Machinery’s impact on forest soil porosity

The heavy machines used in forest operations not only cause reduction of the total amount of soil pores but also drastically modify their size distribution. The effects in these terms of repeated passages of a tracked skidder and a wheeled one of quite similar size were evaluated in a forest of central Italy. In particular, we focused on macro-aggregates, i.e. the ones of centimetric size, which are crucial for soil functioning and fertility. Empty machines, i.e., without dragging or loading logs, were driven along trails for five round trips (back and forth) with two soil water contents: 11–13%, after a relatively dry period, and 24–25% right after a rain. Soil cores were sampled in the travelled trails and, for comparison, a couple of meters away from them.Bulk density and total porosity were substantially affected by both machines only in the moister soil, while the pore-size distribution changed because of compaction also in the drier soil. The main change the pore system experienced concerned the “coarse storage” pores (the ones from 7 to 50 µm equivalent pore size diameter), which decreased up to more of the 30% in the moist soil. Focusing on just such class of pores, which is the most important for soil water holding capacity, the wheeled machine was slightly more impactful than the tracked one. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the importance of basing on soil moisture for deciding when to perform forest operations and, possibly, with which machine.     

Prediction of soil vertical stress under off-road tire using smoothed-particle hydrodynamics

Evaluation of vertical stress distribution in clay-loam soil using Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics-Finite Element Analysis (SPH-FEA) technique is presented in this research. The moist soil is modelled using the hydrodynamic elastic–plastic material and Murnaghan equation of state, while the tire is modelled using FEA in Visual Environment’s Pam-Crash software. Soil-tire interaction is performed using the node symmetric node to segment with edge treatment method. A single-wheel tester in a soil bin environment was utilized to provide experimental data. The objectives of the experimental test were to (1) calculate maximum subsoil stresses in the subsoil at 1 to 15 passes of a wheel with loads of 1, 2, 4, and 5 kN on soil with moisture levels of 0, 10, 17, and 24%.; (2) calibrate soil with different levels of moisture (3) compare predicted soil stresses with experiments. The maximum stress at 20 cm depth increased with increasing soil moisture and also with high levels of tire load. In contrast, successive traffic showed a decreasing effect on soil stress. The coefficient of determination 0.97 shows the predictions agreed very well with experiments. The moist soil-tire interaction model will be further used to analyze the soil stress in different soil depths and different forward velocity.     

Soil response to track and wheel tractor traffic

Experiments were conducted on a Eudora silt loam to determine the effect of tracked and wheeled tractor traffic on cone penetration resistance and soil bulk density at three different soil-water content levels. Treatment plots were ripped to a depth of 0.45 m and irrigated 5 days prior to the experiment. Significant differences in penetration resistance and bulk density were observed between the treatments within the plowing depth (0.30 m). After the tractor passes, the average penetration resistance recorded was about 7.5% higher and the soil bulk density was about 3% higher in the wheel treatment plots. However, at the soil-water content level close to Proctor optimum (15% w/w), no significant difference was observed in the average penetration resistance of the two treatments.     

Traffic-soil-plant (maize) relations

Twenty-five treatments consisting of three vehicle contact pressures, 62, 41 and 31 kPa (0.63, 0.42, 0.32 kg/cm²), four numbers of tractor passes (1, 5, 10, 15,) before and after seeding groups, and a control of zero traffic were used to study the effect of soil compaction on corn plant root growth and distribution in a Ste. Rodalie clay soil. The average dry bulk density values for 0–20 cm depths measured during the season varied from a minimum of 0.89 g/cm³ to a maximum of 1.12 g/cm³ depending on the severity of the treatment. Root distribution maps were obtained for all the treatments by field measurements coupled with root washing methods. An average root density of 5.7 mg/g of soil in an uncompacted control plot was reduced to less than 2 mg/g in a plot with 15 passes of 0.63 kg/cm² contact pressure. Soil penetration resistance values in various plots were compared, and a statistical model was obtained in terms of the traffic treatments, soil moisture content and depth. Yield reductions and penetration resistance were compared to root distrubution density results.     

