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Featured Application: We found that in the areas with high seasonal rainfall, to stabilize clay soils, if the amount of Montmorillonite mineral is greater than a certain amount (for example, in this study, 45%), with any amount of chemical additives, they do not maintain their stability and collapse. Conversely, soils containing certain amounts of Illite and Kaolinite minerals with the smallest amount of chemical additives have the best performance. Although the interaction between clay minerals and lime is the most effective factor in lime stabilization techniques, it has not been deeply evaluated. This research study investigated the microstructural characteristics of lime-stabilized Bentonite and Kaolin soils using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses. To consider the variation in clay mineralogy, these soils were mixed at varied ratios, stabilized, and then subjected to a durability process. The microstructural findings showed that the pozzolanic reactions with lime did not occur or occurred at a low level for Bentonite soil. However, they occurred at a very high level for Kaolin soil. The durability test confirmed the microstructural results and showed that the samples in which Bentonite soil had a share of 40 to 100% by dry weight of the soil did not last with any percent of lime. When the Kaolin soil content reached 100% by dry weight of the soil, the specimens lasted in the best possible way, even with 4% of the lime. This study concluded that the determination of optimum lime content based on the amounts and types of soil clay minerals is an important innovation for geotechnical projects and may be very cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of flowable mixtures of treated soils is suggested as a sustainable solution for repairing the damage caused by burrowing animals in the Po River embankments. Soil from damaged sites is proposed to be mixed with lime or cement, other additives, and water in order to obtain mixtures with an adequate compromise between viscosity—which is crucial for flowing the mixture into the hole with site machines—and shrinkage that might occur over time according to the hole boundary conditions. Injections of soil-treated mixtures must guarantee hydraulic and mechanical continuity with the existing embankment and reduce shrinkage phenomena that frequently occur with cement–bentonite grout, which is commonly used for this purpose. This study presents an interdisciplinary experimental programme in the search for the best formulation among several recipes of mixtures of soils, collected from four embankments of Po River or its tributaries and treated with lime or cement, different percentages of water, and other additives. The mixtures, after soil classification and viscosity determinations, were then used to create samples for which shrinkage and erosion susceptibility were estimated, respectively, through a non-standard volume measurement procedure and crumb tests. An abacus will be then proposed in order to give, as a first estimation, applicative indications on the best recipe among the investigated mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a number of studies have provided information on soil texture, soil classification, and depth to bedrock throughout China, few studies have combined this information, which is the basis for agricultural field management. A total of 81% of China's cultivated lands are distributed among the Middle–Lower Yangtze Plain (18.2%), arid and semiarid North China Plain (18.2%), Northeast Plain (17%), Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (16.1%), and Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau (11.6%). The Huang-Huai-Hai Plain has the highest density of agricultural land (58.5%) and the greatest depth to bedrock of cultivated land (243–402 m). The lowest cultivated depth to bedrock (4–84 m) is concentrated in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding regions. The main cultivated soil types are Anthrosols, Fluvisols, Cambisols, Phaeozems, Luvisols, Kastanozems, Leptosols, and Acrisols, under the main topsoil texture classes of loam, clay loam, silty clay loam, silt loam, sandy loam, and clay. The Fluvisols had the largest depth to bedrock (156 m) on the Middle–Lower Yangtze Plain and Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, with the highest silt soil distributions but comparable lower sand contents. The Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau had the highest clay soil content. The cultivation under Kastanozems and Leptosols on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and in arid and semiarid North China and under Phaeozems on the Northeast Plain should be restricted and managed very cautiously facing erosion risk. The higher percentages of Anthrosols are on the Middle–Lower Yangtze Plain (37%), in Southern China (32%), and on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau (26%). The same cultivation aim (i.e., more crop 0production) has produced a similar range of properties over time among the soils developed on agricultural fields, which are classified as Anthrosols. However, various soil types can still be found in agroecosystems because of the variations in climate and topography. Our results highlight that the agriculture-based soil climate and topography shape the interaction of the soil development and not only the pedogenic history of the soil development under variations in the soil depth to bedrock but also the cultivation of distinct pedogenic features. This study provides cultivated soil information on the depth to bedrock, soil classification, and soil texture in China, as well as instructions for field strategies for sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, ocean current turbines have proven to be a reliable device for renewable energy generation. A crucial element of these turbines are the foundations, since they limit the displacement of the turbine, which is key in achieving efficiency in energy conversion, and can account for up to 26% of the total cost of the project. Most design procedures for foundations focus on sandy and clayey soils, but rock soils often predominate in tropical locations where marine currents are suitable for the installation of this type of turbine. This paper presents a design procedure for steel pile anchors (PAs) and concrete dead weight anchors (DWAs) on weak rock soils, using the assumptions of current technical documents and design codes commonly used in the industry for marine structures. Using specific designs for PA and DWA anchors, the procedure was theoretically assessed for a site off Cozumel Island, Mexico. The results show that the dimensions needed for DWAs are substantially larger than those for PAs. Therefore, whenever drilling is economically and operatively possible, piles would be preferable for the foundations of current turbine systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores