O uso de efluente de estação de tratamento de esgoto (EETE) na agricultura irrigada pode ser uma estratégia alternativa de fornecimento de água e nutrientes para culturas agrícolas. Entretanto se realizado por longos períodos pode adicionar grandes quantidades de sódio ao solo o que poderia levar a degradação de suas propriedades e impacto em aspectos agronômicos de capim Tifton 85. Esse trabalho consistiu de dois objetivos: i) avaliar os efeitos da irrigação com efluente rico em sódio durante mais de oito anos em propriedades químicas e físico-hídricas de um Argissolo Vermelho. Para isso foram estabelecidos três tratamentos avaliados nas profundidades de 0,05-0,15 (P1), 0,25-0,35 (P2) e 0,70-0,80 m (P3): SI - cultivo de capim sem adubação e sem irrigação; A100 - cultivo irrigado com água de abastecimento sódica e adubado com 520,0 kg ha-1 ano-1 de nitrogênio; E66 - cultivo irrigado com EETE e adubado com 343,2 kg ha-1 ano-1 de nitrogênio. Foram determinados: pH do solo (em água e CaCl2), condutividade elétrica do extrato aquoso do solo (CE1:1), concentração de sódio (Na+), potássio (K+), cálcio (Ca2+), magnésio (Mg2+), alumínio (Al3+), carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) do solo, com posterior cálculo de soma de bases (SB), capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC), saturação por bases (V) e percentagem de sódio trocável (PST); densidade do solo (?), argila dispersa em água (ADA), condutividade hidráulica do solo saturado (Ksat), curva de retenção da água no solo (CR), porosidade do solo (?) e distribuição do tamanho dos poros; ii) avaliar os efeitos da irrigação com efluente rico em sódio durante mais de oito anos em aspectos agronômicos de capim Tifton 85. Para alcançar o segundo objetivo foi estabelecido além do SI, A100 e E66, mais quatro tratamentos: A0 - cultivo de capim sem adubação e irrigado com água de abastecimento sódica; E0, E33 e E100 - cultivo de capim irrigado com EETE e adubado com 0, 171,6 e 520,0 kg ha-1 ano-1 de nitrogênio, respectivamente. Foram determinados: produtividade de massa seca estacional (MS-Estacional), anual (MS-Anual) e acumulação estacional e anual de nitrogênio (N-MS), potássio (K-MS) e sódio (Na-MS) no tecido vegetal de capim Tifton 85. Houve alterações nas propriedades químicas e físico-hídricas do solo em função dos tratamentos e profundidades. Na P1 o E66 aumentou a CE1:1, a densidade do solo, o conteúdo de água residual e diminuiu a concentração de Mg2+ e conteúdo de água de saturação. Já o A100 reduziu a concentração de K+ e Mg2+, o conteúdo de água de saturação e aumentou a densidade do solo e o conteúdo de água residual. Na P2 o E66 aumentou o pH-H2O e a CE1:1, o conteúdo de água de saturação e o conteúdo residual. O A100 aumentou o pH-H2O, o Na+, o PST, a argila dispersa em água, o conteúdo de água de saturação e o conteúdo residual e diminuiu o C e N. Na P3 o E66 aumentou apenas o pH-H2O e o conteúdo de água residual e reduziu o conteúdo de água de saturação. O A100 aumentou o conteúdo de água de saturação, o conteúdo de água residual e a mesoporosidade. As propriedades do solo da P2 parecem ser as mais afetadas pelos efeitos do sódio decorrentes, principalmente, do uso de irrigação com água sódica. As produtividades de MS e acumulação de N-MS e K-MS foram superiores nos tratamentos E66, E100 e A100 e não foram reduzidas ao longo destes anos. A acumulação de Na-MS foi proporcional à produtividade, mas o capim passou a acumular um pouco menos sódio. Na estação chuvosa a MS de capim representou cerca de 72% da MS-Anual, sendo influenciada fortemente pelo período de estacionalidade. / The use of treated sewage effluent (TSE) in irrigated agriculture can be an alternative strategy to supply water and nutrients to crops. However if applied for long periods of time, it can add large amounts of sodium to the soil, resulting in soil properties degradation and impacts on agronomic aspects Tifton 85 Bermudagrass. The objectives of this work were: i) evaluate the effect of irrigation with sodium rich effluent for more than eight years on chemical, physical and hydraulic properties of an Ultisol. For this were established three treatments (WI - growing grass without fertilization or irrigation ; FW100 - irrigation with sodic fresh water supply and fertilized with 520.0 kg ha-1 year-1 