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Different tillage methods can have varying effects on soil properties and crop quality. Therefore, field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Landmark University, located in Omu‐Aran, Kwara State. The objectives were to investigate the impacts of various tillage methods on soil characteristics and the growth, yield, mineral and proximate content of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Based on these objectives, it was hypothesized that soil properties, growth, yield, mineral and proximate contents of soybean would react differently to different tillage methods. Consequently, experiments were conducted to validate this hypothesis. The treatments were four tillage methods: manual clearing (MC), ploughing (P), ploughing plus harrowing (P + H) and manual ridging (MR), replicated three times in a randomized complete block design. Data on the initial soil properties (bulk density, particle size, pH, organic matter, N, P, K, Ca and Mg), along with the chemical properties of the soil on a per‐plot basis at the end of the experiment, were collected. Additionally, data on soil bulk density, porosity, moisture content and temperature were collected during the vegetative growth of the soybean. Soybean plant height and the number of branches were recorded at the midflowering stage, while grain yield and the number of pods were recorded at harvest. Soybean seeds were later analysed for their mineral and proximate contents using standard methods. P + H resulted in lower soil bulk density than other tillage methods and led to higher growth, yield, proximate and mineral contents of soybean. In MC, bulk density, soil moisture content, soil organic matter, N, P, K, Ca and Mg were significantly higher and temperature lower than in other tillage methods; yet, these advantages did not translate into increased yield and quality due to the higher bulk density. The growth, yield and quality of soybean were significantly influenced by soil bulk density rather than by soil chemical properties. Using the mean of the two sites, relative to MC, P and MR, P + H increased the grain yield of soybean by 41.3%, 24.4% and 13.7%, respectively. These findings underscore the importance of appropriate tillage practices for successful soybean cultivation in similar agroecological zones. For small‐scale operations, MR is suggested, while P + H is recommended for large‐scale soybean production in the studied area. Future studies could include additional variables, such as economic analysis, long‐term soil health impacts or the effects of tillage methods under varying climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term excessive use of chemical fertilizers may result in soil degradation, but manure and straw application is considered to be an effective approach for alleviating this problem. The aim of this study is to examine the long-term impacts of different fertilization patterns on soil quality variables in a wheat–sweet potato rotation system. Four treatments were conducted in a field trial for a duration of twelve years, including (1) no fertilizer (control, CK); (2) application of mineral fertilizers (NPK) alone; (3) NPK with crop straw return (NPKs); (4) combined use of NPK and farmyard manure (NPKm). Thirteen physical, chemical, and biological soil parameters were measured. The results showed that the NPKm and NPKs significantly improved the proportion of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) by 24.7% and 21.9% compared to the NPK alone, respectively. The proportion of microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm) under the NPKm was 47.4% significantly higher than the NPKs. Additionally, the NPKm resulted in a 22.2% and 19.6% increase in the SOC content than the NPK and NPKs, respectively. In terms of soil-available K, the NPKs resulted in levels that were 42.1% and 49.6% higher than the NPKm and NPK alone, respectively. Long-term fertilization significantly decreased soil pH by 0.95–1.85 units compared to the control, whereas manure application could alleviate soil acidification, as shown when the pH increased by 10.6–18.7%. The NPKm and NPKs resulted in significantly increased soil pHs by 10.6% and 18.7% compared to the NPK alone, respectively. In addition, the NPKm and NPKs increased N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activity by 52.6% and 60.3% compared to the NPK alone. Determined by the minimum data set method, the NPKm treatment exhibited the highest soil quality index, followed by the NPKs and NPK. Our findings suggested that the combined use of chemical fertilizers with organic amendments proved beneficial for enhancing soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long term tillage in mollisol of Northeast China has led to an inhomogeneous distribution of soil organic matter content. Biochar, a carbon material, changes the soil carbon pool and physical-chemical characteristics after adding to the soil. However, the mechanism remains unclear for the relation between the soil organic matter level and biochar amount. So, the soil physical and chemical properties and soybean growth in a two-year pot experiment were detected at three levels of soil organic matter and three biochar additions (0, 1% and 10%). The difference was found in two biochar application rates. The 1% biochar addition had no positive effect on the soil chemical properties based the two-year experiment. However, 10% biochar application significantly increased the soil water content (8.0%-39.7%), the total porosity (9.7%-21.3%), pH (0.26-0.84 unit), organic matter content (89.0%-261.2%), and the available potassium content (29.0%-109.1%). The biomass of soybean increased by 19.4%-78.1% after biochar addition, yet, the soil bulk density reduced at the range of 12.6%-26.0% by 10% biochar addition. Only the 100-grain weight was correlated to the interaction of biochar and the native soil organic matter. All the indicators showed that the interaction between biochar and soil organic matter level was weak in mollisol. The effects of biochar on the physical-chemical properties relied on its amount. When biochar is applied to the soil, the amount of biochar should be considered rather than the native soil organic matter level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of powders on a bulk scale are heavily influenced by both the material properties and the size of their primary particles. Throughout the stages of storage and transportation in the powder processing industry, various forms of deformation and stress, such as pressure and shear, impact these materials. Recognizing the point at which a powder undergoes yielding becomes particularly significant in numerous applications. There are also times when the level of stress needed to maintain it must be understood. The measurement of powder yield and flow properties remains a challenge and is addressed in this study. As part of the European collaborative project, a number of shear experiments were performed using two shearing devices: the Schulze ring shearing device and the Anton Paar Powder Cell (APCC). These experiments have three purposes: (i) test reproducibility/consistency between two shear devices and test protocols; (ii) relate bulk behavior to microscopic particle properties, focusing on bulk density and thus the effect of cohesion between particles; and (iii) investigate the influence of the temperature of heated powders on the powder's flow properties, which is important for industrial reactors. Interestingly, for samples with small particle sizes, bulk cohesion increases slightly, but bulk friction increases significantly because of particle interaction effects. The experimental data not only provide useful insight into the role of microscopically attractive van der Waals gravitational and/or compressive forces on the macroscopic flow behavior of bulk powders but also have industrial relevance. We also provide robust data of cohesive and attritional fine powder for silo design used for calibration and validation of silos, models, and computer simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice husk (RH) and straw are common agricultural wastes in Asian countries, and they are potential bioresources for building materials. RH contains a large amount of SiO2, and many studies have burnt RH to ash and then used it as a silica supplement in cement and concrete. However, the combustion of RH has an additional cost and exacerbates CO2 emissions and air pollution. RH inherently has a low bulk density and porous structure; therefore, it should be possible to directly use RH as a lightweight additive in concrete. The purposes of this study were to use RH in the production of autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC) and to examine the effects of RH on ALC properties. Four RHs with different particle sizes, i.e., >1.2 mm, 0.6–1.2 mm, 0.3–0.6 mm, and <0.3 mm, were used as lightweight additives, and the ALC specimens were prepared with 0–20 wt.% RHs by autoclaving at 189 °C for 12 h. The >0.3 mm RH was applicable to prepare the ALC specimens, and the decomposition effect of <0.3 mm RH was significant. Both the bulk density and the compressive strength of the ALC specimens decreased with increasing RH size. RH with a particle size larger than 1.2 mm seems more appropriate for ALC production than RH with a smaller particle size because of the lower bulk density and higher compressive strength. The Ca/Si ratio decreased with increasing RH size, which affected the formation of tobermorite and thus reduced the compressive strength of the ALC specimens. With a suitable water-to-solid (W/S) ratio, the use of RHs as lightweight additives can yield ALC specimens that meet the requirements of commercial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) is not widely used in construction because of the concerns related to its quality. This paper investigates the effect of the replacement levels of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) on bulk and hardened densities of RAC. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate the sensitivity of bulk and hardened densities of concrete to the replacement level of RCA. Predictive equations were developed to estimate the 3-day, 7-day, and 28-day compressive strength of RAC from its fresh properties, which are helpful for early quality control inspection of RAC. Furthermore, a predictive equation has been proposed to determine the flexural strength of RAC based on its 28-day compressive strength. The comparison of the predictive capability of the proposed and widely used code equations showed the incapability of the latter to estimate the flexural strength of RAC. In contrast, the proposed equation demonstrated a high level of prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to find suitable processing methods that allow the reuse of wood waste to produce wood waste-based engineered wood logs for construction that meet the strength requirements for structural timber for sawn structural softwood. Three types of wood waste were examined: wood packaging waste (W), waste from the construction and furniture industry (PLY), and door manufacturing waste (DW). The wood waste was additionally crushed and sieved, and the granulometric composition and shape of the particles were evaluated. The microstructure of the surface of the wood waste particles was also analysed. A three-component biopolyurethane adhesive was used to bind wood waste particles. An analysis of the contact zones between the particles and biopolyurethane was performed, and the adhesion efficiency of their surfaces was evaluated. Analysis was performed using tensile tests, and the formation of contact zones was analysed with a scanning electron microscope. The wood particles were chemically treated with sodium carbonate, calcium hypochlorite, and peroxide to increase the efficiency of the contact zones between the particles and the biopolyurethane adhesive. Chemical treatment made fillers up to 30% lighter and changed the tensile strength depending on the solution used. The tensile strength of engineered wood prepared from W and treated with sodium carbonate increased from 8331 to 12,702 kPa compared to untreated waste. Additionally, the compressive strength of engineered wood made of untreated and treated wood waste particles was determined to evaluate the influence of the wood particles on the strength characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this work four metal powder compositions of VZL718 (IN718) alloy are produced, one by vacuum induction melting and gas atomization (VIGA) technology and three by plasma melting and rotating billet centrifugal atomization (PREP) technology. Their particle size distributions, distribution parameters, technological properties, moisture content and gas impurity content of VIGA and PREP initial metal powder compositions are investigated. The differences between VIGA metal powder compositions and PREP metal powder compositions are shown and analyzed, and the differences are explained. Four selective laser melting processes are conducted using the VIGA and PREP metal powder compositions investigated. Particle size distributions, distribution parameters and process characteristics of VIGA metal powder compositions and PREP metal powder compositions after a single application in a selective laser melting process are investigated, and the differences between changes in characteristics and particle size distributions of VIGA and PREP metal powder compositions are revealed. The reasons for the changes identified in VIGA metal powder compositions and PREP metal powder compositions after selective laser melting and the relationships with initial metal powder composition characteristics are explained. Derivations and conclusions about further possibility of reuse of VIGA and PREP metal powder compositions after selective laser melting are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skid trails are a major management‐induced disturbance in temperate forest ecosystems with considerable impact on soil ecological processes that are so far poorly understood. In German forests, skid trails comprise 10%–20% of the forest area that is potentially affected by soil compaction through heavy machinery. We systematically investigated the influence of skid trails on physical, chemical and microbiological soil parameters at 84 paired plots across four Central European forest types.In low mountain forests with steeper topography, skid trails had more drastic effects than in lowland forests. Skid trails in low mountain areas showed a decrease in the C to N ratio of microbial biomass (MBC/MBN), as well as increased microbial (MBC/SOC) and enzyme activities leading to faster carbon turnover (lower C/N, EOC/EN) and increased CO2 losses (CO2/SOC) from the soil.The overall effects of the skid trails in lowland forests were small. On base‐poor soils, we found an increase in the MBC/MBN ratio, while skid trails in base‐rich lowland soils showed a reduction in CO2/SOC, suggesting a proportional increase in soil carbon storage.Regardless of region‐specific effects, the relative increase in the bulk density of the fine soil was identified as a 'golden trait' that determined the effects of skid trails on many soil parameters, as shown by negative correlations with SOC, N, MBC, MBN, MBP, MBC/SOC and CO2/SOC and positive ones with the activities of certain hydrolytic enzymes.Synthesis and applications: Our data clearly showed that carbon conversion processes and soil respiration leading to significant carbon and nutrient losses increased significantly on skid trails in low mountain regions with relatively steep slopes, which was in sharp contrast to lowland sites. The strong context dependence of our findings suggests that the mapping of soil conditions in terms of slope, substrate and moisture with high spatial resolution is mandatory to assess the vulnerability of sites to soil compaction by heavy machinery. Based on such vulnerability analysis, negative impacts can be minimised through the designation of permanently fixed skid trails, technical adaptation of vehicles (e.g. wide base tyres) as well as careful planning and timing of management operations that should be restricted to dry weather and soil moisture conditions or periods of frost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulk density is among the fundamental properties for defining quality attributes of dehydrated foods. Mathematical models offer elegant tools for predicting bulk density and therefore optimizing dehydration processes. In this contribution, three machine learning techniques, namely extreme learning machine (ELM), support vector machine (SVM), and evolutionary polynomial regression (EPR), were assessed for predicting bulk density. Comprehensive experimental data including eight variables (product, initial moisture content, initial bulk density, pretreatment, technology, temperature, pressure, and microwave power) from 191 datasets were used to feed the models. All possible combinations of input variables were examined with ELM to obtain the optimum models involving three to eight input variables. The latter were ranked from one to eight according to their impact on the performance of the models in predicting bulk density. The results showed that the product and drying technology are the essential variables for predicting bulk density. The minimum impact on predictions was observed for pretreatment and power. The initial moisture content was shown to be relevant for predicting the bulk density of freeze-dried products. In addition, the best models obtained by ELM were examined and compared with SVM and EPR models. The SVM showed the highest accuracy, but the EPR had the best performance when both the accuracy and simplicity of the models were considered simultaneously. The developed equations can be used as tools for predicting bulk density and exploited in optimizing dehydration processes without needing costly, time-consuming, and energy-demanding experiments. Opportunities and limitations of artificial intelligence have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dose calculation for MR-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) at the 0.35 T MR-Linac is currently based on deformation of planning CTs (defCT) acquired for each patient. We present a simple and robust bulk density overwrite synthetic CT (sCT) method for abdominal treatments in order to streamline clinical workflows. Fifty-six abdominal patient treatment plans were retrospectively evaluated. All patients had been treated at the MR-Linac using MR datasets for treatment planning and plan adaption and defCT for dose calculation. Bulk density CTs (4M-sCT) were generated from MR images with four material compartments (bone, lung, air, soft tissue). The relative electron densities (RED) for bone and lung were extracted from contoured CT structure average REDs. For soft tissue, a correlation between BMI and RED was evaluated. Dose was recalculated on 4M-sCT and compared to dose distributions on defCTs assessing dose differences in the PTV and organs at risk (OAR). Mean RED of bone was 1.17 ± 0.02, mean RED of lung 0.17 ± 0.05. The correlation between BMI and RED for soft tissue was statistically significant (p < 0.01). PTV dose differences between 4M-sCT and defCT were D mean : −0.4 ± 1.0%, D 1% : −0.3 ± 1.1% and D 95% : −0.5 ± 1.0%. OARs showed D 2% : −0.3 ± 1.9% and D mean : −0.1 ± 1.4% differences. Local 3D gamma index pass rates (2%/2mm) between dose calculated using 4M-sCT and defCT were 96.8 ± 2.6% (range 89.9–99.6%). The presented method for sCT generation enables precise dose calculation for MR-only abdominal MRgRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The most basic problem facing man is shelter, apart from food. This problem is acute in Ghana and other developing countries due mainly to the high growth rate of the population, inflation, unemployment and poor economic resources. Today in Ghana both middle and low income earners can hardly afford their own houses. From one point of view one can see that some of the materials used in building are of good quality and can last. The study aimed to partially replace ordinary Portland cement (oPc) with burnt sawdust ash (BSDA) from different timber species (Wawa, Mansonia, Teak, Odum, Ceiba, Essah and Mahogany) in making interlocking laterite blocks by replacing 0–30 wt %. Mix proportion was 1:8 (cement + BSDA: laterite) with a 0.60 water-to-cement ratio. 528 specimens of size 185 mm × 220 mm × 120 mm were produced and cured at normal temperature and humidity under shady and sunny conditions for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Compressive and tensile strengths were subsequently evaluated. However, an initial strength increase was observed with curing time for specific wood species (Wawa, Mansonia, Teak, Odum, Essah, Ceiba, and Mahogany). Notably,Wawa, Mansonia and Odum ash exhibited superior strength performance at 10–20% replacement levels, potentially satisfying relevant standards for load-bearing wall construction. This research suggests that up to 10% replacement with Wawa, Mansonia or Odum BSDA presents a promising eco-friendly approach for partially substituting oPc in LIB production.

