Soil properties influencing compactability of forest soils in British Columbia

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Krzic ◽  
C. E. Bulmer ◽  
F. Teste ◽  
L. Dampier ◽  
S. Rahman
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Forest Soils ◽  
Tree Planting ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Proctor Test

The widespread use of heavy machinery during harvesting and site preparation in timber plantations in British Columbia (BC) has led to concerns that compaction causes a reduction in long-term soil productivity. Impacts of properties such as total C, water content, and texture on compactability of forest soils in BC were assessed. Two compactability indices were used: maximum bulk density (MBD) and susceptibility to compaction (SC) determined by the standard Proctor test. Soil samples were collected from 16 sites throughout BC covering a wide range of biogeoclimatic zones. Soils varied in texture (12 to 87% sand, 9 to 76% silt, and 2 to 53% clay) and organic matter content (18 to 76 g kg-1 total C). A strong negative correlation was observed between MBD and gravimetric water content at which MBD was achieved (WMBD) and between MBD and total C. Similarly, WMBD and total C had strong effects on SC. The estimation of either MBD or SC values was not substantially improved by including texture parameters to the regression equations in addition to the total C. The implication of the relationships observed in this study is that increases in soil organic matter reduce the risk of compactability, which is particularly important for forest soils where compaction is generally not corrected by implements after tree planting. The information is also useful for assessing the extent of compaction on soils affected by machine traffic. Key words: Soil compaction, Susceptibility to compaction, maximum bulk density, Proctor test, total carbon

The relations between soil water retention characteristics, particle size distributions, bulk densities and calcium carbonate contents for Danish soils

2005 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Henrik Jensen ◽  
Thomas Balstrøm ◽  
Henrik Breuning-Madsen
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Pressure Head ◽  
Pedotransfer Functions ◽  
Regression Equations

A database containing about 800 soil profiles located in a 7-km grid covering Denmark has been used to develop a set of regression equations of soil water content at pressure heads −1, −10, −100 and −1500 kPa versus particle size distribution, organic matter, CaCO3 and bulk density. One purpose was to elaborate equations based on soil parameters available in the Danish Soil Classification's texture database of particle size distribution and organic matter. It was also tested to see if inclusion of bulk density or CaCO3 content (in CaCO3-containing samples) as predictors or grouping in surface and subsurface horizons or textural classes improved the regression equations. Compared to existing Danish equations based on much fewer observations the accuracies of the new equations were better. The equations also predicted the soil water content at the measured pressure heads more accurately than the pedotransfer functions developed in HYPRES (Hydraulic Properties of European Soils). Introducing bulk density as a predictor improved the equation for the pressure head of −1 kPa but not for the lower ones. The grouping of data sets in surface and subsurface horizons or in textural classes did not improve the equations. Based on the equations a set of van Genuchten parameters for soil types in the Danish Soil Classification was elaborated. The prediction of soil water content, especially at pressure head −1 kPa, is more accurate using these van Genuchten parameters than using the pedotransfer functions developed in relation to the HYPRES database from a broad range of European soils.

A generally applicable pedotransfer function that estimates field capacity and permanent wilting point from soil texture and bulk density

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 761-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. P. Pollacco
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pedotransfer Functions ◽  
Pedotransfer Function ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fitting Parameters

Hydrological models require the determination of fitting parameters that are tedious and time consuming to acquire. A rapid alternative method of estimating the fitting parameters is to use pedotransfer functions. This paper proposes a reliable method to estimate soil moisture at -33 and -1500 kPa from soil texture and bulk density. This method reduces the saturated moisture content by multiplying it with two non-linear functions depending on sand and clay contents. The novel pedotransfer function has no restrictions on the range of the texture predictors and gives reasonable predictions for soils with bulk density that varies from 0.25 to 2.16 g cm-3. These pedotransfer functions require only five parameters for each pressure head. It is generally accepted that the introduction of organic matter as a predictor improves the outcomes; however it was found by using a porosity based pedotransfer model, using organic matter as a predictor only modestly improves the accuracy. The model was developed employing 18 559 samples from the IGBP-DIS soil data set for pedotransfer function development (Data and Information System of the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme) database that embodies all major soils across the United States of America. The function is reliable and performs well for a wide range of soils occurring in very dry to very wet climates. Climatical grouping of the IGBP-DIS soils was proposed (aquic, tropical, cryic, aridic), but the results show that only tropical soils require specific grouping. Among many other different non-climatical soil groups tested, only humic and vitric soils were found to require specific grouping. The reliability of the pedotransfer function was further demonstrated with an independent database from Northern Italy having heterogeneous soils, and was found to be comparable or better than the accuracy of other pedotransfer functions found in the literature. Key words: Pedotransfer functions, soil moisture, soil texture, bulk density, organic matter, grouping