nitrogen; E66 - irrigation with TSE and fertilized with 343.2 kg ha-1 year-1 nitrogen) The effects were evaluated at different depths (D1: 0.5-0.15, D2: 0.25-0.35 and D3: 0.70-0.80 m), determining: soil pH (in water and CaCl2), soil electrical conductivity of the aqueous extract (EC1:1) sodium concentration (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), aluminum (Al3+), soil carbon (C) and soil nitrogen (N), with subsequent calculation of sum of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (V) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP); bulk density (?), water dispersible clay (WDC), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), soil water retention curve (SWRC), soil porosity (?) and pore size distribution. Another objective was to evaluate the effect of irrigation with sodium rich effluent for more than eight years on agronomic aspects of Tifton 85 Bermudagrass. In addition to WI, FW100 and E66 treatments were established another four treatments (FW0 - growing grass without fertilizer and irrigated with sodic water supply; E0, E33 and E100 - growing grass irrigated with TSE and fertilized with 0, 171.6 and 520.0 kg ha-1 year-1 nitrogen, respectively) and determined the productivity of seasonal dry matter (Seasonal-DM), annual (Annual-DM) and nitrogen (N-DM), potassium (K-DM) and sodium (Na-DM) seasonal accumulation and annual in the plant tissue of Tifton 85 Bermudagrass. There were changes in chemical, physical and hydraulic soil properties as a function of treatments and depths. In the D1 the E66 treatment increased CE1:1, the bulk density, the residual water content and decreased the concentration of Mg2+, water content at saturation. FW100 reduced the concentration of K+ and Mg2+, the water content at saturation and increased soil bulk density and residual water content. In the D2, the E66 treatment increased pH-H2O and CE1:1, the water content at saturation and residual water content. The FW100 increased pH-H2O, Na+, ESP, water dispersible clay , the content of water saturation and residual contents and decreased C and N. In the D3 the E66 only increased the pH-H2O and residual water content and reduced water content saturation. The FW100 increased the water content at saturation point, residual water content and mesoporosity. The soil properties of D2 aparently are more affected than other depths by the effects of sodium, mainly from the use of irrigation water with sodium. The DM, N-DM and, K-DM were higher in the treatments E66, E100 and FW100 and there were not observed reductions over the years. The accumulation Na-DM was proportional to productivity, but the grass began to accumulate less sodium. In the rainy season the grass DM accounted for approximately 72% of Annual-DM, being strongly influenced by seasonality period.

O uso de efluente de estação de tratamento de esgoto (EETE) na agricultura irrigada pode ser uma estratégia alternativa de fornecimento de água e nutrientes para culturas agrícolas. Entretanto se realizado por longos períodos pode adicionar grandes quantidades de sódio ao solo o que poderia levar a degradação de suas propriedades e impacto em aspectos agronômicos de capim Tifton 85. Esse trabalho consistiu de dois objetivos: i) avaliar os efeitos da irrigação com efluente rico em sódio durante mais de oito anos em propriedades químicas e físico-hídricas de um Argissolo Vermelho. Para isso foram estabelecidos três tratamentos avaliados nas profundidades de 0,05-0,15 (P1), 0,25-0,35 (P2) e 0,70-0,80 m (P3): SI - cultivo de capim sem adubação e sem irrigação; A100 - cultivo irrigado com água de abastecimento sódica e adubado com 520,0 kg ha-1 ano-1 de nitrogênio; E66 - cultivo irrigado com EETE e adubado com 343,2 kg ha-1 ano-1 de nitrogênio. Foram determinados: pH do solo (em água e CaCl2), condutividade elétrica do extrato aquoso do solo (CE1:1), concentração de sódio (Na+), potássio (K+), cálcio (Ca2+), magnésio (Mg2+), alumínio (Al3+), carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) do solo, com posterior cálculo de soma de bases (SB), capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC), saturação por bases (V) e percentagem de sódio trocável (PST); densidade do solo (?), argila dispersa em água (ADA), condutividade hidráulica do solo saturado (Ksat), curva de retenção da água no