Granite Soil Research Articles

ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS GROWTH AND YIELD OF FIRST ROTATION CUTTING CYCLE OF Acacia AND Eucalyptus SHORT ROTATION DENDROENERGY CROPS

ABSTRACT Chile has strong interest in biomass production for the purpose of generating bioenergy to accomplish environmental standards for clean energy production. However, no yield or productivity information is available about forest crop plantations established at high-initial planting densities dedicated to energy production. The objective of the present study was to provide long-term results of short-rotation forest crops research trials, investigating first cutting cycle most promising species biomass production. Plantations of Acacia melanoxylon, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus globulus, and Eucalyptus nitens were established at initial stockings of 5,000; 7,500 and 10,000 trees ha-1 on marginal sites with important nutritional and hydric limitations in the Biobío Region, Chile. After 48 months, E. camaldulensis reached the highest biomass yield at initial stocking of 7,500 trees ha-1 (22.5 Mg ha-1) on dry land granitic soils, and E. nitens reached 35.2 Mg ha-1 on sandy soils. Initial stockings and biomass yields were directly related, but strongly conditioned by mortality, where greater initial stocking concurred with greater mortality after 4 years. The collar diameter and total height growth was lower at higher stockings.

Late Quaternary climate in southern China deduced from Sr–Nd isotopes of Huguangyan Maar sediments

The hydro-climatic conditions that prevailed during the last Glacial and early to mid-Holocene periods in South China are inferred from chemical compositions and Sr–Nd isotope ratios of sediments from lake Huguangyan Maar and its vicinity. The lake sediments are comprised of organic matter, volcanic materials and aeolian input from nearby granitoid-derived soils. Variations in 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the lake sediments indicate two modes of climate conditions: wet intervals during which the lake sediments are mainly derived from the volcanic-lake rim materials, expressed in low 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and dry intervals during which fine particles from the nearby granitic soils are windblown to the lake and supply local dust expressed in high 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the sediments. These wet and dry intervals generally correspond to regional climate records (e.g., speleothem δ18O profiles in southeast China) and correlate with global climate events (e.g., Heinrich events). While δ18O records of speleothems from southeast China caves are dominated by the precession signal, the Huguangyan Maar Sr record mainly correlates with obliquity. This most likely reflects masking of the precession signal due to regional climate variability, accentuating the obliquity signal. These local effects may also account for some of the differences that have been observed between the various East Asian monsoon records. More importantly, the masking of the precession signal reveals the direct influence of obliquity on the hydro-climate regime in South China.

Cesium desorption behavior of weathered biotite in Fukushima considering the actual radioactive contamination level of soils

For the better understanding of radioactive contamination in Fukushima Prefecture at present and in future, Cs desorption experiments have been conducted mainly using weathered biotite (WB) collected from Fukushima Prefecture and considering the actual contamination level (∼10−10 wt%) of radiocesium in Fukushima Prefecture. In the experiments, 137Cs sorbed to WB by immersing in 137Cs solution for one day was mostly desorbed by solutions of 1 M NaNO3, 1 M LiNO3, 10−1 M HCl, and 10−1 M HNO3, although it was barely desorbed by 1 M KNO3, 1 M CsNO3, 1 M NH4NO3, and natural seawater. X-ray diffraction analysis of WB after immersing in these solutions suggested that the collapse of the hydrated interlayers in WB suppressed the desorption of Cs. On the other hand, 137Cs was barely desorbed from WB even by the treatments with solutions of NaNO3 and LiNO3 if the duration for the sorption was longer than approximately two weeks, as well as radioactive WB collected from actual contaminated soils in Fukushima Prefecture. This result implies that Cs sorbed in WB became more strongly fixed with time. Probably removal of radiocesium sorbed in weathered granitic soil at Fukushima Prefecture is difficult by any electrolyte solutions, as more than seven years have passed since the accident.