Purpose: Dose calculation for MR-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) at the 0.35 T MR-Linac is currently based on deformation of planning CTs (defCT) acquired for each patient. We present a simple and robust bulk density overwrite synthetic CT (sCT) method for abdominal treatments in order to streamline clinical workflows. Method: Fifty-six abdominal patient treatment plans were retrospectively evaluated. All patients had been treated at the MR-Linac using MR datasets for treatment planning and plan adaption and defCT for dose calculation. Bulk density CTs (4M-sCT) were generated from MR images with four material compartments (bone, lung, air, soft tissue). The relative electron densities (RED) for bone and lung were extracted from contoured CT structure average REDs. For soft tissue, a correlation between BMI and RED was evaluated. Dose was recalculated on 4M-sCT and compared to dose distributions on defCTs assessing dose differences in the PTV and organs at risk (OAR). Results: Mean RED of bone was 1.17 ± 0.02, mean RED of lung 0.17 ± 0.05. The correlation between BMI and RED for soft tissue was statistically significant (p

Peat is an unrenewable resource. Compost can partially replace peat in the growing seedling substrates due to its high electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density (BD), and pH. This study aimed to assess the potential of substituting peat for seedling substrate with compost made from a mixture of agricultural and agro-industrial wastes. Four compost piles (C1–C4) were constructed as follows: C1: a 1:1:1.5 weight ratio mixture of filter mud, mushroom waste, and date-palm fronds, while C2–C4: a 0.5:1 weight ratio mixture of either bagasse, cutting grassland, or date-palm fronds and cattle dung. After four months of decomposition, the compost's physical, chemical, and biological properties were estimated in comparison to commercial compost (CC), peatmoss (PM), and their ideal ranges (IR) for seed germination and seedling growth. Composts differed significantly in their physical and chemical properties. Some composts revealed property values within the IR. In comparison to PM, Composts have a lower C/N ratio and organic matter, along with higher BD, EC, and pH. Cattle manure enhanced organic matter and carbon, total nitrogen and potassium, and ammonium levels, and reduced ash levels in C2–C4 compared to filter mud in C1. In winter 2018 and 2019, C1–C4 substrates were compared with CC and PM substrates to determine their suitability for producing crisp lettuce 'Big Bell' seedlings under plastic-house conditions. Substrates had significant effects on lettuce seedling traits. Shoots of C2–C4 substrate seedlings grew more rapidly than those of other substrate seedlings due to the increased length and diameter of their stem and leaf area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lunar exploration and infrastructure development near the Moon's south pole, and at other future lunar settlements, demand a detailed understanding of the geotechnical properties, structure, composition, and stratigraphy of the near-surface lunar regolith. Long term exploration and development activities will require the use of regolith as a construction material for multiple structures, and as unrefined material for resource extraction during in situ resource utilization (ISRU) activities. Upcoming robotic and human exploration will be concentrated near the lunar south pole, which has a dominantly feldspathic composition typical of the lunar highlands. Past missions to lunar highlands terrain (Apollo 16, Luna 20) provide valuable "ground truth" data regarding the geomechanical properties of highlands regolith that serve as a guide for future exploration at the lunar south pole. Lunar highlands simulant LHS-1 has well-characterized geotechnical properties and is an appropriate analogue for highlands lunar regolith in terrestrial engineering studies. Cone penetrometer testing (CPT) measurements of LHS-1 reveal a strong exponential correlation between the G slope parameter and bulk density, which allows information to be obtained regarding the density profile of simulated regolith columns directly from CPT stress versus penetration curves. We show that LHS-1 can be used to replicate the near-surface regolith stratigraphy at the Apollo 16 highland landing region in Earth-based laboratories. The ultimate CPT penetration resistance measured in the laboratory under terrestrial gravity is not directly comparable to that measured under lunar gravity, and here we derive an average reduction factor of Rf = 0.29 to scale penetration resistance values to those measured in situ on the lunar surface. Geotechnical measurements of other lunar simulants combined with experiments similar to those described herein, tailored to the terrain type of interest, will provide crucial information to guide future regolith excavation, construction, and ISRU activities on the lunar surface. • LHS-1 lunar simulant is an appropriate geotechnical analogue for highlands regolith. • A strong correlation exists between CPT penetration resistance and regolith density. • Apollo 16 highlands regolith stratigraphy can be replicated on Earth using LHS-1. • Earth-based CPT values should be reduced by × 0.29 to adjust for lunar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This field experiment was conducted in Chichu Kebele in the Dilla Zuria area from 2020 to 2023. The objective of the experiment was to determine the optimal mulching strategy for enhancing soil fertility and pineapple production by comparing three treatments (grass mulch, plastic mulch, and farmers’ practices without any mulch) using a RCB (Randomized Complete Block) design. The study’s findings showed that the treatments with plastic mulch had the greatest soil moisture content values (18.41%), while the treatments with no mulch had the lowest values (11.39%). Compared to mulched treatments, pineapple planted without mulch had the greatest bulk density values (1.43 g/cm3). Total nitrogen and organic carbon has increase by 34 and 25%, respectively due to plastic mulching. However, total nitrogen and organic carbon has increase by 43 and 37.5%, respectively due to grass mulching. Fruit length was larger by 42.7 and 33.2%, respectively due to plastic and grass mulch compared to the control. However, fruit girth was wider by 54.1 and 43.8%, respectively due to plastic and grass mulches compared to the control. The pineapple with the most fruit yield (71.39 t/ha), fruit length (17.4 cm), fruit girth (46.67 cm), and sucker number (15 pieces) was obtained using plastic mulching. However, pineapple grown without mulch had the lowest yield ever noted. Plastic mulch outperformed farmers’ practices and grass mulching in terms of conserving soil moisture, which increased yield and yield characteristics. For the baseline, the marginal rate of return generated by the plastic and grass mulch treatments was 118.5 and 93.65%, respectively. Thus, the study’s best recommendation for improving soils and achieving a high pineapple fruit yield is to grow pineapples using plastic mulch.