solo (CR), porosidade do solo (?) e distribuição do tamanho dos poros; ii) avaliar os efeitos da irrigação com efluente rico em sódio durante mais de oito anos em aspectos agronômicos de capim Tifton 85. Para alcançar o segundo objetivo foi estabelecido além do SI, A100 e E66, mais quatro tratamentos: A0 - cultivo de capim sem adubação e irrigado com água de abastecimento sódica; E0, E33 e E100 - cultivo de capim irrigado com EETE e adubado com 0, 171,6 e 520,0 kg ha-1 ano-1 de nitrogênio, respectivamente. Foram determinados: produtividade de massa seca estacional (MS-Estacional), anual (MS-Anual) e acumulação estacional e anual de nitrogênio (N-MS), potássio (K-MS) e sódio (Na-MS) no tecido vegetal de capim Tifton 85. Houve alterações nas propriedades químicas e físico-hídricas do solo em função dos tratamentos e profundidades. Na P1 o E66 aumentou a CE1:1, a densidade do solo, o conteúdo de água residual e diminuiu a concentração de Mg2+ e conteúdo de água de saturação. Já o A100 reduziu a concentração de K+ e Mg2+, o conteúdo de água de saturação e aumentou a densidade do solo e o conteúdo de água residual. Na P2 o E66 aumentou o pH-H2O e a CE1:1, o conteúdo de água de saturação e o conteúdo residual. O A100 aumentou o pH-H2O, o Na+, o PST, a argila dispersa em água, o conteúdo de água de saturação e o conteúdo residual e diminuiu o C e N. Na P3 o E66 aumentou apenas o pH-H2O e o conteúdo de água residual e reduziu o conteúdo de água de saturação. O A100 aumentou o conteúdo de água de saturação, o conteúdo de água residual e a mesoporosidade. As propriedades do solo da P2 parecem ser as mais afetadas pelos efeitos do sódio decorrentes, principalmente, do uso de irrigação com água sódica. As produtividades de MS e acumulação de N-MS e K-MS foram superiores nos tratamentos E66, E100 e A100 e não foram reduzidas ao longo destes anos. A acumulação de Na-MS foi proporcional à produtividade, mas o capim passou a acumular um pouco menos sódio. Na estação chuvosa a MS de capim representou cerca de 72% da MS-Anual, sendo influenciada fortemente pelo período de estacionalidade. / The use of treated sewage effluent (TSE) in irrigated agriculture can be an alternative strategy to supply water and nutrients to crops. However if applied for long periods of time, it can add large amounts of sodium to the soil, resulting in soil properties degradation and impacts on agronomic aspects Tifton 85 Bermudagrass. The objectives of this work were: i) evaluate the effect of irrigation with sodium rich effluent for more than eight years on chemical, physical and hydraulic properties of an Ultisol. For this were established three treatments (WI - growing grass without fertilization or irrigation ; FW100 - irrigation with sodic fresh water supply and fertilized with 520.0 kg ha-1 year-1 nitrogen; E66 - irrigation with TSE and fertilized with 343.2 kg ha-1 year-1 nitrogen) The effects were evaluated at different depths (D1: 0.5-0.15, D2: 0.25-0.35 and D3: 0.70-0.80 m), determining: soil pH (in water and CaCl2), soil electrical conductivity of the aqueous extract (EC1:1) sodium concentration (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), aluminum (Al3+), soil carbon (C) and soil nitrogen (N), with subsequent calculation of sum of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (V) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP); bulk density (?), water dispersible clay (WDC), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), soil water retention curve (SWRC), soil porosity (?) and pore size distribution. Another objective was to evaluate the effect of irrigation with sodium rich effluent for more than eight years on agronomic aspects of Tifton 85 Bermudagrass. In addition to WI, FW100 and E66 treatments were established another four treatments (FW0 - growing grass without fertilizer and irrigated with sodic water supply; E0, E33 and E100 - growing grass irrigated with TSE and fertilized with 0, 171.6 and 520.0 kg ha-1 year-1 nitrogen, respectively) and determined the productivity of seasonal dry matter (Seasonal-DM), annual (Annual-DM) and nitrogen (N-DM), potassium (K-DM) and sodium (Na-DM) seasonal accumulation and annual in the plant tissue of Tifton 85 Bermudagrass. There were changes in chemical, physical and hydraulic soil properties as a function of treatments