Introduction of a Ground Penetrating Radar System for Subsurface Investigation in Balik Pulau, Penang Island

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) are non-invasive geophysical techniques that enhance studies of the shallow subsurface. The purposes of this work are to study the subsurface composition of Balik Pulau area in Penang Island and to identify shallow subsurface geology features. Data acquisition for GPR is by using 250 MHz antenna to cover 200m survey line at Jalan Tun Sardon, Balik Pulau. GPR survey was divided into ten sections at 20 m each. Results from GPR shows that there is low EM reflection along the first 40 m of the survey line. Intense EM reflections were recorded along the distance 40 m to 100 m. Less noticeable radar reflections recorded along 100 m to 200 m distance of the survey line. As a conclusion, clear signal of radar wave reflection indicates dry region of the subsurface. Meanwhile, low signal of radar wave reflection indicates highly weathered granitic soil or clay of the subsurface.

Rapid estimation of microbial biomass in acid red soils with and without substrate incorporation

A rapid and alternative measurement of microbial biomass in acid red soils with and without substrate incorporation is proposed for soil quality evaluation. Soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) and N (SMBN) in 24 typical red soil samples developed from two parent materials (granite and arenaceous shale) were measured using fumigation-extraction followed by dry combustion method in comparison with ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry (increase in absorbance at 280 nm, ΔUV280). The reliability of microbial biomass estimation by UV spectrophotometry was verified using six representative red soils amended with biochar (0, 1, 3 and 5%) and glucose (0, 100, 500 and 1000 mg kg−1) separately. ΔUV280 was strongly correlated with SMBC and SMBN measured by dry combustion, regardless of biochar/glucose incorporation. Validated conversion equations from unamended soil data were dependent on confounding effects of organic C and particle size and can be described as follows: SMBC = 27.08 × ΔUV280 (R2 = 0.67, n = 24) and SMBN = 3.62 × ΔUV280 (R2 = 0.69, n = 24). Regression models for rapid estimation of microbial biomass in red soils from different parent materials had to be calibrated separately in case of amendments. In most cases, SMBC (R2 of 0.75–0.76 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 22.2–29.3 mg kg−1) and SMBN (R2 of 0.74–0.80 and RMSE of 2.60–14.2 mg kg−1) can be predicted from ΔUV280 in biochar/glucose-amended soils using these equations. The slope of the regression of SMBC against ΔUV280 shifted in biochar-amended granite soils, mainly due to uncoordinated changes of SMBC in response to the difference in parent material-induced nutrient availability, while shifts of SMBC (or SMBN) against ΔUV280 in glucose-amended arenaceous shale soils were attributed to particle size distribution. Soil microbial biomass (SMBC and SMBN) in red soils can be rapidly predicted by fumigation-extraction with UV spectrophotometry detection and corresponding correction of calibration curves, depending on soil nutrient availability, particle size distribution and organic C levels.

The Interpretation and Inheritance of Green Local Building Material System in Modern Architecture - Case Study of Century Fishing Village Eelgrass Cottage Resort in Dayu Island, Shidao Bay, Jiaodong Peninsula

Dayu island sea cottage is the most typical carrier of the fish culture in the coastal area of Jiaodong. In recent years, economic development, changes in fishermen's living habits led to a the dismantling of a large number of traditional sea cottages and gradual disappearing of unique Dayu island building materials system comprising of eelgrass roof, local granite stone wall and soil kang chimney. In order to protect the local cultural characteristics so they can be passed down, the paper sorted out the original traditional eelgrass cottage building material system. The project of Century Fishing Village Eelgrass Cottage Resort represents experimentation and innovation on the original material system, forming a novel construction material system. Such a system not only satisfies the requirement of new buildings on thermal insulation, energy and space conservation, but also enhances safety and resistance to wind, erosion. The wide adoption of the new material system in new buildings enhances the technique of integrating traditional construction materials and modern architecture in both form and function, making it an ideal design strategy.

