Article
Soil Science
Mari Raty, Maarit Termonen, Helena Soinne, Johanna Nikama, Kimmo Rasa, Mikko Jarvinen, Reijo Lappalainen, Harri Auvinen, Riikka Keskinen
Summary: The use of wood fiber-based sludges from the pulp and paper industry can help improve the productivity of coarse-textured soils by increasing their organic matter content. However, these amendments may also lead to competition between plants and microbes for nitrogen uptake.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Thais N. Pessoa, Rafael S. Santos, Paulo L. Libardi, Igor R. de Assis, Teogenes S. Oliveira
Summary: The intensification of agricultural systems, such as vegetable production, to meet the global food demand has led to increased soil compaction and changes in soil physical properties. This study investigated the effects of vegetable cropping systems on highly weathered Oxisols in the Brazilian Cerrado biome. The results showed that these systems promoted soil compaction, reduced soil porosity, and negatively impacted soil functions and ecosystem services. Improving soil management strategies is crucial for restoring soil functionality and ensuring the long-term sustainability of food production.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Luisa Carla de Alencar Menezes, Antonio Carlos Rodrigues Guimaraes, Maria Esther Soares Marques, Tales Santos Ribeiro, Filipe Almeida Correa do Nascimento
Summary: The criteria for selecting materials for railway pavement are not suitable for evaluating the hydraulic behavior of tropical soils under unsaturated conditions, resulting in the rejection of soils with good mechanical and hydraulic performance. This study aims to assess the moisture variation over time in the railway trackbed under the influence of rainfall. Water retention curves and conductivity tests were conducted, and numerical modeling was developed to analyze the results. The modeling showed that sample 1 (lateritic sand) performed better with lower moisture variation and low permeability.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yu Su, Yu-Jun Cui, Jean-Claude Dupla, Jean Canou, Shu-Qian Duan
Summary: Experimental observations showed that ε(p)(1) of fine/coarse soil mixture was significantly affected by N, σ(d), f(v), and ψ. A fatigue model incorporating SWRC was developed to account for the combined effects of N, σ(d), f(v), and ψ on ε(p)(1). The proposed model was capable of describing ε(p)(1) in the case of plastic shakedown and provided better predictions than existing models incorporating water content.
BULLETIN OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Suman Roy, Sathiyamoorthy Rajesh
Summary: In this study, a novel tensile strength framework is proposed to determine the tensile strength characteristic curve (TSCC) of both coarse- and fine-grained soils over the entire saturation range. The variation of the parameters for the TSCC model for different types of soils, testing methods, and sample preparation methodologies is critically assessed. The proposed framework is validated with experimental data sets for both coarse- and fine-grained soils, showing good agreement in most cases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Wei Fu, Qiao-run Liu, Jun Fan, M. M. T. Lakshani, Chamindu T. K. K. Deepagoda
Summary: This research investigated the effect of water-based spent drilling mud (WBSM) application on the basic hydrophysical properties of coarse-textured loessial soil from the Loess Plateau in China. The results showed that WBSM application can improve soil porosity and water-holding capacity, but it also affects soil water and gas transport characteristics.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Shiva Asghari, Kamran Zeinalzadeh, Hossein Kheirfam, Behnam Habibzadeh Azar
Summary: This study assessed the response of moisture characteristic curve (MCC) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC) to soil inoculation with cyanobacteria. Results showed that inoculation significantly increased the MCC of loam and sand soils, while reducing the SHC of sand soils. Inoculated cyanobacteria also improved the soil surface physical and chemical properties, playing a key role in determining soil hydraulic and hydrologic behavior.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Bharat Rattan, Kiran Vilas Dhobale, Abhisekh Saha, Ankit Garg, Lingaraj Sahoo, S. Sreedeep
Summary: This study evaluates the performance of two different water-absorbing polymers (WAPs) in combination with organic/inorganic fertilizers on soil water retention. The results show that different fertilizers affect the water absorption capacity of the WAPs, but the combined use of fertilizers and WAPs improves soil water retention, especially in silt soil. FA-WAP is less sensitive to fertilizers, providing the possibility for improving water use efficiency of WAPs.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Karen W. Holmes, Edward A. Griffin, Dennis van Gool
Summary: The study focused on spatial distribution of soil coarse fragments and utilized a new approach to increase accuracy of prediction maps, providing high predictive power for various soil features within the study area.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peijun Li, Yuanyuan Zha, Bingxin Zuo, Yonggen Zhang
Summary: This study proposes a series of models that can describe the soil water retention curves with improved performance in characterizing water retention data for different soil textures without introducing additional parameters. These models can also capture the observed local extrema in the moisture capacity curves and show superior performance in characterizing hydraulic conductivities, especially in macropore regimes. The study also analyzes the parameter-equivalent conversion between the proposed and existing models.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Zhiqiang Lin, Jiangu Qian, Zhenhao Shi, Qian Zhai
Summary: This study examines the uniqueness of strength parameters for coarse- and fine-grained unsaturated soils with bimodal soil-water retention curves (SWRCs) using the suction stress concept. The results show that both types of soils exhibit a bilinear strength envelope in the suction stress-shear strength plane, which differs from unsaturated soils with unimodal SWRC.
