Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Measurement Of Fine Spatial Scale Ecohydrologic Gradients In A Pinyon-Juniper Ecosystem, Matthew David Madsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

With the dramatic expansion of pinyon-juniper woodlands over the last century, improved understanding of how these woodlands modify infiltration properties is needed, in order for land managers to make informed decisions on how to best manage their specific resources. However, current methods for measuring soil infiltration are often limited by low sample sizes and high experimental error, due to constraints associated with remote, non agricultural settings. This thesis first presents a scheme for automating and calibrating two commercially available infiltrometers, which allows collection of a large number of precise unsaturated infiltration measurements in a relatively short period of time. Secondly, …

Boron Composition Of Alfalfa In Utah As Related To Soils And Irrigation Waters, Robert N. Radtke Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Eighteen field plots at 15 locations were selected throughout the state to evaluate the status of the boron content in irrigation waters, soils, and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) plant tissue under irrigated conditions.

No boron deficiency symptoms were observed in any of the alfalfa plants at any of these locations, nor were any of the plant tissue boron levels inadequate. Only two locations were found in which the alfalfa plants exibited toxicity symptoms. These locations were along the Indian and Antelope Creeks in Duchesne County which contain high boron levels in the water. All the alfalfa and soil tested …

Some Aspects Of The Salinity Of Mancos Shale And Mancos Derived Soils, James C. Whitmore

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Initial studies to determine the thermodynamic solubility product (K_sp) of gypsum and CaCO₃ were conducted. The influence of different electrolyte salts at different concentrations upon the solubility of gypsum and CaCO₃ was then tested. Analytical data was utilized in conjunction with a computer to calculate the activity of CaCO₃ and gypsum, the ion pair concentration and the solubility product. Indifferent salts increased the solubility of gypsum and CaCO₃, and salts with a common ion decreased the solubility of gypsum and CaCO₃.

Lithium was found to be the dominant monovalent cation present …

The Accuracy Of Soil Mapping Units Of Certain Pachic And Cumulic Soils In Northern Utah, Behjat Badamchian

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of mapping of pachic and cumulic soils in Cache County. The soil maps that were used for this study as the basemap were the Atlas sheets of the published soil survey of Cache County.

Five map units from Mendou, Nebeker, Avon, Hendricks and Winn which include almost 52 percent of the pachic and cumulic soils in the survey area were selected for this study. These five soils cover large areas when compared to other soil series and they are distributed throughout the county. All these map units were recognized as …

Evaluating The Availability Of Organic Nitrogen In Soils, Saleh M. Romaih

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the organic N in silty clay loam soil as an indicator of soil fertility. The incubation method was used in this study. The NO₃ -N, the total N percent, and the organic matter were determined. The soil which was used in this study came from Evans Research Farm. The samples were taken from two different N experiments which were adjacent to each other. The soil samples were taken in October-November, 1973, after the crop had been harvested. These two experiments had different cropping histories.

The results of the first experiment …

An Intensive Edaphological Characterization Of The Soils Of Malambito Experimental Station And Its Implications In Future Agricultural Research, William L. Rubink

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Malambito Experiment Station, in the Atlántico III project area, Department of Atlántico, Colombia, had almost no quantitative edaphological data on which to base agricultural research. Unexplainably low general yields as well as problem areas of deficient plant growth only confounded the results of field plot experiments. Intensive soil sampling and subsequent measurements of pH, EC_e of the saturation extract, and the four major cations disproved the previous suggestions that the crop growth problems were related to saline, sodic, or degraded soil conditions. The Ca/Mg+K+Na ratio, although significant when correlated with plant height, was sufficient explanation for only a small …

Model For Predicting Simultaneous Distribution Of Salt And Water In Soils, Satish C. Gupta

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Knowledge of water and salt movement in soils is necessary for development of a management scheme for controlling the quality of irrigation return flow. A computer model was developed to predict the distribution of water and salts in the root zone under varying initial and boundary conditions. The model consists of water flow and salt flow sub-models. The water flow sub-model considers the numerical approximation of the general water flow equation with modification for water loss by evapotranspiration (and thus root extraction). The salt flow sub-model considers the mass flow of salts, chemical exchange, precipitation or dissolution of CaCO_{3 …}

The Influence Of Thermo-Gradients Upon Water Movement And Retention In Unsaturated Soils, Jose V. Salazar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Temperature differences of about 5, 10, and 15 V, were applied to uniformly packed and insulated horizontal column of Millville silt loam soil using mean temperatures near 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 23.5 C. The temperature distribution along the soil column was determined using copper constantan thermocouples. Soil samples were taken to determine volumetric moisture content, and soil water potential, using the vapor pressure psychometer technique. The thermodynamic flow equation of Taylor and Cary, (1964) was used to calculate the hydro-thermal transfer coefficient (ß) as given by:

-ß = d(μ_w)_T / dlnT

where …

Movement Of Phosphorus In Soils As Influenced By Chelates And Soil Types, Abd-Elmonem Sayed-Ahmad Mostafa

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The problems of phosphate fertilization have attracted the attention of agronomists, nutritionists, and other biological scientists due to the importance of phosphorus in animal and plant nutrition. However, the fundamental behavior of phosphorus in soil systems is not well understood. Because of its far-reaching effects, a solution of a portion of this problem is of importance.

A Field Study Of Miscible Displacement In Saturated Soils, Lloyd Dowley Mcfadden Sadler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Extensive research has been carried out in both field and laboratory to explain water and solute movement under both saturated and unsaturated conditions. The importance of such work is obvious, since any attempt at exploring land reclamation by leaching or nutrient movement in plant feeding (to name only two) is subject to interpretations and theories of moisture flow.

Water flow through soil during reclamation by leaching can be termed miscible displacement since soil water and leaching water do not have a distinct fluid-fluid interface and will physically mix. It is probable that miscible displacement investigations can contribute to an understanding …

Phosphorus Status Of Genola Soils In Utah, Warren E. Bendixen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

With increasing pressure on economical production of crops, more fertilizers are being applied to the soil each year to increase crop yields. Economical production of crops with applications of fertilizer requires an evaluation of the essential elements of the various crops so applications of fertilizer will not exceed the law of diminishing returns.

Because varying soil, moisture, and climatic conditions influence the response to added fertilizers, some workers (18, 26, 38) have contended that the only reliable way of determining the fertilization needs of a crop is to conduct a trial on the particular farm. The length of time involved …

The Freezing Point Of Water In Puddled And Unpuddled Soils At Different Soil Moisture Tension Values, Robert B. Campbell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A technique that will adequately describe the physical condition of water in the soil has long been desired by scientists. The method should include the effect of soluble materials on the osmotic pressure of the soil solution, and also the effect of surface force action between the soil and soil water.

Parker (8) demonstrated that the freezing point was reduced in the presence of finely divided material. This suggested the possibility of using the cryoscopic procedure to measure the physical condition of water soil. More recently, the introduction of Thermistors for accurate temperature measurement have made it desirable to investigate …