A Novel and Facile Method for Characterizing Shrinkage Geometry along the Granitic Soil Profile

Core Ideas A simple and facile approach was proposed for measuring the anisotropic shrinkage. Subsidence was dominant for soils in the loose and aggregated structure. Horizontal shrinkage was predominant for soils with the horizontal arrangement of plate particles The shrinkage behavior of granite soils was controlled by clay content and pore structure. Soil volume change resulting from frequent drying–wetting cycles leads to severe erosion and landslides in granite regions. Limited attempts have been made to investigate the shrinkage geometry of these soils. Here, a new method was proposed for characterizing soil shrinkage behavior by testing cylindrical specimens of undisturbed granitic soils sampled separately in vertical and horizontal directions at the pedogenic layers (i.e., surface [L1], lateritic [L2 and L3], sandy [L4], and detritus [L5] layers). For L1, the coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE) was larger in the vertical than in the horizontal direction, whereas it was the opposite for L2 and L3. For L4 and L5, the COLE showed no significant differences between the two directions. A modified van Genuchten equation fitted well with the COLE curves (p < 0.01). The shrinkage potential decreased in the order of L3 > L2 > L1, L4 > L5. Subsidence was dominant for the L1 soil due to the loose‐aggregated structure, whereas cracking was dominant in the lateritic layer soils due to the horizontal arrangement of clay particles. The shrinkage geometry for L4 and L5 was largely determined by soil structure inherited from the configuration of granite rock. The shrinkage behavior of granite soils was controlled by clay content and pore structure. This new method of measuring shrinkage geometry is accurate, low cost, nondestructive, and labor saving but remains to be improved and validated on a wide range of soil types.

Surface Complexation Modeling of Fluoride Adsorption by Soil and the Role of Dissolved Aluminum on Adsorption

Core Ideas A surface complexation model for F− adsorption on soil was developed. Dissolved Al and Al–F complex adsorption added to the model better explained F− adsorption. The model can be extended to study the effect of existing co‐anions or humic substances. The adsorption processes of F− on a natural soil as a function of varying pH and F− concentration were evaluated by applying a surface complexation model (SCM) based on a single surface functional group with monodentate binding sites. A granitic soil from Tsukuba, Japan, was chosen as an example, and the SCM was developed to explain the pH dependency of F− sorption isotherms on the soil. Four possible surface complexation reactions were postulated with and without including dissolved Al. Optimized constants for F− surface complexation, and those for protonation and deprotonation, were used for the simulations. The SCM including dissolved Al and the adsorption of Al–F complex can simulate the experimental results, the decreasing trend of F− adsorption with the increase in pH, quite successfully. Also, including dissolved Al and the adsorption of Al–F complex to the model explained the change in solution pH after F− adsorption. Therefore, incorporation of dissolved Al and Al–F complex in model calculations of a soil–F system is an important improvement to predict F− concentrations of soil solutions.

Performance of Geosynthetic‐Reinforced and Cement‐Fly Ash‐Gravel Pile‐Supported Embankments over Completely Decomposed Granite Soil: A Case Study

This paper presents a full‐scale test of the high‐speed railway embankment to investigate the performance of cement‐fly ash‐gravel (CFG) pile‐supported embankments over completely decomposed granite (CDG) soils. The authors compared the embankments built on CDG soils reinforced by geogrid only and geogrid and CFG piles in terms of ground settlement, layer settlement, and pile efficacy. Experimental results show that the CFG pile‐supported embankment built on CDG soils performs well. The soil arching of CFG piled reinforcement is effective and significantly increases with surrounding soil consolidation. Furthermore, the increase in the soil arching effect is heavily dependent on differential settlements between surrounding soils and piles. Five methods widely adopted in current designing were used to calculate the pile efficacy. The prediction for pile efficacy by the Nordic method, BS8006, and its modified version is significantly higher than measured values. By contrast, the calculation by the EBGEO and CA model method is more approximate to the measured results in both the pattern and the value at the end of construction. Therefore, the adaptability of the EBGEO and CA model method outperformed that of the Nordic method, BS8006, and its modified version. Finally, in this case, the CA model method was recommended to estimate the pile efficacy of CFG pile‐supported embankments built on CDG soils.