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenjuan Zheng, Lian-Ping Wang, Xingxing Kuang, Yan Jin, Chongyang Shen
Summary: This study experimentally investigated the individual and coupled effects of soil-borne hydrogels (gel-like substances) and surfactants (surface active substances) on soil water retention. The results showed that hydrogels enhanced soil water retention due to increased solution viscosity and their hygroscopic property, while surfactants reduced soil water retention due to reduced surface tension. A modified model effectively described the soil water retention curves and provided an explanation for the enhanced water retention. This study improves our understanding of the mechanistic effects of viscosity and surface tension on soil water retention.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Esben W. Bruun, Dorette Muller-Stover, Betina Norgaard Pedersen, Line Vinther Hansen, Carsten Tilbaek Petersen
Summary: Appropriate soil amendments, such as straw ash and straw biochar, can increase plant available water and crop yields on coarse sandy soils under drought conditions. This study found that ash and biochar amendments significantly increased soil water retention and evapotranspiration, but did not have a significant positive effect on grain yields.
SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guoxin Shi, Yu Wu, Tianxiao Li, Qiang Fu, Yongxia Wei
Summary: The research investigated the effects of long-term biochar application on soil structure and erosion. The results demonstrated that biochar improved soil hydraulic conductivity, prevented horizontal water diffusion, and enhanced soil water holding capacity. These findings provide practical methods for soil improvement and erosion control in sloping farmland.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Wei Wei, Daili Pan, Yong Yang
Summary: Terraces play a crucial role in water conservation, vegetation restoration, and agricultural production in dryland mountainous environments by reducing runoff, increasing interception, and promoting transpiration. Different terrace structures have varying effects on soil water retention, with zig terraces enhancing soil infiltration and transpiration while fish scale pits suppressing evaporation but increasing transpiration. The temporal factor and terrace structure are essential in understanding the soil-water retention services provided by terracing.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Johanna Vandermaesen, Siyao Du, Aisling J. Daly, Jan M. Baetens, Benjamin Horemans, Bernard De Baets, Nico Boon, Dirk Springael
Summary: This study investigates the interactions between foreign microbes and resident species in bioaugmentation, and finds that sand filter communities contain species that can enhance the fitness of the introduced microbe.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hasan Mozaffari, Ali Akbar Moosavi, Alireza Sepaskhah, Wim Cornelis
Summary: This study investigated the effects of three land use types on the soil hydraulic properties of calcareous soils. The results showed that perennial alfalfa field (PAF) had more macropores compared to other land use types, which could be attributed to its high organic matter content, long-term no-till conditions, and positive effects of alfalfa root systems.
ARID LAND RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Lidong Ren, Tommy D'Hose, Irene Borra-Serrano, Peter Lootens, Daan Hanssens, Philippe De Smedt, Wim M. Cornelis, Greet Ruysschaert
Summary: Soil compaction is a limiting factor for sustainable agriculture and efficient methods are needed to detect its distribution. This study evaluated the possibility of using electromagnetic induction and maize traits to detect soil compaction. The results showed that detecting soil compaction with electromagnetic induction was challenging, while maize traits had a better correlation with soil compaction.
SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Hasan Mozaffari, Ali Akbar Moosavi, Wim Cornelis
Summary: The study aimed to develop pedotransfer functions and spectrotransfer functions to estimate soil organic matter content using loss on ignition and spectral reflectance bands. Results indicated that spectral reflectance bands and specific loss on ignition procedures could accurately assess soil organic matter content in calcareous soils.
ARCHIVES OF AGRONOMY AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chiheb Khemis, Khaoula Abrougui, Ali Mohammadi, Karim Gabsi, Stephane Dorbolo, Benoit Mercatoris, Eunice Mutuku, Wim Cornelis, Sayed Chehaibi
Summary: This study successfully developed a model using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict the effects of tractor speed and soil moisture on soil compaction. The model showed good compliance with on-field data, providing farmers with more accurate guidance, especially for alluvial, poorly developed soil.
Article
Soil Science
Desale Kidane Asmamaw, Pieter Janssens, Mekete Dessie, Seifu Tilahun, Enyew Adgo, Jan Nyssen, Kristine Walraevens, Jan De Pue, Alemu Yenehun, Fenta Nigate, Ashebir Sewale, Wim M. Cornelis
Summary: In Ethiopia, the problem of soil fertility caused by acidity significantly limits agricultural productivity. This study examined the impact of using a combination of lime, manure, and inorganic fertilizer on the hydrophysical properties of acid clay Nitisols in the Koga irrigation scheme. The results showed that the combined application of organic manure, lime, and inorganic fertilizer enhanced the infiltration rate, water holding capacity, and grain yield of the soil.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Lin Lin, Frank Van der Bolt, Wim Cornelis
Summary: Visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) methods are gaining popularity for monitoring soil structure degradation. This study compares three VESS-based methods in detecting soil structure degradation in different soil layers and concludes their advantages and disadvantages.