and depths. In the D1 the E66 treatment increased CE1:1, the bulk density, the residual water content and decreased the concentration of Mg2+, water content at saturation. FW100 reduced the concentration of K+ and Mg2+, the water content at saturation and increased soil bulk density and residual water content. In the D2, the E66 treatment increased pH-H2O and CE1:1, the water content at saturation and residual water content. The FW100 increased pH-H2O, Na+, ESP, water dispersible clay , the content of water saturation and residual contents and decreased C and N. In the D3 the E66 only increased the pH-H2O and residual water content and reduced water content saturation. The FW100 increased the water content at saturation point, residual water content and mesoporosity. The soil properties of D2 aparently are more affected than other depths by the effects of sodium, mainly from the use of irrigation water with sodium. The DM, N-DM and, K-DM were higher in the treatments E66, E100 and FW100 and there were not observed reductions over the years. The accumulation Na-DM was proportional to productivity, but the grass began to accumulate less sodium. In the rainy season the grass DM accounted for approximately 72% of Annual-DM, being strongly influenced by seasonality period.

A vegetação de restinga é uma formação típica que ocorre na costa brasileira em materiais de origem quartzosos e pobres em nutrientes. O principal processo pedogenético que ocorre nos solos sob essa vegetação é a podzolização, sendo os Espodossolos e os Neossolos com podzolização incipiente os solos mais comumente encontrados. A podzolização é freqüentemente estudada em regiões de clima frio, sendo escassos os estudos dos mesmos em clima tropical e desenvolvidos sobre sedimentos marinhos quartzosos. Foram coletados e descritos morfologicamente nove perfis de solos sob vegetação de restinga na Ilha do Cardoso-SP com o objetivo de caracterizá-los em sua química, física, morfologia, mineralogia e estudar a dinâmica do Fe e do Al nestes solos com o intuito não só de se compreender melhor a gênese dos mesmos como para contribuir com o aprimoramento do Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos (SiBCS). Os resultados mostraram solos hidromórficos, arenosos, muito ácidos, com teores variáveis de matéria orgânica e fases não cristalinas Al e Fe, sendo que o Al é o metal que participa mais efetivamente do processo de podzolização, o qual é altamente dependente da hidromorfia. Este fato é evidenciado pela microtopografia, que exerce papel importante na distribuição dos solos. Foi identificada pirita em alguns horizontes (2Cgj), os quais apresentam características distintas em relação aos demais, tais como textura mais fina e presença de esmectita. Este material de origem influencia até os horizontes espódicos, reduzindo o pH bruscamente na determinação da TFSA (terra fina seca ao ar), devido à influência indireta promovida pelo lençol freático. Nos horizontes espódicos, os principais minerais encontrados foram o feldspato e o quartzo na fração silte e a caulinita e o quartzo na fração argila, evidenciando uma assembléia mineralógica mais pobre em relação a outros Espodossolos de clima frio e até mesmo em relação a outros da costa brasileira. Isso ocorre devido principalmente ao próprio material de origem ser muito pobre em minerais primários intemperizáveis. O SiBCS mostrou falhas na classificação da ordem Espodossolos a partir do 2º nível categórico (subordem), principalmente no que diz respeito ao acúmulo de Fe no horizonte espódico. Sugerese a inserção da denominação “tiônico” no quarto nível categórico, devido à possibilidade da ocorrência de solos tiomórficos, se forem drenados, bem como a adoção de um critério químico na distinção das subordens dos Espodossolos. As relações Carbono/Metal evidenciaram a baixa participação do Fe, sendo o Al o responsável pela precipitação química do complexo organometálico. Os Espodossolos estudados são holocênicos e a podzolização é dependente da hidromorfia. A presença de sulfetos de ferro afeta parte dos solos estudados e pode coincidir com horizontes espódicos. / Restinga vegetation is a typical formation that occurs in brazilizan coast, on quartzitic, sandy poor parent material. The main pedogenic process that occurs in soils under this vegetation is