Numerical Evaluation of Settlement trough Width Parameter

Construction of tunnel results in ground movements with a settlement trough which is well described by a Gaussian distribution curve. For near surface settlements, it was established that the trough width i is an approximately linear function of the tunnel depth zo in relation to a trough width parameter K and broadly independent of tunnel construction method and tunnel diameter (except for very shallow tunnels where the cover to diameter ratio is less than one). The choice of an appropriate value of K may require some judgement, since it depends on whether the ground is primarily cohesive or frictional. Published literatures recommended that for practical purposes K could be taken as 0.5 for tunnels in clays and 0.25 for tunnels in sands and gravels. This paper discusses the evaluation of trough width parameter which has not been studied much for typical soil types encountered in the Klang Valley of Malaysia (e.g. Kenny Hill formation weathered materials, granitic soil, alluvium, etc.) of which are commonly in cohesive-frictional nature. The main objective of study is to investigate, using numerical method, the arbitrary relationship of the trough width parameter for different soil types in terms of its effective shear strength parameters and stiffness parameter. A parametric study was carried out to identify parameter(s) which have a significant influence on the settlement trough width and simple equation is presented subsequently for estimating appropriate K values for empirical calculation. This study has excluded two-layered system of different geology where, for example, a tunnel in Kenny Hill formation is overlain by significant thickness of alluvium deposits. Preliminary findings based on numerical analysis showed some promising results. Effort to continually build up the field database to further refine the deduced relationship for the surface settlement trough width parameter is in progress over the course of construction for Klang Valley MRT tunnels.

Usefulness of twinkling Artifact for urinary Stone Measurement

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of twinkling artifact (TA) ultrasonography in the evaluation of urinary stone measurement. We measured the different size of granite soil stones by various ultrasonic measuring methods. Then, the results were compared with the actual stone size for accuracy of the various measurement methods. TA is different from stone measurements depending on stone size (p 9 mm than other ultrasonic measurement methods. TA may be used as a complementary method when the urinary stones size measurement is ambiguous in the B mode.

Climate, topography, and dust influences on the mineral and geochemical evolution of granitic soils in southern Arizona

Mineral weathering transforms rock into soils that supply nutrients to ecosystems, store terrestrial carbon, and provide habitat for organisms. As a result, the mineralogy and geochemistry of soils from contrasting environments are well-studied. The primary objective of this research was to examine how climate, topography, and dust interactively control the mineral and geochemical composition of granitic soils that span an environmental gradient in southern Arizona. Two field sites were selected within the Catalina Critical Zone Observatory that exhibit significant range in precipitation (25 to 85cmyr−1), temperature (24 to 10°C), and vegetation composition (desert scrub→mixed conifer). Within each site, two catena end member pairs were selected to represent variation in local topography which included divergent, water-shedding summits and convergent, water-gathering footslopes. Soils and parent rock were studied using x-ray diffraction and x-ray fluorescence. Dust samples were collected from ridgetop dust traps at the desert scrub site and examined using x-ray fluorescence. The desert scrub soils showed enrichment in biotite, total feldspar, and Fe+Mg whereas the mixed conifer soils were depleted in feldspars and enriched in Fe+Mg. Depletions of Na, Si, and K+Ca occurred in both the desert and mixed conifer ecosystems, with the convergent soils in the conifer sites exhibiting the greatest degree of elemental loss. We examined dust in the regolith after identifying mineral and elemental enrichments in both ecosystems. Dust fraction estimates ranged from 2 to 21% in desert soils and 9 to 19% for the mixed conifer soils. Our results confirm the interactive role of bioclimate, topography, and dust in driving the geochemical evolution of soils and cycling of nutrients in desert and conifer ecosystems.

