Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Root Biomass And Other Soil Properties Affecting The Co2 Flush From Laboratory Dried And Rewetted Soils, Audrey E. Laffely

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil that has been dried and rewetted has been observed to release a ‘burst’ or ‘flush’ of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) upon rewetting. This CO 2 flush has been proposed as an indicator of soil health. This may be a valuable indicator of soil health, however the CO 2 flush has yet to be fully evaluated. Roots and root exudates influence the soil in a variety of ways that may impact the CO 2 flush, such as increasing aggregation, organic carbon (C), and microbial biomass. We conducted both field and greenhouse experiments to elucidate the relationship of root biomass …

Experiment Study Of Lateral Unloading Stress Path And Excess Pore Water Pressure On Creep Behavior Of Soft Soil, Wei Huang, Kejun Wen, Dongsheng Li, Xiaojia Deng, Lin Li, Haifei Jiang, Farshad Amini

Civil and Architectural Engineering Faculty Research

The unloading creep behavior of soft soil under lateral unloading stress path and excess pore water pressure is the core problem of time-dependent analysis of surrounding rock deformation under excavation of soft soil. The soft soil in Shenzhen, China, was selected in this study. The triaxial unloading creep tests of soft soil under different initial excess pore water pressures (0, 20, 40, and 60 kPa) were conducted with the K0 consolidation and lateral unloading stress paths. The results show that the unloading creep of soft soil was divided into three stages: attenuation creep, constant velocity creep, and accelerated creep. The …

Soil Cover Of The Highlands Of Uzbekistan, R. Kuziev, G Yuldashev

Scientific journal of the Fergana State University

In the article materials on the study of mountain light brown meadow-steppe soils of highlands of Uzbekistan are prsented. Geography, properties and resource of light brown soils are given

Geochemistry Of Irrigated Meadow Sasa Soils, M. Isagaliev, Kh. Abdukhakimova,, M Obidov Fdujournal@Fdu.Uz Fergana State University, Ferghana, Str,Murabbiylar 19

Scientific journal of the Fergana State University

In the article the content of chemical elements in the Clarke concentration, the Clarke dispersion and Clarke scattering in irrigated meadow sasa soils is tested, as well as the logarithms of chemical elements, which differentiates between -2.0-4.41 are calculated

Dynamics Of Arzyk-Shokh Meadow Sasa Soils Under Influence Of Irrigation, V. Isakov, U Mirzaev

Scientific journal of the Fergana State University

In the article evolutionary development of arzyk-shokh meadow sasa soils of Central Fergana under the influence of anthropogenic factors associated with irrigation is updated

Sampling Soils In A Heterogeneous Research Plot, Jianwei Li

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Soils are highly heterogeneous. In general, the number of soil samples required for soil research has always been determined arbitrarily and the associated accuracy is unknown. Here, we present a detailed protocol for efficient and clustered soil sampling in a research plot and, relying on a pilot sampling using this design, for demonstrating soil spatial heterogeneity and informing reasonable sample sizes and associated accuracy for future study. The protocol mainly comprises four steps: sampling design, field collection, soil analysis, and geostatistical analysis. The step-by-step procedure is modified according to former publications. Two examples will be presented to demonstrate contrasting spatial …

Optimum Moisture Content And Maximum Dry Unit Weight For Compaction Of Interdisciplinary Science Center Soil, Rachel A. Lunstroth, Maria Camilla O'Toole, Melissa Simbler

2019 Symposium

Eastern Washington University’s is currently undergoing construction with the addition of the Interdisciplinary Science Center. A soil sample was collected from the construction site and over the course of Fall Quarter 2018 we performed a series of tests on this soil allowing us to classify the soil based on the Unified Soil Classification System. These tests include: a specific gravity determination test according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard D854, a sieve and hydrometer analysis according to the ASTM standard D422, and an Atterberg limits test according to the ASTM standard D-4318. We also performed a …