the podzolization, being the Spodosols and Quartzipsamments, with incipient podzolization, the most common soils. Podzolization is frequently studied in regions of cold climate, with a lack of studies in tropical climate and quartzitic material. Nine soil profiles under restinga vegetation at Ilha do Cardoso, São Paulo State, had been sampled and morphologically described with the objective to proceed chemical, physical, morphological and mineralogical characterization and study Fe and Al dynamics in these soil with the aim of better comprehend its genesis, as well as contribute to an improvement of the Brazilian System of Soil Classification (SiBCS). The results had shown aquic, sandy, very acid soils with variable contents of organic matter and Al and Fe non crystalline phases. Al appears to be the metal that participate more effectively on podzolization process, which is highly dependent on aquic conditions. Being so, microtopography plays an important role in soil distribution. Pyrite and smectite was also identified in clay horizons (2Cgj) related to a distinct parent material. This material also influences spodic horizon chemistry generating low pH values in dried samples due to water table effects. Spodic horizons are mainly constitute by feldspar and quartz, in the silt fraction, and kaolinite and quartz, in the clay fraction, evidencing a poor mineralogical assembly in relation to other Spodosols of cold climate and even to those of Brazilian coast. This mainly occurs due to parent material which presents few weatherable primary minerals. SiBCS showed imperfections in the classification of Spodosols from 2nd categorical level (suborder), mainly because the absence of a chemical criteria for Fe accumulation in spodic horizon. We suggest the insertion of "thionic " denomination in the 4th categorical level because of the possible formation of acid sulphate soils in response to drainage, as well as the adoption of a chemical criteria in the distinction of subordens of Spodosols. Carbon/Metal ratios had evidenced low participation of Fe, being Al responsible for chemical precipitation of organo-metallic complex. Our Spodosols are holocenic and podzolization process depends on aquic conditions. Presence of iron sulfides affects some of the studied soils an also coincide with spodic horizons.

We analyzed soils in Alder Bald, Grassy Bald, and Rhododendron Bald communities on Roan Mountain to infer the influence of vegetation on soil and to help guide management strategies. In all vegetation types, soils were acid (pH = 4–5) sandy loams. We found vegetation-associated differences for organic content, cation exchange capacity, acidity, two plant macronutrients (K, Mg), and three cations (Fe, Na, Zn). We predicted that nitrogen compounds would be highest in the Alder Bald because Alnus viridis ssp. crispa (Green Alder) can harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Organic content was highest at the alder-bald sites, ammonium was similar among vegetation types, and nitrate was high at only some sample sites. The unique soil properties of the Alder Bald community, its likely role in primary succession, and its documentation as a long-standing community type on Roan Mountain suggest that management should be directed towards its conservation.

This study is aimed at investigating the feasibility of using the radiometric technique as an alternative to traditional methods for determining soil physico-chemical parameters which are important for terroir characterization. In-situ and ex-situ radiometric analyses of soil from three vineyard blocks of Simonsig Wine Estate in the Stellenbosch district (Western Cape, South Africa) were studied. A mobile MEDUSA gamma-ray detection system comprising a CsI(Na) crystal (length 15 cm, diameter 7 cm) and associated electronics mounted on a portable trolley were used for partial terroir characterisation. Thereafter activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th series and 238U series in soil (top ~30 cm) from the measured MEDUSA spectra (0 – 3 MeV) were extracted by means of the full-spectrum analysis (FSA) method. A lead-shielded HPGe detector was used for analyzing collected soil samples while soil physico-chemical parameters were analysed using standard methods at research and commercial laboratories.