This research aims to compare the methods of bulk density measurements in peat soils. The methods are ring sample, peat auger, and syringe. The research was conducted in peat soils in Pontianak City. The research was carried out from June to December 2023. Peat samples were the surface peat (0-10 cm). The samples were collected from five plots, and five replications. On average, the value of bulk density measured by the ring sample was 0.27 g cm-3, which is significantly different from bulk density values measured by the peat auger and syringe: 0.11 g cm-3 and 0.09 g cm-3, respectively. Bulk densities of peat auger and syringe are statistically indifferent. Soil compaction during sampling causes the ring sample's high bulk density value. Accordingly, carbon stock calculation based on ring sample bulk density is significantly higher than carbon stocks calculated by bulk densities of auger and syringe. The bulk density measurement with a peat auger took longer because a water displacement approach must measure the sample volume. Collecting bulk-density samples with a syringe is the easiest and fastest. The volume of the syringe sample is only 10 cm3, and the sample can be taken until the mineral substratum. The number of sample collected by syringe can be significantly increased at 5 cm sampling interval, or equals to 10 sub-samples per 50 cm peat core. Pearson linear correlations of these three methods are sufficiently strong.

The characteristics of powders on a bulk scale are heavily influenced by both the material properties and the size of their primary particles. Throughout the stages of storage and transportation in the powder processing industry, various forms of deformation and stress, such as pressure and shear, impact these materials. Recognizing the point at which a powder undergoes yielding becomes particularly significant in numerous applications. There are also times when the level of stress needed to maintain it must be understood. The measurement of powder yield and flow properties remains a challenge and is addressed in this study. As part of the European collaborative project, a number of shear experiments were performed using two shearing devices: the Schulze ring shearing device and the Anton Paar Powder Cell (APCC). These experiments have three purposes: (i) test reproducibility/consistency between two shear devices and test protocols; (ii) relate bulk behavior to microscopic particle properties, focusing on bulk density and thus the effect of cohesion between particles; and (iii) investigate the influence of the temperature of heated powders on the powder’s flow properties, which is important for industrial reactors. Interestingly, for samples with small particle sizes, bulk cohesion increases slightly, but bulk friction increases significantly because of particle interaction effects. The experimental data not only provide useful insight into the role of microscopically attractive van der Waals gravitational and/or compressive forces on the macroscopic flow behavior of bulk powders but also have industrial relevance. We also provide robust data of cohesive and attritional fine powder for silo design used for calibration and validation of silos, models, and computer simulations.

In recent years, postharvest loss has been a serious concern. However, knowledge of the mechanical properties is vital to developing any postharvest technology for rice production better. The objective of this research is to conduct a comparative analysis of the mechanical properties of selected paddy rice at different variety-moisture content interactions. The mechanical properties of AGRA rice, CRI-Amankwatia, CRI-Enapa, and CRI-Dartey, four local varieties developed in Ghana, are compared at 11.5%, 13.0% and 16.5% on wet basis moisture content. Tukey's Honest Significant Difference (HSD) comparisons test was conducted during data analysis to compare all possible pairwise combinations of the various varieties and moisture content interaction. From the results, it was concluded that CRI-Dartey, at 16.5%, recorded the highest Sphericity and Aspect Ratio of 0.391 mm3 and 0.298 mm3, respectively. For grain mass, AGRA rice at 13.0% also recorded 0.0312 g as the highest score. The GM1000, Angle of Repose and Bulk density CRI-Amankwatia at 16.5 % moisture content recorded the highest score of 29.33 g, 47.3o, and 654.0 kg/m3, respectively. AGRA rice at 13.0% observed the highest value of 1685.8 for kg/m3 true density, and the highest value for porosity was 70.83%, which was recorded by CRI-Enapa at 11.5 % moisture content. In all cases, the difference in mean value was less than the Least Square Difference. This indicates that there were no significant statistical differences between their mean values, indicating that technologies developed and adapted for one variety can equally be used for all the other varieties.

To address the problems of the traditional international standard methods for milk powder quality detection such as subjectivity and lag, this study proposed a rapid method for the detection of the dispersibility and bulk density of milk powder based on residual network (ResNet). The dataset used in this study included 499 particle distribution images taken for 10 groups of instant whole milk powder samples under a 10 × optical microscope. Initially, these sample groups were tested for dispersibility and bulk density using the international standard methods, and classified into different levels of dispersibility and bulk density based on the test results. Subsequently, these microscopic images were used to train the ResNet to facilitate effective classification of different samples. Ultimately, the classification results were used to predict the dispersibility, loose density, and tapped density of instant whole milk powder. Additionally, this study compared the predictive performance of different deep learning models, including ResNet, EfficientNetV2, and Swin Transformer. The results indicated that the deep learning model based on ResNet 152 exhibited the best performance in predicting the dispersibility, loose density, and tapped density of instant whole milk powder, with accuracy rates of 97.50%, 98.75%, and 95.00%, respectively for the test set. The exceptional performance of these deep learning models in milk powder quality detection not only proves that this method can predict the dispersibility and bulk density of milk powder in real time and accurately, but also provides a new technological approach for online quality detection of milk powder.