Article
Agronomy
Desale Kidane Asmamaw, Pieter Janssens, Mekete Dessie, Seifu A. Tilahun, Enyew Adgo, Jan Nyssen, Kristine Walraevens, Habtamu Assaye, Alemu Yenehun, Fenta Nigate, Wim M. Cornelis
Summary: In the Ethiopian Upper Blue Nile Basin, agricultural productivity is declining due to longer dry seasons and soil acidity-induced fertility problems. Wheat, a major food security crop, is experiencing reduced productivity due to water scarcity, especially during the irrigation season. Addressing these problems is crucial for increasing productivity.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Mathematics, Applied
M. Vispoel, A. J. Daly, J. M. Baetens
Summary: The paper extends the notion of Lyapunov exponents from continuous dynamical systems to cellular automata (CA) in order to describe the sensitivity of a CA to small changes in its initial configuration. Previous attempts have been limited to CA with two states, which restricts their applicability to many CA-based models. The authors propose a generalization to N-dimensional k-state CA with either a deterministic or probabilistic update rule. The extension introduces additional concepts such as the average Lyapunov exponent and the correlation coefficient of the difference pattern growth, providing comprehensive insight into the stability of CAs.
Article
Soil Science
Adriaan Vanderhasselt, Simon Cool, Tommy D'Hose, Wim Cornelis
Summary: Subsoil compaction is a widespread problem in modern agriculture, and subsoiling is commonly used to deal with this issue. However, the effectiveness and sustainability of subsoiling are still disputed. This study evaluated the effectiveness and sustainability of three different subsoilers on a sandy loam soil with a highly compacted upper-subsoil. The choice of subsoiler significantly impacted soil disruption, fuel consumption, and mechanical resistance, highlighting the importance of not over-expanding the working depth of the subsoiler.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Waldemar Baldoquin Rodriguez, Mayelin Mirabal, Patrick Van der Stuyft, Tania Gomez Padron, Viviana Fonseca, Rosa Maria Castillo, Sonia Monteagudo Diaz, Jan M. Baetens, Bernard De Baets, Maria Eugenia Toledo Romani, Veerle Vanlerberghe
Summary: In order to improve dengue prevention and control efforts, the use of routinely collected data to develop risk maps is recommended. By using data from two municipalities in Cuba, dengue experts identified indicators representative of entomological, epidemiological, and demographic risks to construct risk maps. However, there was low agreement between vulnerability and incidence-based risk maps in areas with a prolonged history of dengue transmission, suggesting that an incidence-based approach may not fully capture the complexity of vulnerability.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Etiendem Achankeng, Wim Cornelis
Summary: This study investigates the impact of ridge tillage (RT) and strip tillage (ST) on crop yields in Europe in comparison with no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT). The results show that, on average, NT leads to a 5.1% reduction in crop yields, while RT and ST each result in a 5% increase in crop yield over CT.
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Wissam Barhdadi, Aisling J. Daly, Jan M. Baetens, Bernard De Baets
Summary: Individual biology influences population dynamics dependent on the environment through life history. Recent research has integrated metabolic theory with individual-based models to explore the link between individual physiology and demography. However, current population models do not consider individual behaviors, relying instead on imposed population-level relationships. This study proposes extending the model to include individual-scale behaviors and demonstrates its effectiveness in simulating consumer dynamics in a heterogeneous environment.
Proceedings Paper
Computer Science, Information Systems
Milan Vispoel, Aisling J. Daly, Jan M. Baetens
Summary: Inspired by continuous dynamical systems theory, Lyapunov exponents have been defined in the framework of cellular automata (CAs) to quantify a CA's sensitive dependence on initial conditions. This study proposes an extension of the existing methodological framework to three-state CAs, revealing interesting features regarding CAs classified as class IV according to Wolfram's classification.
CELLULAR AUTOMATA (ACRI 2022)
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Adriaan Vanderhasselt, Ronald Euben, Tommy D'Hose, Wim Cornelis
Summary: Soil compaction is a major threat to agricultural soils, caused by increasing wheel loads of modern farming machinery and increased frequency of field operations in moist to wet conditions. This study found that lowering tire inflation pressure can reduce soil compaction and yield loss in sugar beet. The use of self-propelled slurry spreader did not significantly increase soil compactness compared to a tractor-trailer combination. Conventional ploughing resulted in more soil compaction compared to non-inversion tillage, but tillage practice did not have an overall effect on sugar beet yield.