Middle To Late Holocene (7200-2900 Cal. Bp) Archaeological Site Formation Processes At Crumps Sink And The Origins Of Anthropogenic Environments In Central Kentucky, Usa, Justin Nels Carlson

Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology

Though some researchers have argued that the Big Barrens grasslands of Kentucky were the product of anthropogenic land clearing practices by Native Americans, heretofore, this hypothesis had not been tested archaeologically. More work was needed to refine chronologies of fire activity in the region, determine the extent to which humans played a role in the process, and integrate these findings with the paleoenvironmental and archaeological record. With these goals in mind, I conducted archaeological and geoarchaeological investigations at Crumps Sink in the Sinkhole Plain of Kentucky. The archaeological record and site formation history of Crumps Sink were compared with environmental …

Soil And Water Conservation: An Annotated Bibliography, Colby J. Moorberg

NPP eBooks

Soil and Water Conservation: An Annotated Bibliography highlights freely-available online resources covering various aspects of soil and water conservation, and is designed to be a resource for conservation students and practitioners. The thirteen chapters in the annotated bibliography are grouped into four sections, including History and Fundamentals, Conservation Practices, Conservation Implementation, and Careers. Types of cited resources include extension bulletins, USDA NRCS conservation practice standards, and other government reports and resources. Cited resources are generally concise, easily read, and meant for general audiences. Annotations and images are used to provide context for each resource. Many contributors made Soil and Water …

Correlates Of Snake Entanglement In Erosion Control Blankets, Sarah E. Ebert, Kasey L. Jobe, Christopher M. Schalk, Daniel Saenz, Cory K. Adams, Christopher E. Comer

Faculty Publications

In road construction projects across the United States, erosion control methods (e.g., erosion control blankets [ECBs]), are mandated to stimulate seedbed regeneration and prevent soil loss. Previous reports have suggested that snakes are vulnerable to entanglement in ECBs. We conducted a literature review, field surveys, and an entanglement experiment to examine what factors increase a snake’s risk of ECB entanglement. Our literature review produced reports of 175 reptiles entangled in mesh products, 89.1% of which were snakes, with 43.6% of snake entanglements occurring in erosion control products. During our field surveys, we found 10 entangled snakes (n = 2 alive; …

Brassica Carinata Growth And Yield Response To Nitrogen And Sulfur Fertilizers And Impacts On Selected Soil Parameters And Ghg Fluxes, Dwarika Bhattarai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Carinata (Brassica carinata A. Braun), a non-food oilseed crop and an alternative bio-jet fuel feedstock, has received attention for its potential as a low-input option for production in the semi-arid regions of the Northern Great Plains of USA. The crop has a lower N fertilizer requirement as compared to the other oilseeds, suggesting less negative impact on soils and GHGs emissions. Carinata is a new crop to South Dakota (SD), thus, the best management practices have yet to be developed. In addition, no sufficient research to address the impact of growing carinata on soils and GHG emissions has been …

Carbon Dioxide Measurement In Irish Blanket Peatlands: An Assessment Of Pool-Soil Flux Variability, Mariya Radomski, Alan Gilmer, Vivienne Byers, Eugene Mcgovern

Articles

Peatlands have been recognised as having a significant role in the mediation of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels with direct implications for global climate change. Longitudinal in situ measurement systems for CO2 concentrations in blanket peatland ecosystems are difficult to implement where the nature of terrestrial–aquatic connectivity and hydrodynamics have a significant effect on the carbon cycle. The need for greater data on CO2 concentrations and flux monitoring in these settings has been well recognised. However, applying the most appropriate monitoring approach presents a special challenge. This paper sets out the development of a direct method for field based longitudinal …