汤屯高速公路路堑边坡土质特征与生态防护植物配置 研究

汤屯高速公路边坡土壤具有偏酸性、有机质低、磷缺乏、铜过量等土质特征。边坡生态防护具有边坡高陡、原生植被彻底破坏、土质贫瘠、缺水、缺肥、生物气候干热胁迫、水土流失严重等难点,遵循交通安全性、景观协调性、生态适应性、生物多样性、经济实用性的原则,提出了以草本植物为主,草、灌、藤有机结合的边坡生态防护植物配置方案,针对全岩质边坡、碎裂结构边坡、土质边坡及边坡的顶部、下沿、平台等部位提出了不同的植物群落配置原则及物种配比方案,对类似工程具有借鉴意义。     

Soil compaction patterns caused by off-road vehicles in eastern canadian agricultural soils

The interaction between vehicles and soils of varying properties and moisture contents can cause serious compaction and soil structure problems. This situation always confronts the farmer, who has to deal with the soil effects, and should be of foremost interest to agricultural machine manufacturers and dealers as well as other off-road vehicle users in order that they may employ the best vehicle configuration for various conditions.This study is oriented towards evaluating compaction behaviour under various loads, different soil conditions, number of passes, and tire sizes. Contour plots of change in dry density compared to the original density were obtained under the tire path cross sections for different loads, number of passes and soil moisture conditions.The increase in dry density change, determined for different numbers of passes, was sharp up to five passes and levelled off for further increases in the number of passes. Increase in dry density became as great as 30 pcf (0.48 g/cm³), illustrating the detrimental effect of repeated passes of a vehicle in the field.     

Vehicular traffic effects on development and yield of corn (maize)

A 52 plot experiment was performed during the growing season of 1977 in a Ste. Rosalie clay soil, using a randomized complete-block design with 13 treatments of machinery traffic within each of four blocks. Three vehicle contact pressures, four numbers of tractor passes, and a control of zero traffic were used to relate the growth and yield variables to wheel traffic and the resulting soil compaction. The number of days required for (a) plant emergence, (b) tasselling, and (c) silking were minimum in moderately compacted plots. The plant growth rate monitored at 41, 54, 68, and 105 days from the seeding time was different from plot to plot. Growth models at different times of the season were derived in terms of the wheel traffic variables, and plant and ear moisture content variation with traffic treatment was investigated. Yield and ear yield increased with increases in machine contact pressure and passes reaching a peak around 500 kPa and dropped off for further increases. The reduction in yield was over 35% in some cases, suggesting that careful traffic planning is essential to obtain better production in agricultural fields. Prediction models were obtained for all the plant growth characteristics in terms of traffic variables. A relation for yield in terms of soil bulk density was established for a dry season.     

Impact of M1A1 main battle tank disturbance on soil quality, invertebrates, and vegetation characteristics

Military training commonly results in land degradation, but protocols for assessing and predicting long-term environmental impact are lacking. An ability to assess the impact of repeated disturbance and subsequent recovery is needed to balance training requirements against environmental quality. To develop methodology for assessing soil quality, a study evaluating disturbance resulting from tank maneuvers was initiated on Fort Riley Military Installation, Kansas. The objectives were to identify and quantify soil-quality indicators on two soil types exposed to controlled tank traffic. We examined physical, chemical, and biotic indicators after treatments were applied during wet and dry soil conditions. A randomized complete-block design, with three blocks per soil type and three treatments per block, was used. Treatments consisted of disturbance created by a 63-ton M1A1 tank making five passes in a figure-8 pattern during either dry or wet soil conditions. The M1A1 was operated at a speed of approximately 8 km/h. Control plots received no tank traffic. Soil-quality indicators evaluated were soil compaction, soil penetration resistance, rut depth, soil bulk density, soil texture, soil chemical composition, plant biomass, soil microbial diversity, and nematode and earthworm taxa. Soil-quality indicators were sampled within one week after tank disturbance. Preliminary data indicate soil-texture-dependent treatment effects (p  0.05) for bulk density and porosity. Bulk density increased and porosity decreased on trafficked areas, in the silt loam soil, but showed no change in the silty clay loam soil. Disturbance during wet soil conditions raised penetrometer resistance and gravimetric water content more than disturbance during dry soil conditions (p  0.05). A significant difference in disturbance was measured between the outside and inside portion of the same track (p  0.01 and 0.001, respectively). The outside track caused the greatest amount of disturbance, as measured by the height of the disturbed soil ridge above the track bed. Tank disturbance significantly reduced total vegetative biomass (p  0.05) compared with that of un-trafficked areas. Disturbance under wet soil conditions significantly reduced grass biomass (p = 0.040), whereas disturbance under dry soil conditions significantly reduced forb biomass (p = 0.0247) compared to un-trafficked areas. Total earthworm abundance (p = 0.011) was reduced by 82% when disturbance occurred during wet soil conditions regardless of soil type.     

