous" contacts, the void ratio changes being caused by variations solely in the solid portion. Based on experimental evidence, a non-linear viscosity law was adopted, described by a hyperbolic function, in addition to its dependence on the void ratio. The resulting differential equation system is solved through the Finite Difference Method. The main "secondary effects of time" – experimental deviations from the classical Terzaghi (1925) theory – were able to be reproduced using the model, as well as experimental results that support other categories of consolidation models, such as the isotache- and C α / C C -based models. A good fit was obtained for the results of long-term laboratory tests in clays from different parts of the world that reached the end of secondary consolidation. A good prediction was also reached for the evolution of settlements from the experimental embankment on the soft soils of Lilla Mellosa, monitored since 1947 in Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liming with 'structure lime', comprising approximately 80–85% ground limestone and 15–20% slaked lime, has been promoted in subsidised environmental schemes in Sweden since 2010 to increase clay aggregate stability and mitigate particulate phosphorus losses to surface waters. To date, approximately 65,000 ha have been structure-limed. Apart from stabilising aggregates, liming may also improve other physical properties, such as soil strength. This study examined the effect of increasing application rate (0–16 t ha-1) of structure lime on soil strength, approximated by horizontal (draught requirement) and vertical (penetrometer resistance) measurements, in eight field soils (clay content 26–38%) to which structure lime had been applied two, three, four or six years previously. Draught requirement when cultivating with a multipurpose cultivator significantly decreased (by 11%) with the highest application rate of structure lime (16 t ha-1) compared with an unlimed control. This reduced the wheel power requirement by 7.1 kW and diesel consumption by 1.2–1.4 L ha-1, and lowered CO 2 emissions by 3–4 kg ha-1. To clarify the general effect of structure liming, the mean value of all limed treatments was compared with that of the unlimed control. This showed that structure liming in general significantly reduced the draught requirement (by 7%). However, penetrometer resistance measurements revealed no significant effects of structure liming and no relation between draught requirement and penetrometer resistance measurements. Overall, the results indicate that structure liming can reduce fuel consumption, due to easier soil tillage, and thus lower CO 2 emissions. • Cultivator draught requirement was measured in structure limed field trials. • A towing eye with sensors that can measure forces in three directions was used. • Structure liming reduced horizontal draught requirement by 7%. • Reductions corresponded to decreases of 1.2–1.4 L diesel ha-1 and 3–4 kg CO 2 ha-1. • Structure liming did not affect penetrometer resistance in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of agricultural topsoils varies considerably throughout the year due to interactions between climatic and biological factors and agricultural management practices. Tillage generally decreases soil density and increases macroporosity, but the resulting arrangement of clods and aggregates is unstable and the soil eventually reverts back to its denser pre-tillage condition. Accounting for post-tillage changes in soil structure and related hydraulic properties could greatly improve model predictions of hydrological and transport processes. Model testing, development and parameterization is, however, currently hampered by a lack of direct measurements of the changes occurring in the structural pore system. We subjected repacked samples of soil collected from the harrowed layer of nine different fine- and medium-textured Swedish mineral soils to subsequent wetting and drying cycles in the laboratory. Initial wetting and equilibration at −30 cm pressure potential was followed by three cycles of simulated rainfall (5 mm h −1 for 4 h) and equilibration. X-ray tomography was used to quantify changes in surface and total porosity, pore size distribution (PSD) and connectivity of structural pores. Total porosity decreased (by 2–24%) in all soils except for two clay soils where in one case the porosity increased slightly (3%) and remained unchanged in the other. In six of the soils, the PSD shifted significantly towards smaller pore sizes, and in four of these soils the connectivity of the pore network decreased. Soil surface porosity decreased most markedly in two silt loam soils (by 73% and 75%). For the nine soils changes were strongly correlated with silt content. Only weak correlations were found between the changes in total porosity and soil texture and organic carbon content. Changes in the PSD appeared to be mainly controlled by the initial structure of the sample created at the time of tillage and sample preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Manure rate had little influence on the improvement of soil physical properties. • Improvement in soil gas transport and Ksat by manure varied with soil and crop type. • Silty soil had better improvements by manure addition than sandy and clayey soil. Manure application and crop rotation are common agricultural practices that can alter soil physical properties and affect soil functions. In this study, we assessed the effect of long-term manure fertilization (24 to 126 years) and