The focus of this study is on potential damages to buildings resulting from expansive soils in Tanzania, particularly clay soils in Kibaha. For the fact that most of the affected structures are founded on expansive soils, a clear understanding of the behaviour of soils and their interaction with structures has been of interest to the study in order to evaluate properly the source of the problem.The geotechnical behaviour of expansive clay soils is investigated by looking into the geomorphologic, geological and climatic conditions and mineralogical composition of the soils in the study area.Two sites, representative of known problem-areas in Kibaha were selected for geotechnical tests. Geotechnical site investigation consisted of open trial pits, profile description and the collection of both disturbed and undisturbed samples. To extend and amplify the findings, supplementary samples were collected from the environs of the two sites.The collected samples were submitted to soil laboratories at KTH, ARU, SEAMIC and DIT for mineralogical composition tests, natural water content, density, Atterberg limits and swell tests. The results of this investigation indicate that soils in Kibaha contains clay (31%), have high liquid limit (59%) and plastic limit (37%) which indicate high potential swell.Since swell pressure, free swell and swell percent are key properties of expansive soils, the swell properties were measured by free swell tests and one-dimensional oedometer swell tests. The free swell ranged from 100% to 150% and the swell pressure was in the region of 45 kPa. The coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE) was determined for characterizing expansive clays. For all tested samples, COLE ranged from 0.09 to 0.14 indicating that soils fall in the region of high to very high expansion potential rating. The properties of expansive soils were confirmed by the x-ray diffraction test which showed the presence of smectite in the soil. Furthermore, total suction measurement technique using filter paper method indicated that the soils have high suction values, signifying that they have a tendency to swell upon wetting depending on plasticity of particular soil.The depth of the active zone was measured as a function of moisture variations in the profiles during two extreme weather conditions. The active zone depth was found to be between 1.0 and 2.0 m deep. Procedures to assess models to predict swell in the case study were outlined together with their validity.Vertical and horizontal spatial variability in selected soil properties was defined using geostatistical techniques through the fitting of variogram. The indicator semivariograms of both clay contents and free swell gave a range of 20 m horizontally and 1.0 m vertically, with the horizontal variograms exhibiting greater ranges than the dipping variograms.Physical conditions of the surveyed properties in the area confirmed that building damages are associated with poor building materials triggered by expansive soils. In support of the obtained data, the actual behaviour of the foundations was supplemented with prototypes of strip foundations whose performances were monitored over a period of four months. Finally, suggested are the ways forward to solve the problem of foundation on expansive soil / QC 20100824

In any geotechnical design procedure, the fundemantal point to be initially clearified is the characterization of existing soil profile at a site. This requires a great deal of planning a suitable site investigation program including borings, sampling, laboratory and in situ testing etc. Laboratory and in-situ (field) tests are important tools leading to the estimation of soils properties in geotechnics. Beside laboratory tests, the measurement of engineering properties in situ is a continuously growing and developing trend, particularly in materials difficult to obtain perfect undisturbed samples. For the purpose of this study, two large volumed geotechnical investigation reports are collected from a wide archive of 30 years experiences. Different soil types are encountered during the study like alluvial deposits of soft to stiff cohesive materials, hard clays in appearance of highly weathered rocks. The in-situ tests mostly being focused and studied on are &ldquo / Pressuremeter Test&rdquo / and &ldquo / Standard Penetration Test&rdquo / on cohesive materails. Over 350 standard penetration test results are recorded together with the pressuremeter results of relevant soils. Besides, the corresponding laboratory test results of oedometer, triaxial loading and all index properties of soils are assembled. The results of in-situ tests are evaluated together with the results of laboratory tests performed on the samples obtained from related sites. The correlations between in-situ &amp / laboratory test results on shear strength, compressibility and deformation characteristics of soils are analysed and compared with the existing correlations in literature. The correlations are generally obtained to be in agreement with the ones in common literature in cases where the soil conditions, particularly saturation, are same in both laboratory and in-situ tests.

Among the hard-hit cities during 17 August 1999 Kocaeli Earthquake (Mw 7.4), Adapazari is known for the prominent role of site conditions in damage distribution. Since the strong ground motion during the event was recorded only on a rock site, it is necessary to estimate the response of alluvium basin before any study on the relationship between the damage and the parameters of ground motion. Therefore, a series of site and laboratory tests were done on Adapazari soils in order to decrease the uncertainty in estimation of their dynamic properties. In downtown Adapazari, a 118 m deep borehole was opened in the vicinity of heavily damaged buildings for sample recovery and in-situ testing. The stiffness of the soils in-situ is first investigated by standard penetration tests (SPT) and by velocity measurements with P-S suspension logging technique. Disturbed samples were recovered by core-barrel and split-barrel samplers. 18 Thin-Walled tubes were successively used for recovering undisturbed samples. A series of monotonic and cyclic direct simple shear tests were done on specimens recovered from the Thin-Walled tubes. It is concluded that the secant shear modulus and damping ratio of soils exposed to severe shaking during the 1999 event are significantly smaller than those estimated by using the empirical relationships in literature. It is also observed that the reversed-S shaped hysteresis loops are typical for cyclic response of the samples.

