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<p>Soil compaction is an inevitable result of agricultural practices. It alters physical properties of soil and tends to be undesirable as it adversely affects water and nutrient penetration. Furthermore, additional energy is spent to till the soil. Although a tremendous amount of research has been conducted in the area of soil compaction, the focus has been primarily on surface soil displacement.</p> <p>Realizing that the observed soil displacement is the cumulative effect from the compaction of subsurface layers, this research discusses the displacement and distributed pressure through the soil from a surface load. A given volume of soil of known density and moisture content was loaded at the surface with a slowly applied force using an Instron® testing machine. The distribution of the pressure and displacement profile from the surface to depth was measured to provide insight into the formation of the subsurface soil structures. The nonlinear exponential decay of the soil displacement (compaction) from the surface to a given depth converges to zero at the location of a hard, compact layer or a point where no soil movement occurs, regardless of the initial soil compaction. By increasing soil moisture content and decreasing soil bulk density, the vertical soil displacement increased at the surface and within the soil profile, and the pressure distribution decreased with depth. Changing the shape of loading surface had minimal effect on soil displacement.</p>

<p>Soil compaction is an inevitable result of agricultural practices. It alters physical properties of soil and tends to be undesirable as it adversely affects water and nutrient penetration. Furthermore, additional energy is spent to till the soil. Although a tremendous amount of research has been conducted in the area of soil compaction, the focus has been primarily on surface soil displacement.</p> <p>Realizing that the observed soil displacement is the cumulative effect from the compaction of subsurface layers, this research discusses the displacement and distributed pressure through the soil from a surface load. A given volume of soil of known density and moisture content was loaded at the surface with a slowly applied force using an Instron® testing machine. The distribution of the pressure and displacement profile from the surface to depth was measured to provide insight into the formation of the subsurface soil structures. The nonlinear exponential decay of the soil displacement (compaction) from the surface to a given depth converges to zero at the location of a hard, compact layer or a point where no soil movement occurs, regardless of the initial soil compaction. By increasing soil moisture content and decreasing soil bulk density, the vertical soil displacement increased at the surface and within the soil profile, and the pressure distribution decreased with depth. Changing the shape of loading surface had minimal effect on soil displacement.</p>

<p>With the use of a process-orientated ecosystem model andmeasurements conducted at different Swedish coniferous forestsites, abiotic and biotic interactions between tree and soilwere identified and related to governing factors. Two differentmodelling approaches to describe soil temperatures at two sitesincluding hydrological transects were tested (I). The approachin which both canopy and soil were considered proved to be amore flexible tool to describe soil temperatures, especiallyduring snow-free winter periods. Five sites along a climatetransect covering Sweden were used to describe soil carbon poolchanges during an 80-year period simulation (II). The dynamicmodelling approach, with a feedback between abiotic and bioticsub-models, was successful in describing simplified patterns offorest stand dynamics and furthermore in differentiatingbetween climate and nitrogen availability factors. The largereffect of nitrogen availability compared to climate on soilcarbon pool changes was clearly shown.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>SPAC; soil surface energy balance; Norwayspruce; canopy; LAI; climate; nitrogen; CoupModel</p>

With the use of a process-orientated ecosystem model andmeasurements conducted at different Swedish coniferous forestsites, abiotic and biotic interactions between tree and soilwere identified and related to governing factors. Two differentmodelling approaches to describe soil temperatures at two sitesincluding hydrological transects were tested (I). The approachin which both canopy and soil were considered proved to be amore flexible tool to describe soil temperatures, especiallyduring snow-free winter periods. Five sites along a climatetransect covering Sweden were used to describe soil carbon poolchanges during an 80-year period simulation (II). The dynamicmodelling approach, with a feedback between abiotic and bioticsub-models, was successful in describing simplified patterns offorest stand dynamics and furthermore in differentiatingbetween climate and nitrogen availability factors. The largereffect of nitrogen availability compared to climate on soilcarbon pool changes was clearly shown. Keywords:SPAC; soil surface energy balance; Norwayspruce; canopy; LAI; climate; nitrogen; CoupModel