Dietary exogenous and endogenous abrasives and tooth wear in African buffalo

The potential contribution of exogenous dust and grit and endogenous plant silica to tooth wear of the African buffalo in Kruger National Park was examined. Endogenous silica as percent dry matter on basalt soils (6.58%) was significantly higher than on granite soils (4.41%), and significantly higher in dry season grasses (6.64%) than in wet season grasses (4.41%). Exogenous grit on granite grasses (0.43%) had significantly higher loads than basalt grasses (0.16%) and wet season loads significantly higher (0.50%) than dry season (0.09%) loads. Grasses on granite soils were significantly tougher (0.266 J m-1) than those on basalt soils (0.215 J m-1). Adult buffalo were estimated to consume 10–28 kg per year of exogenous grit and 300–400 kg per year of endogenous silica. First lower buffalo molars are estimated to wear at an average rate of 1.94 mm per year with no significant difference between wear on the different soil types or between sexes. The high silica intake with no observable differences in tooth wear questions the role of silica in tooth wear. It is proposed that there is an interaction between exogenous and endogenous abrasives and that abrasion must be considered more holistically.

Soil Preferences in Germination and Survival of Limber Pine in the Great Basin White Mountains

In the Great Basin, limber pine is a sub-alpine tree species that is colonizing newly available habitat above treeline in greater numbers than treeline-dominating Great Basin bristlecone pine, especially on dolomite soil, where few plants are able to grow and where limber pine adults are rare. To examine the role of soil type on germination and establishment of limber pine, I sowed limber pine seeds in containers of the three main White Mountains soil types in one location while measuring soil moisture and temperature. I found that dolomite soil retains water longer, and has higher soil water content, than quartzite and granite soils and has the coolest maximum growing season temperatures. Limber pine germination and survival were highest in dolomite soil relative to quartzite and granite where limber pine adults are more common. While adult limber pines are rare on dolomite soils, young limber pines appear to prefer them. This indicates that limber pine either has only recently been able to survive in treeline climate on dolomite or that bristlecone pine has some long-term competitive advantage on dolomite making limber pine, a species with 1500 year old individuals, an early succession species in Great Basin sub-alpine forests.

Explicit stress–strain equations for modeling frictional materials

ABSTRACTIn this paper, a comprehensive study on simulating the shearing behavior of frictional materials is performed. A set of two explicit equations, describing the relationship among the shear stress ratio and the distortional strain and the volumetric strain, are formulated independently. The equations contain three stress parameters and three strain parameters and another parameter representing the nonuniformity of stress and strain during softening. All the parameters have clear physical significance and can be determined experimentally. It is demonstrated that the proposed equations have the capacity of simulating the complicated shearing behavior of many types of frictional materials including geomaterials. The proposed equations are used to simulate the stress–strain behavior for 27 frictional materials with 98 tests. These materials include soft and stiff clays in both reconstituted and structured states, silicon sands and calcareous sands, silts, compacted fill materials, volcanic soils, decomposed granite soils, cemented soils (both artificially and naturally cemented), partially saturated soils, ballast, rocks, reinforced soils, tire chips, sugar, wheat, and rapeseed. It has been demonstrated that the proposed explicit constitutive equations have the capacity to capture accurately the shearing behavior of frictional materials both qualitatively and quantitatively. A study on model parameters has been performed.

Contrasting termite diversity and assemblages on granitic and basaltic African savanna landscapes

Termites are recognised soil ecosystem engineers in the tropics and sub-tropics, making the understanding of their distribution a priority. However, there is a poor understanding of how differences in soil properties and plant biomass productivity affect termite species diversity. We compared the diversity of termites between two soils of differing geological provenance (basalt and granite), and consequently contrasting nutrient content, but subject to similar climatic conditions in a semi-arid Zimbabwean savanna. Basaltic soils contained more dead wood, and were more nutrient-rich than granitic soils, with significantly higher exchangeable Ca and Mg, and available P, and a less acidic pH. However, despite this higher soil nutrient status on basalts, functional and taxonomic termite diversity was higher on granites, although termite abundance was similar between the geological formations. Termite assemblages differed between the geological formations, with very little overlap. We conclude that termite diversity is highly influenced by soil productivity, with nutrient-poor soils having higher diversity, potentially due to reduced competitive exclusion or differences in species adaptation to soil conditions.