Effects of timber skidding on chemical characteristics of herbaceous cover, forest floor and topsoil on skidroad in an oak (Quercus petrea L.) forest

This paper examines the effects of timber harvesting by skidding on some soil properties (sand, silt, clay, pH, organic carbon, bulk density and compaction), herbaceous cover (unit mass) and forest floor (unit weight) properties. Also N (%), P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn (ppm) were determined in all herbaceous cover, forest floor and two soil depth (0–5 cm and 5–10 cm) on skidroad of an oak (Quercus petrea L.) stand in Istanbul Belgrad Forest – Turkey. In this study, obtained results are; the forest floor and the herbaceous cover amount on the skidroad have been found considerably lower than undisturbed area. There were some crucial changes in the characteristics of the soil which has been investigated down to 10 cm depth. Soil bulk density was found quite high in the samples taken from the skidroad subject to compaction compared to the ones on the undisturbed area. Nevertheless, no important difference had been detected between the skidroad and the undisturbed area at both soil depths in terms of organic carbon contents. Moreover, the soil acidity (pH) values showed noteworthy differences in the analysis of soil samples taken from both soil depths on the skidroad and on the undisturbed area. Fe and Cu contents of herbaceous samples on skidroad were significantly higher than undisturbed area. Forest floor on skidroad had significantly higher K content, and significantly lower Zn, Mn and N content compared to undisturbed area. P, Fe, Zn and Mn contents were found significantly lower in 0–5 cm soil depth on skidroad than undisturbed area. In 5–10 cm soil depth, concentrations of N, P, Fe, Zn and Mn were significantly lower, while Mg and Cu contents were significantly higher than undisturbed area. Results indicate that long-term harvest using skidding techniques on these sites had adversely affected soil cation concentrations, physical soil conditions and mass of herbaceous cover and forest floor.     

Laboratory experimental study of tire tractive performance on soft soil: Towing mode,traction mode,and multi-pass effect

Tire tractive performance, soil behavior under the traffic, and multi-pass effect are among the key topics in the research of vehicle off-road dynamics. As an extension of the study (He et al., 2019a), this paper documents the testing of a tire moving on soft soil in the traction mode or towing mode, with a single pass or multiple passes, and presents the testing results mainly from the aspects of tire tractive performance parameters, soil behavior parameters, and multi-pass effect on these parameters. The influence of tire inflation pressure, initial soil compaction, tire normal load, or the number of passes on the test data has been analyzed; for some of the tests, the analysis was completed statistically. A multi-pass effect phenomenon, different from any phenomenon recorded in the available existing literature, was discovered and related to the ripple formation and soil failure. The research results of this paper can be considered groundwork for tire off-road dynamics and the development of traction controllers for vehicles on soft soil.     

Effect of subsoil compaction on rooting behavior and yields of wheat

Soil compactions are widely dispersed in the world but tend to be the most prevalent, where heavy machinery is used in agriculture. The increasing use of heavy machinery is the primary cause of soil and subsoil compaction. The impact of subsoil compaction on root growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L) were evaluated during 2006 and 2007. Sub-soil compactions were created by three normal loads, i.e. 4.40, 6.40 and 8.40 kg and four number of passes of tractor, i.e. 1, 6, 11 and 16. The field was divided into 39 plots including a control plot, i.e. no passes of the tractor. The size of each plot was 400 square meter. A factorial randomized block design was followed in laying out the experiment and care was taken that all the 13 treatments and their replications are included in field experiments. It was observed that for all the compaction treatments in the field experiment on the wheat crop, 51–61% of wheat roots were confined in 0–15 cm, 17–20% in 15–30 cm and the rest 22–28% is below 30 cm soil layer. Sub-soil compaction reduced the wheat crop yields to a maximum of 23%. A statistical model is developed to predict crop yield considering the root length density of the crop. Average root diameters increased with the increase of the sub-soil compaction level. In sub-soil zone, average root diameter decreased with the increase of sub-soil compaction level.     