whether Thermomagnesium (TM), a by-product of Ni ore mining, is an efficient fertilizer for maize. The effects of TM on soil pH, the supply of Si and Mg to the soil and plants, carbohydrate metabolism, grain filling, and yield were assessed in two simultaneous experiments performed in greenhouse conditions. Five TM doses were applied to two soil textures—clayey (0, 55, 273, 709, and 2018 mg kg−1) and sandy (0, 293, 410, 645, and 1260 mg kg−1). In general, the best results in soil and maize plants occurred at the highest TM dose for both soil textures (clayey 2018 mg kg−1 and sandy 1260 mg kg−1). The results demonstrated that in both soils, the concentrations of Mg and Si in the maize leaves increased with the dose of TM, similarly to that which occurred in the soil. Interestingly, in clayey soil, the soil pH increased linearly, whereas in sandy soil, the pH reached its maximum value between the two largest TM doses. The concentration of reducing sugars increased at the highest TM dose, whereas the concentrations of sucrose and starch decreased. The enhancement of carbohydrate partitioning led to higher maize growth, grain filling, and yield. Overall, the results clearly demonstrate that TM is a sustainable alternative fertilizer for maize and can be used for countless other crops and soil classifications, thus providing a suitable destination for this by-product of Ni ore mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthworm activity is a key factor in creating soil aggregates, but introduced organic matter and abiotic factors are also equally important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of aggregates made by earthworms in soils with organic additives. Additionally, the two aggregate stability measurement methods were compared: (i) the wet-sieve method and (ii) the laser diffraction method. A six-month container experiment containing sixteen treatments and controls were made. Each treatment included one of four types of soil texture: sand, loam, silty loam and clay, and one of four additives: straw, peat, compost and compost with added microorganisms. To each treatment, six earthworms were added, two each of species commonly occurring in Polish soils: Dendrodrilus rubidus, Aporrectodea caliginosa and A. rosea. This study confirmed that earthworm activity was the factor favoring aggregate formation. In terms of the investigated organic additives, the efficiency of aggregate creation was as follows: compost with active bacteria, compost, peat and straw. Nevertheless, earthworms alone, without the addition of an organic additive, did not form permanent aggregates. The wet sieving and laser diffractometry methods of measuring aggregate stability were comparable for silty, clayey and loamy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil moisture plays an important role in rice (Oryza sativa L.) root development and grain quality. However, little is known about the effects of soil type on rice root morphophysiological traits (RMTs) and grain quality under different irrigation modes. A soil-grown experiment was conducted during the 2016–2017 rice growing seasons in Yangzhou city with three soil types, namely, clay soil, loamy soil, and sandy soil, and three irrigation regimes, namely, conventional irrigation (CI, 0 kPa), alternate wetting and moderate drying (AWMD, −15 kPa), and alternate wetting and severe drying (AWSD, −25 kPa). The AWMD regime improved the RMT by 3.05–48.95% when compared with the CI and AWSD regimes, and the RMTs in loamy were 7.38–93.67% higher than those in clay and sandy soil under AWMD across 2016 and 2017. The AWMD regime improved the rice milling quality and appearance quality both in clay and loamy soil by 2.88–10.08% and 15.43–45.77%, respectively. The CI regime improved the processing quality and nutritional quality of rice in sandy soil. Both loamy and clay soils improved the rice RMTs and grain quality under an AWMD regime. The RMTs were very significantly correlated with water use efficiency, rice milling, and cooking quality and were negatively correlated with rice appearance quality. The AWMD regime can affect the rice RMT and can improve the rice grain quality in loamy soil. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the design of water-saving rice irrigation regimes and for an improvement in rice grain quality in the process of rice cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A liquid culture enrichment-polymerase chain reaction (E-PCR) assay was investigated as a potential tool to overcome inhibition by chemical component, debris, and background biological impurities in soil that were affecting detection assay performance for soil samples containing Bacillus atrophaeus subsp. globigii (a surrogate for B. anthracis). To evaluate this assay, 9 g of matched sets of three different soil types (loamy sand [sand], sandy loam [loam] and clay) was spiked with 0, ~4.5, 45, 225, 675 and 1350 endospores. One matched set was evaluated using a previously published endospore concentration and colony-forming unit spreadplate (CFU-S) assay and the other matched set was evaluated using an E-PCR assay to investigate differences in limits of detection between the two assays. Data illustrated that detection using the CFU-S assay at the 45-endospore spike level started to become sporadic whereas the E-PCR assay produced repeatable detection at the ~4.5-endospore spike concentration. The E-PCR produced an ~2-log increase in sensitivity and required slightly less time to complete than the CFU-S assay. This study also investigated differences in recovery among pure and blended sand and clay soils and found potential activation of B. anthracis in predominately clay-based soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-year study was conducted to determine how soil texture affects calcium (Ca) absorption and partitioning in potted 'Hass' avocado trees. Trees were planted in 200 L pots in one of four soil types: clay (C), clay loam (CL), sandy loam (SL) or sand (S). Prior to planting, Ca content in each soil was in the normal range of availability, although the Ca concentration was highest in C soil. After two years of tree development, dry weights of shoots and roots were significantly higher in the SL and S soils than in C soil. Trees in the C soil had higher wood dry weight than trees in SL or S soils. The Ca contents (absolute quantities, not concentrations) in the roots, shoots and whole tree were significantly lower in the C soil than in the SL or S soils. The K/Ca ratio of trees in the C soil (K/Ca = 1.5) was significantly higher than that in the other soil types. Stem water potential was significantly lower for trees in the C soil compared to the other soils. These results indicate that Ca absorption and partitioning in young avocado trees varies with soil texture, probably associated with soil effects on root growth and/or plant water status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]