crop type on soil hydraulic, aggregate and pore structural properties. Samples were collected from three long-term experiments (LTEs) in Sweden (silty clay, SiC), Germany (silt loam, SiL) and Denmark (sandy loam, SL). Measurements included water retention, air permeability and gas diffusivity measured at five matric potentials −3, −5, −10, −30 and −50 kPa, saturated hydraulic conductivity (K sat), bulk density (ρ b), and water-stable aggregates (WSA). The treatments at the three LTEs included various manure rates and crop sequences (winter wheat, maize, spring barley, and grass/clover). Results showed that long-term manure addition reduced ρ b by an average of 3–6% for all three sites, and improved soil water retention, plant available water and WSA for most investigated plots. However, increasing manure rates for the SiL and SL sites did not result in further improvements in soil water retention, ρ b and water-stable aggregates. The effect of manure on soil pore size distribution, gas transport, and K sat varied with soil and crop type. Manure increased the porosity of pores < 30 µm in the two fine-textured sites and increased the porosity of pores > 30 µm for wheat and maize plots in the SL site. Manure improved gas transport and K sat in the wheat plots and decreased these properties in the barley plots regardless of soil texture. The maize plots in the SL site had well developed pore structure, while the pore structure in the SiL site was relatively poor. Grass plots had poorer gas transport than maize plots in the SL site despite the manure addition. The study shows that improvements in soil physical and chemical properties arising from manure application largely depend on the crops grown and the soil texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The study investigated proximal sensor data fusion for topsoil clay mapping on a 22hectare agricultural field in southwest Sweden. Eight different predictor sets and two different prediction methods were tested in an orthogonal design. The predictor sets were different combinations of proximally measured gamma (γ) ray spectrometry and apparent electrical conductivity (ECa), four terrain attributes (elevation, slope and the cosine and the sine of the aspect) and the digital numbers (DNs) of an aerial photo. The two prediction methods were partial least squares regression (PLS-R) and k nearest neighbor prediction (kNN). It was found that the γ ray spectrometry variables (232Th, 40K and total count of decays) were good predictors of topsoil clay content (mean absolute error of about 1.5% clay) and predictions were neither much improved nor deteriorated by addition of any of the other predictors. The ECa measurements, which are affected also by the subsoil, did not perform as well. Predictions were improved when the ECa data were integrated with the aerial photo DN but were deteriorated by addition of elevation data. The kNN method yielded slightly better predictions than the PLS-R method but overall it was more important which input data were used than how the predictions were made. It was observed that even though dense soil sampling was used for calibration (three samples per hectare), use of proximal soil sensor data was almost always better than mere interpolation of the calibration samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to explore the influence of site-specific soil properties on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses between individual fields and crop sequences, 16 drained fields with clay soils were investigated in a four-year study. Mean total N (TN) loss was 6.6–11.1 from a conventional, 14.3–21.5 from an organic and 13.1–23.9kgha−1 year−1 from an integrated cropping system across a 4year period, with 75% in nitrate form (NO3–N). Mean total P (TP) loss was 0.96–3.03, 0.99–4.63 and 0.76–2.67kgha−1 year−1, from the three systems respectively during the same period, with 25% in dissolved reactive form (DRP). Median N efficiency was calculated to be 70% including gains from estimated N fixation. According to principal component factor (PCA) analysis, field characteristics and cropping system were generally more important for losses of N and P than year. Accumulation of soil mineral N in the autumn and (estimated) N fixation was important for N leaching. No P fertilisers were used at the site in either cropping system. Total P concentration in drainage water from each of the fields was marginally significantly (p<0.05) correlated to TP concentration in the topsoil (r=0.52), measured in hydrochloric acid extract (P-HCl). Mean DRP concentrations were significantly (p<0.01) correlated to degree of P saturation (DPS-AL) and soil carbon (C) content in the topsoil (r=0.63). Good establishment of a crop with efficient nutrient uptake and good soil structure was general preconditions for low nutrient leaching. Incorporation of ley by tillage operations in the summer before autumn crop establishment and repeated operations in autumn as well, increased N leaching. Crop management in sequences with leguminous crops needs to be considered carefully when designing cropping systems high efficiency in N utilisation and low environmental impact. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Models for draught requirement are in most cases developed from foundation engineering, and generally include cohesion as the main parameter to define soil strength. There are also empirical models which include penetration resistance as a soil strength factor. This study examined specific draught during mouldboard ploughing as a function of soil strength and related the results to existing models. Draught requirement was measured on 37 different occasions at 15 sites with clay content ranging from 13 to 56%. Four of these sites were ploughed on several occasions in the autumn to obtain a range of water contents. Shear vane measurements were carried out on all occasions and were used to derive soil cohesion. Penetration resistance was measured on 21 occasions. Soil strength proved much more sensitive to changes in water content than draught requirement. Consequently, model predictions of specific draught were much higher than measured values in soil with high cohesion values. A possible explanation is that specific draught mainly depends on inter-aggregate strength, while the intra-aggregate strength may be considerably higher. Over all tillage occasions, specific draught was much more strongly correlated to cohesion than to penetration resistance. There was also a clear correlation between draught and soil clay content. Multiple regression including cohesion and soil water content resulted in a much higher coefficient of determination than regression with cohesion only. The results indicate that neither shear vane nor penetrometer measurements are sufficient to predict draught requirement, and it is desirable to develop a simple yet reliable field method that can be used for this purpose. More general estimates of fuel consumption can probably be made based on the soil clay content only. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to collate information on potential measures to reduce phosphorus (P) losses, with particular reference to Sweden. In Sweden, three dominant types of soils or soil profiles are at risk of suffering from high P losses through different pathways: clay soils with a naturally poor structure, usually situated on the large central plains, are prone to lose P through drain tiles; silty soils, usually situated on hilly terrain, are prone to erosion; and sandy soils with a low P sorption capacity in both topsoil and subsoil and that have had heavy applications of fertilisers, are prone to high leaching losses. Fields with such soils and landscape position with connectivity to surface waters may lose more than 0.5 kg P ha year−1 and often more than 1 kg P ha year−1. Losses of soluble reactive P (SRP) are commonly 30–50% of the total P losses. Improved soil tillage together with other measures aimed at improving soil structure are suggested to have the best potential to reduce losses, with short-term and long-term effects, for the clayey and silty soil profiles. For the silty soils, keeping the surface densely vegetated in winter and liming backfill of the drainage systems are suggested to be important ways to reduce the losses of particulate P (PartP). For sandy soils prone to P leaching, appropriate application of fertiliser and improved contact between fertiliser and the soil may be one of the few effective ways to reduce SRP losses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Field traffic may reduce the amount of air-filled pores and cavities in the soil thus affecting a large range of physical soil properties and processes, such as infiltration, soil water flow and water retention. Furthermore, soil compaction may increase the mechanical strength of the soil and thereby impede root growth.The objective of this research was to test the hypotheses that: (1) the degree of soil displacement during field traffic depends largely on the soil water content, and (2) the depth to which the soil is displaced during field traffic can be predicted on the basis of the soil precompression stress and calculated soil stresses. In 1999, field measurements were carried out on a Swedish swelling/shrinking clay loam of stresses and vertical soil displacement during traffic with wheel loads of 2, 3, 5 and 7 Mg at soil water contents of between 11 and 35% (w/w). This was combined with determinations of soil precompression stress at the time of the traffic and predictions of the soil compaction with the soil compaction model SOCOMO. Vertical soil displacement increased with increased axle load. In May, the soil precompression stress was approximately 100 kPa at 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 m depth. In August and September, the soil precompression stress at 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 m depth was 550–1245 kPa. However, when traffic with a wheel load of 7 Mg was applied, the soil displacements at 0.5 m depth were several times larger in August and September than in May, and even more at 0.7 m depth. An implication of the results is that the precompression stress does not always provide a good indication of the risk for subsoil compaction. A practical consequence is that subsoil compaction in some soils may occur even when the soil is very dry. The SOCOMO model predicted the soil displacement relatively well when the soil precompression stress was low. However, for all other wheeling treatments, the model failed to predict that any soil compaction would occur, even at high axle loads.The measured soil stresses were generally higher than the stresses calculated with the SOCOMO model. Neither the application of a parabolic surface load distribution nor an increased concentration factor could account for this difference. This was probably because the stress distribution in a very dry and strongly structured soil is different from the stress distribution in more homogeneous soils. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]