Peatlands And Histosols In Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, West Virginia, Mitzy Leigh Schaney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Canaan Valley in West Virginia contains a greater area of peatlands than any other locality in the mid-Atlantic Highlands. Extensive fieldwork focused on peat stratigraphy and pedology, combined with high-resolution radiocarbon dating, was used to evaluate five peatlands within Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge (CVNWR) in the central Appalachian Mountains. One hundred soil cores were profiled and described, 30 with laboratory data, including 52 radiocarbon dates. Calibrated basal peat dates among the five mapped peatlands indicate a late Pleistocene timeframe for the onset of peat genesis, ranging from ~18,600 to ~15,200 cal yr BP. The dates for peat initiation are …

Linking Microbial Community Structure And Ecosystem Functions In Acidic Soil From Pennsylvania, Usa, Madison T. James, Sophia T. Farrisi, Shreya Shah, Vishal Shah

Sustainability Research & Creative Activities Grants Reports

Microorganisms play a critical role in the structure and functioning of soil ecosystems. Within acidic soil across the northeastern United States and Canada, we have little understanding of the microbial diversity present and its relationship to the biochemical cycles. The current study is aimed at understanding the taxonomical and functional diversities in the acidic soil obtained from near various types of trees, how the diversities change as a function of depth, and the linkage between taxonomical and functional diversities. From eight sampling locations, soil samples were collected from three horizons (depths). The three depths were 0-10 cm (A), 11-25 cm …

Environmental Forensic Characterization Of Former Rail Yard Soils Located Adjacent To The Statue Of Liberty In The New York/New Jersey Harbor, Diane Hagmann, Michael A. Kruge, Matthew Chi-Hymn Cheung, Maria Mastalerz, José Luis Gallego, Jay Prakash Singh, Jennifer Krumins, Xiaona N. Li, Nina M. Goodey

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Identifying inorganic and organic soil contaminants in urban brownfields can give insights into the adverse effects of industrial activities on soil function, ecological health, and environmental quality. Liberty State Park in Jersey City (N.J., USA) once supported a major rail yard that had dock facilities for both cargo and passenger service; a portion remains closed to the public, and a forest developed and spread in this area. The objectives of this study were to: 1) characterize the organic and inorganic compounds in Liberty State Park soils and compare the findings to an uncontaminated reference site (Hutcheson Memorial Forest); and 2) …

Conservation Agriculture In The Heartland: Farmer Perceptions Of Soil Health And The Adoption Of Cover Crops, Lillian Clarissa Cobo

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The benefits of cover crops are widely recognized by those interested in conservation agriculture and soil health. These benefits include soil erosion control, nutrient loss reduction, and overall improvement of soil health. However, while these benefits are well-documented, the adoption rate of cover crops in the American Heartland remains astoundingly low. While some studies have attempted to determine the reasons for this low adoption rate, the information relating to how farmer perceptions of soil health impact cover crop adoption is almost nonexistent. Furthermore, there is a clear absence of mixed method studies in the literature relating to this subject. This …

Ecology Of Composted Bedded Pack And Its Impact On The Udder Microbiome With An Emphasis On Mastitis Epidemiology, Tucker Andrews

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Infections of the cow udder leading to mastitis and lower milk quality are a critical challenge facing northeast organic dairy farmers. Limited mastitis treatment options are available to organic producers and bedding systems impact cow health, including mastitis risk. Composted bedded pack, a system touted for increased cow comfort and well-being, allows stratified accumulation of bedding and manure in the barn. This method is gaining popularity among organic producers, yet little is known about the microbiota of the accumulated pack and its interaction with the cow mammary gland. An in-depth single farm study was conducted that surveyed bedded pack (microbiome …

Effects Of Depositional Processes On Strength And Compressibility Of Sediments Using Elastic Shear Wave Velocity, Wisam Razzaq Muttashar

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Depositional processes are the most critical, complicated conditions that govern sediment properties and their variations, which in turn significantly affect the geotechnical behavior of the sediment. The complexity of depositional and post-depositional processes, which results in a variety of depositional environments, makes constructing a plausible model for the consolidation process of sediments difficult. The mutual influence between the temporal and spatial variation of depositional environments with their resultant physical and mechanical properties cause several compression issues, such as consolidation settlement and land subsidence, which mostly occur in estuarine-riverine regions throughout the world.