The escalating pollution of the environment has been one of the greatest concerns of science in recent years. Industrial advances in agriculture, expansion of chemical industries and a general change in lifestyle all over the world has lead to release of a variety of pollutants into the environment, thus contaminating the atmosphere, water bodies and many soil environments. In general, other than some natural processes, soils are increasingly being contaminated by anthropogenic sources such as leakages from waste containment facilities, accidental spills and industrial operations. Apart from affecting biotic components of the ecosystem, these pollutants greatly affect the performance, behavior and stability of the soil ecosystem, these pollutants greatly affect the performance, behavior and stability of the soil systems, thus causing severe damage to structures founded on them. The hydraulic and/or chemical alterations which allow these polluting substances to move within soil pores lead to physico-chemical decomposition processes, chemical alterations, leaching and ion exchange reactions. Such reactions could also result from natural processes such as weathering; but the effects caused by pollutants occur at faster rates. Soils are composed of clays, silts and sands. Due to charged nature of the particles and their large specific surface, engineering properties of clays are greatly affected by pollutants. The magnitude of these effects can vary significantly depending on the type of soil, the type and concentration of contaminant, duration of interaction and the environmental conditions. Hence, an understanding of contaminant-clay interactions is important for prevention of geotechnical features, if possible, or at least for planning of remedial measures. Understanding these effects and planning remedial measures requires measurement of the affected properties of polluted soils. This may involve the modification of standard test procedures or the development of new test procedures. The main types of contaminants include inorganic acids, alkalis, sulphates, organic contaminants, toxic or phytotoxic metals and combustible substances. All of these are widely used in industries. While the adverse effects of presence of sulphate in alkaline conditions is well known, little information is available on the effect of sulphate in natural soils under acidic environments. Sulphuric acid is widely employed in the production of fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, pigments, rayon, film, iron, steel, explosives, paper and paper industry. It is also used in cleaning, etching, petroleum refining, electroplating, metallurgy, and in lead-acid batteries. Due to its widespread but often improper usage and the difficulty in safe storage, sulphuric acid is often found as a contaminant in natural soils. Sulphuric acid is also generated in natural soils by oxidation by pyrites in the presence of atmospheric oxygen. Hence, an attempt has been made in this thesis to study the behavior of soils containing different clay minerals during acid-sulphate interaction. The effect of sulphate on soils containing calcite, whose presence is quite common, has also been studied. A review of literature suggests that most common geotechnical failures due to contamination occur due to significant changes on the volume change behavior. Also, it is known that severe changes that occur in soil properties can essentially be attributed to mineralogical changes that occur during interaction with pollutants. Therefore, volume change behavior of soil and detailed mineralogical changes and the consequent morphological changes that occur in soils with acid sulphate are studied.

This study is aimed at investigating the feasibility of using the radiometric technique as an alternative to traditional methods for determining soil physico-chemical parameters which are important for terroir characterization. In-situ and ex-situ radiometric analyses of soil from three vineyard blocks of Simonsig Wine Estate in the Stellenbosch district (Western Cape, South Africa) were studied. A mobile MEDUSA gamma-ray detection system comprising a CsI(Na) crystal (length 15 cm, diameter 7 cm) and associated electronics mounted on a portable trolley were used for partial terroir characterisation. Thereafter activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th series and 238U series in soil (top ~30 cm) from the measured MEDUSA spectra (0 – 3 MeV) were extracted by means of the full-spectrum analysis (FSA) method. A lead-shielded HPGe detector was used for analyzing collected soil samples while soil physico-chemical parameters were analysed using standard methods at research and commercial laboratories.