Modeling compaction in agricultural soils

Research was conducted to quantify the effect of tire variables (section width, diameter, inflation pressure); soil variables (soil moisture content, initial cone index, initial bulk density); and external variables (travel speed, axle load, number of tire passes) on soil compaction and to develop models to assess compaction in agricultural soils. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory soil bin at the Asian Institute of Technology in three soils, namely: clay soil (CS), silty clay loam soil (SCLS), and silty loam soil (SLS). A dimensional analysis technique was used to develop the compaction models. The axle load and the number of tire passes proved to be the most dominant factors which influenced compaction. Up to 13% increase in bulk density and cone index were observed when working at 3 kN axle load in a single pass using a 8.0–16 tire. Most of the compaction occurred during the first three passes of the tire. It was also found that the aspect ratio, tire inflation pressure and soil moisture content have significant effect on soil compaction. The initial cone index did not show significant effect. The compaction models provided good predictions even when tested with actual field data from previous studies. Thus, using the models, a decision support system could be developed which may be able to provide useful recommendations for appropriate soil management practices and solutions to site-specific compaction problems.     

黄河三角洲土体非均匀性及对底坡微地貌形成影响

通过在潮滩现场 2 0m× 2 0m范围对土体细致的微贯试验和所取样品室内土体粒度分析, 指出黄河三角洲土体的物理及工程力学性质在小尺度空间上具有非均匀性, 这种非均匀性对黄河口底坡微地貌形成会产生控制性的影响作用。     

水平井降压法和热激法水合物开采对海底边坡稳定性的影响

天然气水合物广泛赋存在深海沉积物孔隙中, 被认为是具有巨大开发潜力的未来绿色能源之一, 引起全球的关注. 深海水合物开采将造成含水合物储层的强度劣化, 可能产生孔压积聚, 诱发海床失稳. 本文基于边坡稳定极限平衡分析框架, 引入考虑水合物开采热-流-化学耦合过程的数值分析模型, 研究水合物开采对海底边坡稳定性的影响. 采用TOUGH+HYDRATE热-流-化学耦合分析程序, 模拟了采用水平井降压法和热激法开采深海水合物的过程, 分析了水合物分解锋面扩展和瞬态孔压演变的规律, 并通过SLOPE/W程序采用极限平衡分析方法计算水合物开采过程及停采后的海底边坡安全系数, 分析开采井位置和开采方法对海底边坡稳定性的影响. 研究表明, 对于存在致密盖层的细砂储层陡坡, 单水平井降压开采过程中, 由于孔压降低, 土体有效应力增加, 边坡稳定性显著提高, 当开采井布设在坡体中部时, 边坡稳定性提高最为明显; 停采后, 由于水合物分解导致土体黏聚强度降低, 且孔压逐渐回升到静水压状态, 导致边坡稳定性下降, 最危险滑弧通过水合物分解区. 若采用双水平井热激法开采, 开采过程与停采后的最危险滑弧始终通过水合物分解区, 由于开采过程中温度升高, 井周孔压显著上升, 导致边坡安全系数明显下降, 存在诱发滑坡的风险.      

Improved operator comfort and off-road capability through pendulum arm technology

The Nordic forest industry requires just-in-time wood deliveries. Operations must continue regardless of season, weather and terrain. Soil compaction and deep ruts must be avoided while providing high performance and a reasonable working environment for operators.The Xt28 pendulum arm forwarder is a full-size concept forwarder with six hydrostatic propelled wheels on pendulum arms built on a three-piece frame connected with two articulation joints. The Xt28 concept machine was tested according to Skogforsk standard machine tests. Rut depth test focused on soil interaction where rut depth was measured related to number of passes. Machine dynamics were measured using standardized test track with focus on operator comfort.The project proved the potential of pendulum arm technology in off-road transportation. Automatic pendulum arm levelling, equalized ground pressure between wheels and improved operator comfort through reducing adverse vibrations and roll angles, simultaneously reducing dynamic forces transferred to the forest floor. Pendulum arm technology improves travel speed in adverse terrain, providing unparalleled side slope capability and enhanced productivity.     