Land Use Change Effects on Soil Quality in Prince Edward County, ON

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey Watts
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Prince Edward County ◽  
Effects Of Land Use ◽  
Water Holding

Soils play a critical role to society as a medium that facilitates crop production and also contributes to the energy and carbon balance of the Earth System. Land-use change and improper land-use is one of the dominant factors affecting soil erosion and nutrient loss in soils. We examined the effects of land-use change on an Elmbrook clay/clay-loam soil on a farm in Ameliasburg on the northern part of Prince Edward County. Three cover types were examined: a sod field (established for over 10 years), a wheat field (part of a wheat/corn/soybean rotation for 30 years) and an undisturbed deciduous forest. Under each land-use type, cores to a depth of 40 cm were collected along three random 30 m transects (at 8, 16 and 24 m), then divided them into 10 cm increments, combining all similar depth increments along one transect. Soil quality was assessed by analyzing various soil physical and chemical properties. Bulk density of the soil was much higher (1.55 vs. 0.95 g/cm3) in both agricultural ecosystems compared to the forest, but only in the 0-10 cm layer. Soil moisture at 60% water holding capacity was much greater for the forest than the sod and wheat soils. Soil pH was slightly lower in the forest compared to the sod and wheat fields. The sod and wheat fields showed losses of ~52% and ~53% organic matter, respectively, in contrast to the forested area. The greatest differences in organic matter and total carbon were found in the top 10 cm, likely due to the greater accumulation of litter at the ground surface in the forest compared to the agricultural sites. It appears that long-term (10 year) agricultural production has led to a decline in some, but not all, soil quality measures, particularly soil organic matter, bulk density and water holding capacity. These findings are consistent with much of the literature concerning the effects of land-use change on soil quality, and highlight the need to develop improved management systems to minimize losses in soil quality that can lead to declines in the productivity potential of soils over time.

scholarly journals Characterizing Soil Physical Properties for Soil Moisture Monitoring with the North Carolina Environment and Climate Observing Network

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 933-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weinan Pan ◽  
R. P. Boyles ◽  
J. G. White ◽  
J. L. Heitman
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
The North ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Soil Moisture Monitoring

Abstract Soil moisture has important implications for meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and agriculture. This has led to growing interest in development of in situ soil moisture monitoring networks. Measurement interpretation is severely limited without soil property data. In North Carolina, soil moisture has been monitored since 1999 as a routine parameter in the statewide Environment and Climate Observing Network (ECONet), but with little soils information available for ECONet sites. The objective of this paper is to provide soils data for ECONet development. The authors studied soil physical properties at 27 ECONet sites and generated a database with 13 soil physical parameters, including sand, silt, and clay contents; bulk density; total porosity; saturated hydraulic conductivity; air-dried water content; and water retention at six pressures. Soil properties were highly variable among individual ECONet sites [coefficients of variation (CVs) ranging from 12% to 80%]. This wide range of properties suggests very different behavior among sites with respect to soil moisture. A principal component analysis indicated parameter groupings associated primarily with soil texture, bulk density, and air-dried water content accounted for 80% of the total variance in the dataset. These results suggested that a few specific soil properties could be measured to provide an understanding of differences in sites with respect to major soil properties. The authors also illustrate how the measured soil properties have been used to develop new soil moisture products and data screening for the North Carolina ECONet. The methods, analysis, and results presented here have applications to North Carolina and for other regions with heterogeneous soils where soil moisture monitoring is valuable.

scholarly journals Estimation of the net energy value of barley for finishing beef steers1

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1550-1560
Author(s):  
Jan G P Bowman ◽  
Darrin L Boss ◽  
Lisa M M Surber ◽  
Tom K Blake
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Development Data ◽  
Laboratory Procedures ◽  
The Mean