The first aim of this study is proposing …

Characterization Of Claypan Soils In Southeastern Kansas, M. A. Mathis Ii, S. E. Tucker-Kulesza, G. F. Sassenrath

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Soil erosion reduces topsoil depth. In areas with a claypan, removal of productive topsoil reduces crop yield where the claypan layer is near the surface. The topsoil and claypan layer each have unique characteristics that impact crop production and within-field variability. To better understand these differences, the soil from an area of low crop yield and high crop yield were collected and laboratory tests were performed to determine the soil classification and undrained shear strength. Understanding the soil properties and the interaction between the topsoil and claypan layers may aid in under­standing the process by which topsoil is being eroded.

Estimating Soil Organic Carbon In Cultivated Soils Using Soil Test Data, Remote Sensing Imagery From Satellites (Landsat 8 And Plantscope), And Web Soil Survey Data, Muhammed Halil Koparan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important soil parameter of cultivated soils that needs to be monitored and mapped regularly to enhance soil health and productivity. SOC levels in cultivated areas is difficult to monitor for farmers and is costly to analyze using traditional methods. The objective of this study was to estimate surface SOC distribution in selected soils of Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA) 102A (Rolling Till Plain, Brookings County, SD) and 103 (Central Iowa and Minnesota Till Prairies, Lac qui Parle County, MN) using soil sample data, Web Soil Survey (WSS) data, and satellite imagery (Landsat 8 and …

Internet Of Things In Smart Agriculture: Enabling Technologies, Abdul Salam, Syed Shah

Faculty Publications

In this paper, an IoT technology research and innovation roadmap for the field of precision agriculture (PA) is presented. Many recent practical trends and the challenges have been highlighted. Some important objectives for integrated technology research and education in precision agriculture are described. Effective IoT based communications and sensing approaches to mitigate challenges in the area of precision agriculture are presented.

Targeted Short-Term Nutrient Reduction To Manage Ventenata Dubia An Invasive Winter Annual Grass: Soil And Plant Responses, Jaren F. Lamm

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Invasive winter annual grasses, IWAGs, have degraded extensive ecosystems around the world and continue to invade new ones yearly. IWAGs readily form large monocultures or near monocultures, thus management and restoration goals largely focus on maintaining or increasing plant diversity in impacted ecosystems. Unfortunately, common management methods also reduce native plant diversity and harm the soil microbiome. These effects require additional measures to be taken, like reseeding, and plant diversity is still usually well below remnant targets. Early season short-term nutrient reduction to manage IWAGs is largely unexplored and would potentially decrease IWAG abundance, active earlier than most plants, but …

Residual Soil Phosphorus In Tropical Oxisols: An Opportunity To Enhance Fertilizer Use Efficiency?, Lauren Bomeisl

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Phosphorus (P) is essential to life on Earth and often the limiting nutrient in agricultural systems. P fertilizer is thus an essential resource to maintain food security. In the last half century, agricultural intensification has led to an increase in P fertilizer consumption from 4.6 to 17.5 Tg of P/year to meet rising global food demand. Mineral P (i.e., phosphate rock) is a non-renewable resource in the context of the Anthropocene, and its price is vulnerable to global market fluctuations. Increased efficiency of P use on farms is considered the most effective strategy to conserve P. The soybean industry demands …

Spatial Estimation Of Hydraulic Properties In Structured Soils At The Field Scale, Xi Zhang

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Improving agricultural water management is important for conserving water during dry seasons, using limited water resources in the most efficient way, and minimizing environmental risks (e.g., leaching, surface runoff). The understanding of water movement in different zones of agricultural production fields is crucial to developing an effective irrigation strategy. This work centered on optimizing field water management by characterizing the spatial patterns of soil hydraulic properties. Soil hydraulic conductivity was measured across different zones in a farmer’s field, and its spatial variability was investigated by using geostatistical techniques. Since direct measurement of hydraulic conductivity is time-consuming and arduous, pedo-transfer functions …

Long-Term Land Management Practices And Their Effect On Soil Health And Crop Productivity, Thomas Joseph Muratore Jr.