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-06-22T17:46:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Wilk Sampaio de Almeida.pdf: 2008285 bytes, checksum: 164bf0a934ccde49c7e387496f6b7960 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-22T17:46:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Wilk Sampaio de Almeida.pdf: 2008285 bytes, checksum: 164bf0a934ccde49c7e387496f6b7960 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-23 / CNPq / Inadequate soil management practices associated with bare soil are the main factors that promote hidric erosion in tropical countries such as Brazil. In this study were evaluated soil and water losses, vegetation index, water infiltration into the soil and the adjusted Kostiakov-Lewis, Horton and Philip models to estimate soil water infiltration rate in four cropping systems on a Red Ultisol. The systems studied were exposed or bare soil (SE), soybeans grown under conventional tillage (PC), soybean grown under no-tillage (NT) and established pasture without cattle trampling (PA) in six seasons. Every 20 days after the soybean?s sowing digital photographs were taken to estimate soil coverage ratio. Also, simulated rainfall at the parcels was measured using a portable sprinkler infiltrometer (InfiAsper) calibrated to apply intensity of rainfall of 60 mm h-1. Soil losses ranged from 3.10 to 11.40 and 0.03 to 0.19 Mg ha-1 h-1 in the SE and PA, while water oscillated from 300.60 to 555 and 62.8 to 229.4 m3 ha-1 h-1 in the SE and PD, respectively. Soil losses decreased with increasing vegetation cover ratio, which at the PA had a maximum value of 98.1%. The initial effect of soil under conventional tillage in cropping systems is temporary, which makes them susceptible to erosion. The models were adjusted using the volume of water that was infiltrated during the corresponding time interval. In the PD system was obtained the highest infiltration rate (TIE). There was no difference between the SE and PC TIE. The best fit found is for the Horton?s model in systems with vegetal cover and without soil tillage. / As pr?ticas inadequadas de manejo do solo associadas ? condi??o de solo descoberto s?o os principais fatores que intensificam a eros?o h?drica em pa?ses de clima tropical como o Brasil. Neste estudo foram avaliadas perdas de solo e de ?gua, o ?ndice de cobertura vegetal, a infiltra??o de ?gua no solo e o ajuste dos modelos Kostiakov-Lewis, Horton e Philip para estimativa da taxa de infiltra??o de ?gua no solo em quatro sistemas de cultivo em um Argissolo Vermelho distr?fico. Os sistemas estudados foram solo exposto ou descoberto (SE), soja cultivada sob preparo convencional do solo (PC), soja cultivada sob plantio direto (PD) e pastagem estabelecida sem pisoteio animal (PA) em seis ?pocas. A cada 20 dias a partir da semeadura da cultura da soja foram tomadas fotografias digitais para estimativa do ?ndice de cobertura do solo e tamb?m simuladas chuvas nas parcelas em campo com o infiltr?metro de aspers?o port?til (InfiAsper) calibrado para aplicar intensidade de precipita??o de 60 mm h-1. As perdas de solo variaram de 3,10 a 11,40 e 0,03 a 0,19 Mg ha-1 h-1 no SE e PA, ?gua de 300,60 a 555 e 62,8 a 229,4 m3 ha-1 h-1 no SE e PD, respectivamente. As perdas de solo diminu?ram com o aumento do ?ndice de cobertura vegetal, que em PA teve valor m?ximo de 98,1%. O efeito inicial do preparo convencional do solo nos sistemas de cultivo ? tempor?rio, o que os torna suscept?veis ao processo erosivo. Os modelos foram ajustados com os dados de volume de ?gua infiltrada por intervalo de tempo correspondente. No sistema PD foi obtida maior taxa de infiltra??o est?vel (TIE). N?o h? diferen?a na TIE do SE e PC. O melhor ajuste verificado ? para o modelo de Horton em sistemas com cobertura vegetal sem revolvimento do solo.

Este trabalho fundamenta-se no desenvolvimento e aprimoramento de metodologias para a melhor representação do aterramento elétrico sob uma análise transiente. O estudo concentrase no estabelecimento de contribuições ao estado da arte associadas à análise e modelagem de aterramento impulsivo e em altas frequências. O estudo vincula-se também à avaliação da suportabilidade de seres humanos submetidos a potenciais produzidos na superfície do solo, provenientes da corrente elétrica gerada por um surto atmosférico. A concepção das metodologias propostas baseou-se no uso do Método da Modelagem por Linhas de Transmissão em uma dimensão (TLM-1D). Destacam-se três grandes tópicos da pesquisa. O primeiro concentra-se no desenvolvimento de formulação para a inclusão do fenômeno de ionização do solo ao Método TLM-1D clássico. A formulação desenvolvida tem como característica ser uma técnica generalista, independente das propriedades do meio, dimensões do eletrodo e do surto atmosférico. O segundo foco concentra-se no aprimoramento e desenvolvimento de equacionamento analítico para a estimação de potenciais gerados na superfície do solo, originados pela corrente elétrica estabelecida sobre eletrodo de aterramento. Tal equacionamento tem grande aplicabilidade em conjunto com metodologias numéricas unidimensionais, as quais não são capazes de determinar diretamente os referidos potenciais. Por fim, a realização de estudo de suportabilidade e segurança de seres humanos em contato com eletrodos de aterramento submetidos a surto atmosférico, considerando modelo representativo baseado em circuitos elétricos, consolida o trabalho desenvolvido. / This work is based on the development and improvement of methodologies for the best representation of the electrical grounding under a transient analysis. The study concentrated on establishing contributions to the state of the art related to the analysis and modeling of impulsive and high frequencies grounding systems. The study is also associated to the evaluation of the supportability of human beings submitted to the potentials produced on the soil surface from the electric current generated by a lightning. The conception of the proposed methodology was based on the Transmission Line Modeling Method in one dimension (TLM- 1D). Three major research topics can be highlighted. The first involves the development of a formulation to include the soil ionization phenomenon in the classic TLM-1D algorithm. The developed formulation is a generalist technique, independent of the medium properties, characteristic of the electrode and lightning surge. The second aims at the improvement and development of analytical equations for estimating the generated potential on the soil surface, originated by the electric current calculated in the grounding electrode. Such equationing has great applicability in conjunction with one-dimensional numerical methods which are not able to determine such potential directly. Finally, the achievement of a supportability study and personal safety of humans in contact with the grounding electrodes subjected to a lightning, considering a representative model based on electrical circuits, consolidates the developed work.