Abstract The objective of this study was to identify barley grain characteristics measured by laboratory procedures that could be used to predict barley energy content for finishing beef steers. Twenty-eight different barley genotypes were evaluated including 18 cultivars and 10 experimental lines. Laboratory analysis of barley samples included bulk density, particle size, N, ADF, starch, and ISDMD (in situ DM disappearance after 3 h of ruminal incubation). Animal performance data (BW, DMI, ADG, steer NEm, and NEg requirements) were collected from 26 feedlot experiments conducted in Montana and Idaho during a 10-yr period and were used to estimate barley NEm and NEg content. A total of 80 experimental units were available with each experimental unit being a diet mean from an individual feedlot experiment. Fifty-eight of the 80 experimental units were randomly selected and used in the development data set and the remaining 22 experimental units were used in the validation data set. Forward, backward, and stepwise selection methods were used to identify variables to be included in regression equations for NEm using PROC REG of SAS. Barley samples in the model development data set represented a wide range in concentrations (DM basis): N (1.6% to 2.8%), ISDMD (25.7% to 58.7%), ADF (3.6% to 8.0%), starch (44.1% to 62.4%), particle size (1,100 to 2,814 µm), and bulk density (50.8 to 69.4 kg/hL). The barley grain characteristics of particle size, ISDMD, starch, and ADF were the most important variables in six successful models (R2 = 0.48 to 0.60; P = 0.001). The six prediction equations gave mean predicted values for NEm ranging from 1.99 to 2.05 Mcal/kg (average 2.04 Mcal/kg; 0.45% CV). The mean actual NEm values from animal performance trials ranged from 1.75 to 2.48 Mcal/kg (average 2.03 Mcal/kg; 6.5% CV). The mean bias or difference in predicted vs. actual values ranged from −0.001 to 0.005 Mcal/kg. Barley NEg values calculated from animal performance ranged from 1.13 to 1.78 Mcal/kg (average 1.39 Mcal/kg; 8.4% CV). Average predicted barley NEm and NEg were 0.02 and 0.01 Mcal/kg less, respectively, than the 2.06 Mcal/kg NEm and 1.40 Mcal/kg NEg reported by NRC. Barley NE can be predicted from simple laboratory procedures which will aid plant breeders developing new feed varieties and nutritionists formulating finishing rations for beef cattle.

ANALYSIS OF EMPIRICAL COMPRESSION INDEX EQUATIONS USING THE WATER CONTENT

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir W. Al-Khafaji ◽  
Krishnanand Y. Maillacheruvu ◽  
Melissa Hoerber
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Empirical Models ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Compression Index ◽  
Empirical Formulas ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Compression Data ◽  
Water Contents

This paper proposes a new method to evaluate the reliability of published empirical formulas in terms of accuracy and applicability to different soil types. Different empirical models are proposed to properly approximate the compression index for a wide range of water contents and soil types. They were developed using a unique technique and a substantial number of published regression equations and compression data. Familiar empirical equations were examined for their reliability in predicting the compression index of clay for any water content. A comparison was made between available and newly-proposed empirical formulas using combined regression data sets compiled independently by several authors. The newly proposed empirical compression index equations are applicable to a wide range of clay soils, and in validating other published relationships. The degree of scatter and variations in the computed compression index values are minimized for any water content.

Profundal Sediment Organic Content and Physical Character Do Not Reflect Lake Trophic Status, but Rather Reflect Inorganic Sedimentation and Exposure

1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 1431-1438 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Rowan ◽  
J. Kalff ◽  
J. B. Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Trophic Status ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Sedimentation Rates ◽  
Lake Surface ◽  
Lake Trophic Status ◽  
Sediment Organic Content ◽  
Lake Surface Area

An analysis of profundal sediment data from 83 north-temperate lakes shows that increasing inorganic sedimentation and exposure (or lake surface area) results in lower organic content and water content, and greater bulk density. Because sedimentation rates are unavailable for most lakes, we estimate sedimentation rates from readily available catchment sediment loads using a mass-balance model. The mass-balance estimate of sediment retention (per square metre of depositional zone) is an excellent predictor of measured inorganic sedimentation rates for a data set covering 19 lakes (R2 = 0.92). Multiple regressions are used to predict organic content, water content, and bulk density of profundal sediment from inorganic sedimentation rates and either exposure or lake surface area, which are surrogates for the energy of the depositional environment. These analyses explain 76, 74, and 66% of the between-lake variation in the three sediment parameters, respectively. Sediment organic content is not related to lake trophic status (chlorophyll a) and is negatively correlated with net organic matter sedimentation rates. The common occurrence of organic-rich sediments in oligotrophic shield lakes is, therefore, not a reflection of high organic matter inputs, but rather the extremely low inputs of mineral sediments to these lakes.

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