Physical and hydraulic characteristics in compacted clay soils

To determine and compare the differences in soil water suction between uncropped and cropped plots, a 52-plot experiment was used. Three average tyre to soil contact pressures of 31, 41 and 62 kPa as well as four numbers of machines passes (1, 5, 10 and 15) and control plots of zero traffic were used as pre-seeding machinery compaction treatments for the investigation. Soil dry bulk density, soil moisture content, soil suction, rainfall, water table depth and corn yield were all measured. The results showed that, with increasing tyre contact pressure, there was a corresponding increase in soil suction during the growing season in both uncropped and cropped plots. A family of curves was drawn for soil suction versus tyre contact pressure for different numbers of days and also for soil suction versus volumetric water content at varying contact pressures and times of the season. Growth performance of corn plants was best in moderately compacted plots. Dry bulk density and penetrometer resistance were related to traffic treatments.     

Effect of multiple passes of tractor with varying normal load on subsoil compaction

A field experiment was conducted on alluvial soil with sandy loam texture, in a complete randomized design, to determine the compaction of sub-soil layers due to different passes of a test tractor with varying normal loads. The selected normal loads were 4.40, 6.40 and 8.40 kN and the number of passes 1, 6, 11 and 16. The bulk density and cone penetration resistance were measured to determine the compaction at 10 equal intervals of 5 cm down the surface. The observations were used to validate a simulation model on sub-soil compaction due to multiple passes of tractor in controlled conditions. The bulk density and penetration resistance in 0–15 cm depth zone continuously increased up to 16 passes of the test tractor, and more at higher normal loads. The compaction was less in different sub-soil layers at lower levels of loads. The impact of higher loads and larger number of passes on compaction was more effective in the soil depth less than 30 cm; for example the normal load of 8.40 kN caused the maximum bulk density of 1.53 Mg/m³ after 16 passes. In 30–45 cm depth layer also, the penetration resistance increased with the increase in loads and number of passes but to a lesser extent which further decreased in the subsoil layers below 45 cm. Overall, the study variables viz. normal load on tractor and number of passes influenced the bulk density and soil penetration resistance in soil depth in the range of 0–45 cm at 1% level of significance. However, beyond 45 cm soil depth, the influence was not significant. The R² calculated from observed and predicted values with respect to regression equations for bulk density and penetration resistance were 0.7038 and 0.76, respectively.     

Weakly two-dimensional interaction of solitons in shallow water

Nonlinear interactions of long-crested solitonic waves travelling in different directions in shallow water may serve as a possible mechanism of freak waves in certain sea areas. Several features of such interactions of equal amplitude Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) solitons in the framework of the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation are reviewed. In certain cases, nonlinear coupling produces a particularly high and steep wave hump. Interactions of equal amplitude solitons may lead to water surface elevations up to four times as high as the amplitude of the counterparts and the slope of the wave front may encounter eightfold increase. Exact expressions for the maximum slope in the case of interactions of unequal amplitude solitons are derived. The slope amplification for a certain class of interactions in the limiting case is twice as intense as the amplitude amplification. In the limiting case of exact resonance the interaction pattern is a new KdV soliton as in the case of the Mach stem. This feature allows to directly establish the extreme properties of the humps excited by nonlinear coupling. Evidence of such interactions and their possible consequences in realistic conditions are discussed.     

高陡层状土质边坡风蚀失稳过程及机理研究

吐鲁番交河故城台地高陡层状土质边坡的失稳过程受风蚀控制和影响非常典型; 在土层组合特征和抗风蚀能力差异以及当地终年多大风的气候特征的共同作用下,坡体土层形成风蚀空腔并在空腔的控制下发生变形破坏。以工程地质定性分析、风洞实验、物理模拟为主要手段,结合数值模拟,分析了该边坡在自然风蚀改造过程中表现出具有特殊性、多样性和阶段性特征的失稳过程,验证了边坡风蚀空腔形成与发展的存在性,揭示了边坡在风蚀失稳过程中的客观存在的差异风蚀和外挑块体变形破坏机理,为防治和监测此类边坡的变形破坏提供了有益的参考。     

Soil compaction in an orchard of Southern Quebec

Recent plans to increase the numbers of fruit trees per acre in apple orchards have necessitated the acquisition of more information on orchard soil compaction caused by repeated passes of heavy machinery operating under various soil moisture conditions.An orchard was studied where traffic had occured regularly for forty years, and in which deep ruts in many locations have caused traction problems during machinery operation. A gamma ray density probe was used to measure the degree of soil compaction in these areas, and the results show the presence of highly compact ground near certain of the vehicle tracks. Laboratory tests were also performed to classify the soil types present in the orchard.