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Agricultural intensification reliant on monocrops could change soil health in a way that does not support maximum crop productivity. Twenty-nine-year-old no-till field plots at the University of Kentucky Spindletop research farm showed a significant reduction in corn yields from continuous corn plots compared to those from plots in various types of rotation. The objective of this study was to determine what role soil microbes might play in yield reduction and how management and time effects microbial community structure. Samples were collected from the following treatments: continuous corn (CC), continuous soybean (SS), a 2-year corn/soybean rotation (CCSS), Corn in rotation with …

Pursue Undergraduate Research Journal Volume 2 (Issue 1) 2019

Pursue: Undergraduate Research Journal

The scholarly journal, “PURSUE: Undergraduate Research Journal” (ISSN 2473-6201), provides undergraduates an avenue to publish their original research abstracts and articles in the following areas: psychology, sociology, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, mathematics, humanities, agriculture, architecture, health, business, and education (this list is not exclusive).

The original research articles included in this journal are peer reviewed and selected by the journal’s Editorial Board. The review process allows undergraduate researchers to receive feedback from notable scientists in their field of study and teach them about the publication process. Publication of their work will not only inform the scientific community; it …

Spatial Variability Of Manganese Oxide In Two Soilscapes: Upland-Lowland, And Riparian Buffer-Wetland Boundary- Wetland, Benjamin Onweni, Richard Griffin, Robert Thomas, Edward Timms, Javon Polk, Annette James

Pursue: Undergraduate Research Journal

Background: This research project describes the development

of a quantitative measurement methodology to determine the

concentration of manganese oxide (MnOx) in two soilscape

positions (Upland- Lowland and Riparian Buffer-Wetland

Boundary-Wetland). Methods: A reaction between the MnOx

in the soil sample and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was initiated

to determine the level of MnOx reactivity in the soil sample. Data

was collected from four sites on Soilscape 1 (Upland, Lowland,

and two sites between the Uplands and Lowlands); within each

site, five soil profile depths and three sample replicates were

measured which comprised a total of 60 samples. Additionally,

data was collected …

Correlation Of Sikora And Smith-Mclean- Pratt Soil Buffer Ph Measurements, B. Rutter, D. A. Ruiz Diaz, J. Thomas

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Historically, the K-State Research and Extension Soil Testing Laboratory has used the Smith-McLean-Pratt (SMP) buffer solution to estimate total soil acidity and estimate lime recommendations. The SMP solution contains hazardous chemicals and poses a health risk to lab workers. The Sikora buffer solution was designed as a replacement for SMP and contains no hazardous chemicals. A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between these two buffers in Kansas soils. A strong positive correlation was observed between SMP and Sikora buffer pH measurements. However, linear regression suggests that the relationship is not 1:1 (slope = 0.88). Therefore recommendation equations using …

Impacts Of Plant-Microbe Interactions On Seedling Performance In A Riparian Forest Invaded By Lonicera Maackii, Taylor E. K. Strehl

Masters Theses

Soil microbes have profound impacts on plant growth and survival and can either promote or inhibit plant dominance. Exotic plants are often strongly invasive because they have escaped their natural enemies, potentially including antagonistic soil microbes. I examined how the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii and a common native tree, Acer negundo, responded to soil microbial communities to determine the role of soil microbes in regulating invasion success. This was done by growing both species with microbes from invaded (L. maackii) and uninvaded (A. negundo) soils collected from three locations within a riparian forest. Seedlings were …

Geology Of Southeastern Nebraska, Robert Matthew Joeckel, Dana Divine, Leslie M. Howard, Kathleen Cameron, Michele M. Waszgis

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.