Substrate effects on vegetative and reproductive growth of Ornithogalum thyrsoides “Royal Beauty”

ABSTRACTThe effect of soil amendment with degraded granite or perlite on plant growth of Ornithogalum thyrsoides was investigated in Central Chile. Bulbs were planted in April in raised soil beds under greenhouse. Three different substrates were compared: control (unamended soil), decomposed granite soil (DG) and soil in proportion 1:2, and perlite and soil in proportion 1:2. Soil nutrient availability in all treatments was considered higher than the plant requirements. The plants in the unamended soil had the greatest flower stem diameter, total fresh weight, and aboveground fresh weight. In terms of stem length, inflorescence length, belowground structures fresh weight, and inflorescence fresh weight, perlite with soil had similar results as unamended soil, but never better. Our results indicate that, under the conditions of this experiment, DG or perlite is not recommended for growing O. thyrsoides, since they did not improve either vegetative or reproductive growth.

Leap frog in slow motion: Divergent responses of tree species and life stages to climatic warming in Great Basin subalpine forests.

In response to climate warming, subalpine treelines are expected to move up in elevation since treelines are generally controlled by growing season temperature. Where treeline is advancing, dispersal differences and early life stage environmental tolerances are likely to affect how species expand their ranges. Species with an establishment advantage will colonize newly available habitat first, potentially excluding species that have slower establishment rates. Using a network of plots across five mountain ranges, we described patterns of upslope elevational range shift for the two dominant Great Basin subalpine species, limber pine and Great Basin bristlecone pine. We found that the Great Basin treeline for these species is expanding upslope with a mean vertical elevation shift of 19.1m since 1950, which is lower than what we might expect based on temperature increases alone. The largest advances were on limber pine-dominated granitic soils, on west aspects, and at lower latitudes. Bristlecone pine juveniles establishing above treeline share some environmental associations with bristlecone adults. Limber pine above-treeline juveniles, in contrast, are prevalent across environmental conditions and share few environmental associations with limber pine adults. Strikingly, limber pine is establishing above treeline throughout the region without regard to site characteristic such as soil type, slope, aspect, or soil texture. Although limber pine is often rare at treeline where it coexists with bristlecone pine, limber pine juveniles dominate above treeline even on calcareous soils that are core bristlecone pine habitat. Limber pine is successfully "leap-frogging" over bristlecone pine, probably because of its strong dispersal advantage and broader tolerances for establishment. This early-stage dominance indicates the potential for the species composition of treeline to change in response to climate change. More broadly, it shows how species differences in dispersal and establishment may result in future communities with very different specific composition.

Basic Physical Properties and Mechanical Behavior of Compacted Weathered Granite Soils

Basic Physical Properties and Mechanical Behavior of Compacted Weathered Granite Soils

Soil organic carbon partitioning and Δ14C variation in desert and conifer ecosystems of southern Arizona

Soils are significant terrestrial carbon stores yet the mechanisms that stabilize organic carbon in mineral soil remain poorly constrained. Here, we identified climate and topographic controls on soil organic carbon storage along the Catalina Critical Zone Observatory that spans a significant range in mean annual temperature (>10 °C) and mean annual precipitation (>50 cm year−1). Granitic soils were collected from divergent summit and convergent footslope positions in desert scrub, pine, and mixed conifer systems. Physical soil carbon distribution was quantified using a density and sonication technique to obtain the “free,” “occluded,” and heavy “mineral” soil carbon pools. We examined bulk soil ( 3%) that partitioned evenly between the free light and mineral fractions. Soil C in the P. pine system also reflected the impact of a moderate severity fire in 2002 that led to modern ∆14C values for bulk soil and density fractions. The mixed conifer system contained a greater proportion of passive occluded C in the subsurface soils. We observed evidence for modern fire inputs into the surface soils of the mixed conifer system in combination with buried charcoal and occluded C associated with historic fire events. Convergent landscapes contained higher soil carbon stocks and depleted ∆14C relative to adjacent divergent landscapes, suggesting a landscape-level mechanism that includes the transport, burial, and preservation of soil carbon downslope. These data sets provide insights into ecosystem- and hillslope-scale variations in soil carbon storage across semiarid to subhumid environments.