Extended Abstract Background: Afforestation has been growing worldwide in recent decades and is expected to continue in this trend due to the increased use of wood. Therefore, the mass planting of pine trees and other fast-growing species for industrial wood production has intensified since the beginning of the 20th century. In Iran, with a low forest per capita (0.17 ha), per capita plans to create a forest and rehabilitate degraded forests to increase green space have been implemented with non-native species. For this reason, many non-native conifer species have been introduced to the country, which has not been successful in some areas. Therefore, for the success of afforestation with non-native species, it is necessary to select those that are suitable for the habitat conditions, adapt the ecological needs to the environment, and consider the effect of afforestation on the soil, understory plants, and living organisms. Ensuring sustainable management depends on knowing the effects of planted tree species on species diversity, structure, and ecosystem function. Since different tree species have different effects on soil characteristics in ecosystems, they can change soil properties with different mechanisms. In other words, the differences in litter quality, the state of nutrients, the performance of roots in nutrient uptake, the leaf structure, the crown of the tree, the microclimate under the crown, and finally the biological communities in different tree populations change the soil physicochemical properties. In general, the restoration of degraded forest lands through afforestation has a significant effect on the variability of soil characteristics, in which a major difference is observed between native and non-native species as well as broadleaf and coniferous species. Since broad-leaved tree species can positively affect the soil quality of conifer stands, this research aims to compare some soil physicochemical characteristics under the influence of pure and mixed Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) afforestation. Methods: The studied area is in the southeast of section 101 of the Makarood series, watershed 36 (Kazemroud) in Kalardasht city and at an approximate height of 1200 m. It includes the afforested areas of pure Norway spruce (PS) (2 ha), mixed Norway spruce (MS) (2.5 ha) forestry areas, and barren land (BL) (3 ha). Three transects in each area were planned due to the smallness of the areas and the need to adopt a method that best describes the condition of the soil in each area. Then, on the 10, 50, and 90 m points of the transects, soil samples were taken in layers of 0-10 and 10-30 cm (in each area, nine soil samples for each layer). The texture, saturation percentage (SP), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, neutralizing substances or lime (T.N.V), organic carbon (O.C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and bulk density (BD) was examined in the laboratory. Results: The bulk density was lower in the 0-10 cm layer in the MS stand (2.28 g/cm3) than in the other two areas. The soil saturation was higher in the upper layer in the PS stand (85.77%) than in the MS stand (59.83%) and BL (51.07%). On the contrary, it was greater in the lower layer of the BL (94.40%) than in the two forest stands. EC values were lower in both upper (0.40 ds/m) and lower (0.38 ds/m) layers in the BL than that in PS and MS stands. The pH was significantly lower in the 0-10 cm layer in the PS (4.84) and MS (4.88) stands than in the BL (5.75). In each of the three areas, the amount of lime was zero in the upper and lower layers. O.C. in the upper layer was significantly higher in the PS (2.57%) and the MS (2.96%) stands than in the BL (1.45%), and the highest value was measured in the MS stand (0.94%) in the lower layer. Nitrogen was higher in the upper layer of PS (0.197%) and MS (0.270%) stands than that in the BL (0.143%). It was higher in the lower layer of the MS stand (0.09%) than the PS (0.02%) and BL (0.03%) stands. The C/N was highest in the upper layer in the PS stand (12.97), but this ratio was not significantly different in the lower layer of the three areas (10.82-11.50). The amount of P was highest in the upper layer in the MS stand (8.4 ppm), but no significant difference in P was detected in the lower layer among the three areas (3.57-5.60 ppm). K content was higher in the upper layer of the PS stand (203.43 ppm), but it was higher in the BL (193.50 ppm) in the lower layer than in the two forest stands. Conclusion: In the upper soil layer (0-10 cm), pH, C, and N values did not differ between MS and PS stands, but BD and C/N were lower in the MS stand; on the contrary, soil porosity and P and K contents were higher than those in the PS stand. From this research, it is generally concluded that afforestation with MS has a better effect on the optimization of physical and chemical characteristics in the soil layers than PS, which can provide the basis for more suitable growth of trees and a better balance of the forest.

This field experiment was conducted in Chichu Kebele in the Dilla Zuria area from 2020 to 2023. The objective of the experiment was to determine the optimal mulching strategy for enhancing soil fertility and pineapple production by comparing three treatments (grass mulch, plastic mulch, and farmers' practices without any mulch) using a RCB (Randomized Complete Block) design. The study's findings showed that the treatments with plastic mulch had the greatest soil moisture content values (18.41%), while the treatments with no mulch had the lowest values (11.39%). Compared to mulched treatments, pineapple planted without mulch had the greatest bulk density values (1.43 g/cm3). Total nitrogen and organic carbon has increase by 34 and 25%, respectively due to plastic mulching. However, total nitrogen and organic carbon has increase by 43 and 37.5%, respectively due to grass mulching. Fruit length was larger by 42.7 and 33.2%, respectively due to plastic and grass mulch compared to the control. However, fruit girth was wider by 54.1 and 43.8%, respectively due to plastic and grass mulches compared to the control. The pineapple with the most fruit yield (71.39 t/ha), fruit length (17.4 cm), fruit girth (46.67 cm), and sucker number (15 pieces) was obtained using plastic mulching. However, pineapple grown without mulch had the lowest yield ever noted. Plastic mulch outperformed farmers' practices and grass mulching in terms of conserving soil moisture, which increased yield and yield characteristics. For the baseline, the marginal rate of return generated by the plastic and grass mulch treatments was 118.5 and 93.65%, respectively. Thus, the study's best recommendation for improving soils and achieving a high pineapple fruit yield is to grow pineapples using plastic mulch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire‐herbivory feedbacks strongly influence the formation of grazing lawns in savanna ecosystems. Preliminary findings suggest that small‐scale (<25 ha) fires can engineer grazing lawns by concentrating herbivores on the post‐burn green flush; however, the persistence of such grazing lawns over the longer term and without repeated fire is unknown.We used high‐resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to investigate the long‐term effects of fire manipulation on short grass structure (height, cover, volume and spatial continuity) and grazing lawn establishment in Kruger National Park, South Africa. We analysed the effects of fire exclusion and experimental burns applied over a 7‐year period (2013–2019) followed by a 1‐year cessation of burning at varying spatial scales during the early and late dry seasons.Fires contributed a fourfold increase in short grass cover, regardless of fire season or size. The distribution of grass height differed significantly between fire‐induced grazing lawns and recently unburnt parts of the landscape where controlled fires were excluded over the experimental period. The volume (corresponding to bulk density) of short grass on the landscape responded strongly to fires, with grass volume <20 cm in height increasing with both early and late dry season fires.Early dry season fires caused larger and more homogeneous short grass patches. Furthermore, early dry season fires were more influential in increasing the cover of the shortest grass height class (1–5 cm).Synthesis and applications. Our results demonstrate that fire‐induced grazing lawns can persist over the longer term, even when fires are no longer applied, leading to the creation of vertical and horizontal heterogeneity in the grass layer. Small‐scale fires, therefore, represent a feasible management approach to expanding grazing lawn extent, potentially benefiting grazer coexistence and diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Investigating the application of biochar on the physical and hydraulic properties of soil is important due to its effect on water conservation and management. According to our knowledge, no complete studies have been done on the effect of sunflower stem biochar particle size on the physical, hydraulic and soil moisture characteristics of the soil. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of sunflower stem biochar particle size on some physical and hydraulic properties of sandy loam soil in laboratory conditions. Materials and Methods: In order to investigate the physical and hydraulic properties of the soil, a combination of 3% by weight of three sizes of 0.5, 0.5-1 and 1-2 mm sunflower stem biochar particles was used with a sandy loam soil. For this purpose, the parameters of bulk density, porosity, saturated moisture, field capacity moisture, available water, moisture at permanent wilting point, discharge, flow velocity, hydraulic conductivity, pore water velocity and soil water characteristics curves were measured. Results: The results showed that the size of biochar particles has a significant effect on physical and hydraulic properties at the 1% probability level and also on soil water retention at the 5% probability level. The application of 0.5-1 mm size of biochar had the greatest effect on soil properties, so that it caused a decrease of 14.74% in bulk density, an increase of 21.17, 22.5, 34.78 and 44.44% in porosity, saturated moisture, field capacity and available water compared to control soil. Application of 0-0.5 mm particles of biochar caused a 24.39% increase in permanent wilting moisture and a 92.93% decrease in discharge, flow velocity, hydraulic conductivity, and also a 94.04% decrease in pore water velocity compared to the control soil. Investigating the soil water characteristics curves showed that all three sizes of biochar particles increased water retention in the soil. Biochar caused an increase in volumetric moisture content at all measurement points, especially at suction from 0 to 2000 cm. In this range of suction, biochar increased medium and fine pores and thus increased soil water retention in this suction. The addition of biochar to the soil also increased the field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water. Conclusion: Arid and semi-arid areas with limited access to sustainable water resources generally have light textured soils with low water holding capacity. Therefore, these soils are the priority for structure improvement and as a result improving physical and hydraulic properties. According to the obtained results, the application of biochar improves the physical and hydraulic characteristics of these soils. Therefore, the findings of this research can be very useful in water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of New Building Materials / Xinxing Jianzhu Cailiao is the property of New Building Materials Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Over a period of 10 years, 418 forested plots within the US National Capital Region parks were visited for morphological descriptions and to inventory carbon (C) stocks. Samples were collected from organic horizons, the loose leaf litter, and, using a hand auger, from each mineral horizon to a depth of 1 m. Soil C concentration was determined using high-temperature combustion, and organic carbon (OC) stocks were then calculated for each master horizon. Soil bulk density (Db) was determined using the core method for O and A horizons. For deeper mineral horizons, a strong linear relationship between NRCS SSURGO representative values and measured Db values averaged according to soil series (R2 = 0.75) was observed. Thus, the NRCS SSURGO representative Db values were used for mineral horizons below the A horizon. An average of 0.5 ± 0.0 kg C m−2 was contained in the loose leaf litter. For plots with O horizons, the organic layer contained 2.9 ± 0.3 kg C m−2. An average of 4.6 ± 0.2 kg C m−2 was stored in the A horizon, down to an average lower boundary of 18.8 cm. The mineral horizons below the A horizon averaged 8.5 kg C m−2. In these forested soil profiles, 52.8% of the TOC is found below the A horizon and 18.0% of the TOC is in the organic horizons. The predictive strength of the thickness of and SOC in the A horizon was also evaluated in terms of explaining and predicting TOC in the profile and in the subsoil. The thickness and SOC in the A horizon explained 54% of the variation in TOC stock; however, it was a poor predictor of OC stored in the subsoil (R2 = 0.04). This study demonstrates the importance of deeper sampling to encompass more of the rooting depth when investigating SOC stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils and water are major resources that drive a country's economy, and therefore should be conserved and utilized sustainably. However, in Kenya, these two resources are facing huge depletion and degradation due to anthropogenic factors and climate change. Bamboo species, especially on large plantations, can significantly alter ecological, hydrological, and biogeochemical processes in the long term. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different species of bamboo and tree plantations on important soil–water processes like infiltration, bulk density, runoff, and soil loss in Kenya. The research was conducted at two sites (Gede in Arabuko Sokoke forest and at Baolala, in Kilifi County) managed by the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI). The Arabuko Sokoke forest has a hot–humid coastal climate, while Baolala is a hot semi-arid area with little precipitation. The study involved measurement of soil–water infiltration rates using infiltrometers, installing runoff plots to quantify surface runoff and sediment loss, and analyzing soil properties like bulk density for growing periods for different bamboo and tree species. At the Gede forest site, the 30-year-old Thyrsostachys siamensis and Bambusa bambos plantations recorded the highest infiltration rates. Mature bamboo plantations of T. siamensis and B. bambos recorded higher infiltration rates compared to mature plantations of E. camaldulensis and G. arborea. It was observed that the bamboo plantations manifested lower soil bulk density compared to bare land, which recorded the highest bulk density. At Boalala, infiltration rates were significantly higher in the bamboo species compared to grassland and bare land. The painted bamboo (B. vulgaris vittata) had a slightly higher water infiltration rate compared to B. vulgaris. Runoff and erosion patterns reinforced the benefits of more mature bamboo plantations as well. There was a significant correlation between amount of runoff and collected soil loss through erosion. The data showed reductions in surface runoff volumes and sediment loss as the bamboo plantations aged compared to younger species. Therefore, by enhancing infiltration and reducing runoff and erosion, well-managed bamboo plantations can protect valuable soil resources, improve water recharge, and support sustainable land use over the long term. In conclusion, this study showed the strong potential of bamboo as a soil and water conservation tool in Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Tanah dan Sumberdaya Lahan is the property of Brawijaya University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Coal charge bulk density is an important parameter for throughput and coke quality improvement. Surface active agents are used to improve the cohesions between the coal and water particles to improve the coal charge bulk density. Trial in commercial non-recovery coke oven shows that there is an improvement in the bulk density with addition of surfactant. Also, there is improvement in properties like coke hot strength after reaction due to compactness of the coal charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation is an important component of stormwater control measures, as vegetation can reduce erosion and runoff. While grass is typically used in stormwater control measures, wildflowers can be planted to reduce maintenance and improve pollinator habitat. Previous studies have established that tillage followed by establishment of a vigorous vegetation stand can increase infiltration relative to compacted soils. Compost can also improve soil physical properties and fertility. The goal of this study was to evaluate potential improvements in infiltration using tillage together with compost and either grass or wildflowers. Wildflowers or grass were planted on tilled soil with or without compost at three sites in North Carolina. Bulk density, infiltration rate, root mass density, and penetration resistance were measured every 6 months over a 30‐month period. A subset of plots received wheel traffic from a mower. Compost application reduced bulk density compared to tillage alone. Compost improved infiltration at two sites (46%–50%). Wildflowers improved infiltration at all sites (30%–43%) compared to grass. Few differences were observed in root mass and penetration resistance. Mower traffic reduced soil improvements more in grassed plots than wildflower plots due to higher mowing frequency. Results suggest compost and/or wildflowers together with tillage (at establishment) provide viable options to improve soil conditions and infiltration rate in construction impacted soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplementary irrigation with water of dubious quality can have adverse effects on soil properties. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of supplementary irrigation on soil chemical and physical properties in fields of the Southwestern Buenos Aires province, which generally involve seed production. The surface texture of the soil ranges from sandy loam to loam and clay loamy. The treatments were: Rainfed (corner) and Irrigated (center pivot). Soil samples were collected from 41 field situations at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depth, and organic carbon (CO), pH, electrical conductivity (CE), and exchangeable sodium percentage (PSI) were determined. In 12 of the fields, additional measurements were made for infiltration rate, bulk density (0-5 cm and 10-15 cm, Dap), mechanical resistance (0-5 cm and 10-15 cm, RM), and gravimetric moisture content (0-5 cm and 10-15 cm, HG). Data were analyzed using Paired t-tests. Organic carbon content was similar under Rainfed and Irrigated situations at both depths. Soil pH, CE, and PSI at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm showed a statistically significant increase due to irrigation (p < 0.05), with the order of increase being PSI > CE > pH. The infiltration rate showed no significant differences (p=0.683) between Rainfed and Irrigated, with high variability in situations under irrigation. However, irrigated situations had a 6% higher Dap compared to Rainfed ones (p=0.0005) at 10-15 cm. RM values displayed significant variability. The assessments of soil physical quality conducted in this study did not reveal clear trends or pronounced soil degradation. Nevertheless, it is necessary to continue monitoring the long-term soil quality and implement preventive practices to promote sustainable management of these productive systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an experimental inquiry into the effects of two independent variables on the draft force of a mouldboard plough/planter: planting depth (0 - 5 and 6 - 10 cm) and plowing depth (6 - 10 and 11 - 15 cm). A dual-purpose mouldboard plough/planter was developed to expedite the cultivation of maize by speeding up the ploughing and planting processes. Based on planting and ploughing depths, the draft force of the implement was evaluated. Field experimental procedures were used to conduct the trials, and parametric testing was used to analyze the data. The final formula for calculating the draft force depends on a number of soils engineering characteristics, including soil bulk density and type, tool specifications, such as cutting width and implement weight, and operational factors, such as ploughing depth and moisture content. The study's findings show that ploughing depth has a greater impact on a mouldboard plough/planter's draft force; the maximum draft force of 1.5 kN was recorded at planting depths of 6 to 10 cm and ploughing depths of 11 to 15 cm. The data indicates that the draft force of the cum planter is significantly (p~0.05) affected by the depth of ploughing. The ploughing depth and planting depth on draft force were shown to have a strong association in the linear regression model, with a coefficient of determination (R² = 0.75) for draft force indicating high correlations among the components. Ploughing depths are always responsible for explaining the difference in draft force. The results suggest that any change in the plowing depths provides a considerable forecast of the implement's draft force, since the plowing depth was the largest predictor of the draft force. The best results from the mouldboard plough/planter are achieved when planting and ploughing are done at depths of 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of grades of coarse aggregates on the cost of concrete was studied. Several times in real life practice, the engineer at construction site is faced with the problem of not having the required grade of coarse aggregate for a given project. . This could be caused by several reasons such as; non-availability of desired grade, the different grades of coarse aggregate being obtained as a left over from a sister project, etc. In Nigeria, coarse aggregate for concrete is very expensive and thus, the engineer will think of how to use the available grade of coarse aggregate in his concrete mix design to achieve the desired results instead of discarding it. In this study, seven different grades of coarse aggregate were investigated. The fineness modulus of the fine aggregate and bulk densities of the various grades of coarse aggregate were determined. The results were used together with tables from American Concrete Institute (ACI) code to carry out concrete mix design on all the various grades of coarse aggregate to calculate the quantities of the different elements of concrete. From the mix design, the cost of the materials for producing one cubic meter of concrete was determined. The result showed that the Well graded aggregate had the highest bulk density of 1717Kg/m³ while uniformly graded retained on 10mm sieve had the least bulk density of 1580Kg/m³. Uniformly graded aggregate retained on 10mm sieve required the highest cost of N58,278.81 to produce a cubic meter of grade 25 concrete while the cost was least at N56,242.52 when uniformly graded retained on 20mm sieve and Gap-graded without 5mm size were used. This suggests that the larger the size of coarse aggregate (within the size limits studied) the less the cement paste required and hence the less the cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica fly ash, Certyd aggregate, and an alkaline solution were used to produce lightweight geopolymer concretes. The compressive strength, water absorption, and bulk density results, along with SEM photos showing the structure of the obtained composite, were obtained. Tests conducted on the specifications of lightweight geopolymer concretes have revealed significant chemical interactions between the ash aggregate and the geopolymer mortar, particularly when the coarse aggregate surface has been pre-treated with an alkaline solution. A statistical analysis of the experimental data, which investigated the influence of three key variables on the compressive strength, water absorption, and bulk density of lightweight geopolymer concrete (LBG), identified the following factors as having the most substantial impact: the quantity of alkali used, the curing temperature, and the concentration of alkali in the mixture. The optimal test series exhibited a commendable compressive strength of 20.14 megapascals (MPa), accompanied by a water absorption rate of 14.72%, and a bulk density of 1486.6 kg per cubic meter (kg/m³). These findings underscore the importance of alkali content, curing temperature, and alkali concentration in tailoring the properties of lightweight geopolymer concrete to meet specific performance requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nitrogen losses of nitrous oxide (N2O) in grazed grassland are strongly driven by urine deposition by grazing ruminants. There is robust concern about applying nitrification inhibitor to mitigate nitrogen losses in global grasslands. However, the effect of dicyandiamide (DCD) on N2O emission rates and its driven factors remain unclear due to spatial heterogeneity. In the present study, we synthesized 133 group data from 69 published articles. It was indicated that effect size was -0.784±0.048 (P<0.0001) indicating a reduction of 54.34% in N2O emission rates. There was significant difference on effect size between different dose of nitrogen fertilization. Moderate dosage of DCD application was the best mitigation effect of 56.09%, which was significantly higher than light dosage of DCD application. Mixed effect model results revealed that precipitation, bulk density and air temperature could explain 16.93%, 12.31% and 3.02% variations in effect size. In addition, DCD application was an effective strategy to mitigate N2O emission rates in global grazed grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on how different moisture levels (5%–11%) and powder binders affected the bulk and strength characteristics of three iron ore blends. Increasing liquid content initially decreased and then increased the bulk density of all blends, and the shear strength of Blend-A and Blend-B increased up to 9% liquid content and then decreased at 11%, while Blend-C had a higher shear strength. In Blend-A, the cohesion varies between 0.64 and 5.49 kPa, while the internal frictional angle varies between 39.05° to 46.75°. For Blend-B, the cohesion ranges from 1.03 to 4.05 kPa, and the internal frictional angle ranges from 45.00° to 47.90°. Furthermore, Blend-C has cohesion ranging from 2.71 to 3.97 kPa and internal frictional angle ranging from 45.00° to 50.07°. Blend-A was considered a base blend using three powders, and the impact of adding these powders was assessed using Blend-A. HL maintained the cohesion at 4.50 kPa, and the internal frictional angle of Blend-A was significantly increased by 49.62° in the presence of HL. QL powder maintained cohesion values (1.47 kPa) and high internal frictional angle values (51°). Similarly, calcite powder sustained cohesion values (2.49 kPa) and high internal frictional angle values (51.96°). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Uranium Mining & Metallurgy is the property of Uranium Mining & Metallurgy Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The BEST (Beerkan Estimation of Soil Transfer parameters) method was used to compare the hydraulic properties of the soils in two Long-term Agroecosystem Experiments (LTAEs) located at the FIELDLAB experimental site of the University of Perugia (central Italy). The LTAE "NewSmoca" consists of a biennial maize-durum wheat crop rotation under integrated low-input cropping systems with (i) inversion soil tillage (INT) or (ii) no-tillage (INT+) and (iii) under an organic cropping system with inversion soil tillage (ORG). ORG and INT+ involve the use of autumn-sown cover crops (before the maize cycle). Pure stand durum wheat was grown in INT and INT+, while a faba bean–wheat temporary intercropping was implemented in ORG. The LTAE "Crop Rotation" consists of different crop rotations and residue management, a continuous soft winter wheat and biennial rotations of soft winter wheat with maize or faba bean. Each rotation is combined with two modes of crop residue management: removal or burial. For INT+, despite the high-bulk density (>1.50 g/cm3), we found that conductivity, sorptivity and available water are comparable to those of INT, probably due to a more structured and efficient micropore system. ORG soils show the highest conductivity, sorptivity and available water content values, probably due to the recent spring tillage occurring in the wheat inter-row with the faba bean incorporation into the soil. For LTAE Rotation, the residue burial seems to influence the capacity-based indicators positively. However, the differences in the removal treatment are minor, and this could be due to the inversion soil tillage, which limits the progressive accumulation of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of nutrients present in the soil is one of the most important factors that decide the overall productivity of an ecosystem as well as the variety of species that live there. The north-west Himalayas, which are home to a dry temperate and alpine forest of cold desert, served as the study location for the present research. The major purpose of the research was to investigate the dynamics of soil nutrients in connection to the structure and content of nine distinct kinds of forest ecosystems that may be found in the area. In each of the chosen forest types, the nutritional condition of the soil was analyzed for two distinct soil depths: the top layer (0–20 cm) and the bottom layer (> 20 cm) (21–40 cm). The different kinds of forest had pH readings that ranged anywhere from 4.81 to 6.82 in their soil. In a birch-rhododendron scrub forest, the levels of available soil nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese, and zinc were found to be at their highest levels. Other soil properties such as organic carbon and electrical conductivity were also found to be at their highest levels in this type of forest as well. When it comes to the creation of forest plantations and artificial regeneration, there is a potential that forest managers may find the information on nutrients and biogeochemicals to be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bulk density of the particles, which is directly related to transportation and storage costs, is an important basic characteristic of products as well as an important parameter in many processing systems. This work quantified the relationship between the tapped bulk density of raspberry ketone with different degrees of agglomeration and morphological metrics (particle shape descriptors and roughness descriptors) and size metrics (size descriptors) and developed an artificial neural network (ANN) prediction model for the tapped bulk density of raspberry ketone. Samples prepared under different conditions were sieved and remixed, the tapped bulk density of the particles was then measured, and the descriptor features of the particles were obtained by combining them with image processing. The dimensions of the variables were decreased by principal component analysis and variance processing. To overcome the hyperparameter estimation of the heuristic-based artificial neural networks, the network model architectures were optimized by a neural architecture search strategy combining two-objective optimization. The results demonstrated that the tapped bulk density of raspberry ketone products is not only related to the descriptors of particle size and shape but also has a non-negligible relationship with particle roughness descriptors. The performance of the optimal ANN model demonstrated that the model can well predict the tapped bulk density of raspberry ketone with different degrees of agglomeration. The ANN model obtained by extracting morphology and size metrics through online image analysis can be used to measure the tapped bulk density in real-time and has the potential to be used for developing model-based online process monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have highlighted the role of X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) in understanding root architecture. Nevertheless, setting definitive scanning parameters for diverse soils in varied container sizes remains challenging. This study investigates the influence of X-ray CT system voltage on the penetration capability in diverse soils and container sizes, focusing on two key parameters: (1) gray values, which indicate X-ray attenuation and contribute to image contrast, and (2) signal-to-noise ratio, a measure of image clarity. Five soil samples were collected from various depths within a soil profile to encompass bulk density values ranging from 1.34 to 1.84 g·cm−3 to conduct the experiment. Containers with dimensions of 6 × 6 × 6 cm³, 8 × 8 × 6 cm³, 10 × 10 × 6 cm³, 12 × 12 × 6 cm³, 14 × 14 × 6 cm³, and 16 × 16 × 6 cm³ were used. Voltage levels spanning 75 to 225 kV, in 25-kV increments, were applied to each sample. The observed gray values of the X-ray images were fitted using a logistic model of three parameters. Results showed that increasing voltage leads to enhanced penetration up to a plateau point, irrespective of soil density or container size. This plateau could potentially yield higher quality scans, given that lower voltages result in subdued gray values and reduced image contrast. Notably, it was observed that soil properties, including mineral composition, directly affect image gray values. This study established optimal voltage settings for specific soil types at fixed densities, offering valuable insights for researchers investigating soil–root interactions. Although the current findings are based on five soils, a more extensive sampling encompassing diverse soil textures and densities is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of X-ray penetration behavior across various soil types.

IntroductionTimber harvesting on steep terrain is a challenge in terms of economic viability, safety, and environmental performance. Felling with chainsaws and use of yarders seems optimal in this environment. However, using mobile traction winches allows for the safe work of ground-based technologies even in these challenging conditions.MethodsOur study assessed the impact of winch-assisted cut-to-length harvesting on soil disturbance in young forest stands (up to 40 years old) across slopes of 14.9°-27.4° (27–52%). Utilizing 78 measurement points (i.e., 234 measurements), we analyzed soil samples from trail ruts, between ruts, and undisturbed areas for soil bulk density (g.cm−3) and soil moisture content (%), simultaneously measuring penetration resistance (MPa), penetration depth (cm) and rut depth (cm).ResultsThe results highlighted that areas without winch assistance experienced the most significant increases in soil bulk density (up to 22.35%) and penetration resistance (up to 26.8%), though these differences were not statistically significant. Linear mixed effects models did not confirm a significant effect (p > 0.05) of a traction winch on the soil bulk density (g cm−3) and penetration resistance (MPa) in the ruts of the forwarding trails. Mean forwarding trail profile depths ranged from 4.63 to 7.28 cm, with the maximum depths between 10.86 and 17.25 cm, showing deeper ruts in non-assisted areas. Moreover, the presence of the traction winch (p < 0.05) significantly affected the maximal depth of the forwarding trail rut.ConclusionThe findings suggest that winch-assisted harvesting may mitigate soil disturbance (rut depths) on steep slopes, offering a sustainable option for utilizing ground-based machinery with reduced environmental impact.

The increasing request for space for private buildings was brought about by the utilization of the previous dumpsites. If the issue of leachate infiltration into the soil isn't legitimately controlled it'll lead to future harm in construction works. The objectives are to compare the geotechnical properties of soil of the contaminated and uncontaminated regions region of the dump site and evaluate if the effect of leachate on the geotechnical properties of soil changes with depth. Laboratory soil tests were conducted on the soil samples obtained and compared the effect of these leachates at the dump site. These methods are Natural water content, Bulk Density, Specific Gravity, Shear strength, and Consolidation tests. The soil samples were obtained from the contaminated region, and the uncontaminated region (i.e. at 100 m away from the dumpsite). All soil samples were obtained at depths 0.5m, 1.0m, and 1.5m below the ground level, to know the effect of leachate on the soil at the dumpsite and also to know if the effects of leachate changes with depth as it goes down the soil. The results obtained show that samples at 0.5m and 1m depth have been affected by leachates but the effects are not so significant at 1.5m depth, thereby making the soil at depths 0.5m and 1m unfit for construction purposes. This result was useful to check the land requirement in urban areas and guide the geotechnical engineers when designing and constructing foundations for buildings and other related structures on these types of soils.

The determination of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) is crucial in environmental and engineering fields. However, the current direct measurement methods of Ks are time-consuming and labor-intensive. As an alternative method, many researchers have developed a series of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) that estimate Ks based on easily accessible soil properties. Unfortunately, most existing PTFs of Ks focus on temperate and tropical regions in the United States and Europe. There is a lack of research discussing the applicability of Ks models in subtropical areas. To resolve this issue, we conduct a study using 515 subtropical soil samples to test the performance of existing PTFs of Ks. The Ks values of investigated soils range from 1.4 × 10-4 to 290 cm h−1. Among the affecting factors, soil bulk density (ρb) and effective porosity (φe) are found to be the most important variables. Current PTFs considering soil pore structural property (i.e., φe) or soil texture solely are not effective in assessing Ks of subtropical soils. To address this limitation, we integrate soil pore structural and textural properties and develop a new PTF based on the Kozeny-Carman equation. The performance and reliability of the new PTF are evaluated using independent Ks datasets from various regions. The results show a significant positive correlation between the measured Ks and the predicted Ks from the new PTF for subtropical soils with an R2 of 0.69, an average RMSE in log10Ks (cm h−1) of 0.496, and a mean bias value of 0.070. Besides, the new PTF is found to perform as well as widely used machine learning tools.