The overall purpose of this study was to define the water balance of feedlot pens in a Saskatchewan cattle feeding operation for a one year period. Although the initial intention of the study was focused upon an active feedlot, cattle were removed from the pens in July 2003. Therefore, the year of analysis was conducted on the manured surface of an inactive feedlot. The water balance was also performed on a scraped soil surface, since manure is removed from the pens and spread on agricultural land, leaving the pen surfaces bare for a short period of time each year. <p>During the monitoring period (Sept. 2003 to Aug. 2004), 313 mm of precipitation was received at the feedlot, but only 84 mm of that total was received before June 2004. Winter precipitation was very low (33 mm) and there was no observed runoff from it. Runoff collection weirs in operation for only part of the summer recorded no runoff. The Green-Ampt and USDA SCS runoff models, as well as a snowmelt runoff equation, were used to predict runoff from both the manure pack, as well as the scraped soil surface. Using manure and soil hydraulic parameters determined in the laboratory (from falling head permeameter measurements) and the field (from rainfall simulations), as well as incorporating the greatest 24 hour rainfall amounts and 30 minute intensities experienced at the feedlot, the USDA model found that 29 mm of runoff would occur from the scraped soil surface. Additionally, snowmelt runoff was estimated to be 19 mm for the winter precipitation received. Drainage beneath the 0.6 m soil depth was negligible and the top 0.6 m of soil experienced an increase in moisture of 54 mm. Finally, 211 mm was lost as evaporation. For the manure pack, no runoff was predicted using the Green-Ampt and USDA SCS models and snowmelt runoff equation, which corresponded well to the lack of runoff measured both from the weir and rainfall simulations. Drainage beneath 0.6 m soil depth was negligible. Of the 313 mm of precipitation that fell during the study year, 42 mm was stored within the manure pack and the rest was lost as evaporation (271 mm).

The use of remote sensing technology has made it possible for the non-contact measurement of soil moisture content (SMC). Many remote sensing techniques can be used such as microwave sensors, electromagnetic waves sensors, capacitance, and thermal infrared sensors. Some of those techniques are constrained by their high fabrication cost, operation cost, size, or complexity. In this study, a thermal infrared technique was used to predict soil moisture content with the aid of using weather meteorological variables. <p>The measured variables in the experiment were soil moisture content (%SMC), soil surface temperature (Ts) measured using thermocouples, air temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (SR), and wind speed (WS). The experiment was carried out for a total of 12 soil samples of two soil types (clay/sand) and two compaction levels (compacted/non-compacted). After data analysis, calibration models relating soil moisture content (SMC) to differential temperature (Td), relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (SR), and wind speed (WS) were generated using stepwise multiple linear regression of the calibration data set. The performance of the models was evaluated using validation data. Four mathematical models of predicting soil moisture content were generated for each soil type and configuration using the calibration data set. Among the four models, the best model for each soil type and configuration was determined by comparing root mean of squared errors of calibration (RMSEC) and root mean of squared errors of validation (RMSEV) values. Furthermore, a calibration model for the thermal infrared sensor was developed to determine the corrected soil surface temperature as measured by the sensor (Tir) instead of using the thermocouples. The performance of the thermal infrared sensor to predict soil moisture content was then tested for sand compacted and sand non-compacted soils and compared to the predictive performance of the thermocouples. This was achieved by using the measured soil surface temperature by the sensor (Tir), instead of the measured soil surface temperature using the thermocouples to determine the soil-minus-air temperature (Td). The sensor showed comparable prediction performance, relative to thermocouples. <p>Overall, the models developed in this study showed high prediction performance when tested with the validation data set. The best models to predict SMC for compacted clay soil, non-compacted clay soil, and compacted sandy soil were three-variable models containing three predictive variables; Td, RH, and SR. On the other hand, the best model to predict SMC for compacted sandy soil was a two-variable model containing Td, and RH. The results showed that the prediction performance of models for predicting SMC for the sandy soils was superior to those of clay soils.

The overall purpose of this study was to define the water balance of feedlot pens in a Saskatchewan cattle feeding operation for a one year period. Although the initial intention of the study was focused upon an active feedlot, cattle were removed from the pens in July 2003. Therefore, the year of analysis was conducted on the manured surface of an inactive feedlot. The water balance was also performed on a scraped soil surface, since manure is removed from the pens and spread on agricultural land, leaving the pen surfaces bare for a short period of time each year. <p>During the monitoring period (Sept. 2003 to Aug. 2004), 313 mm of precipitation was received at the feedlot, but only 84 mm of that total was received before June 2004. Winter precipitation was very low (33 mm) and there was no observed runoff from it. Runoff collection weirs in operation for only part of the summer recorded no runoff. The Green-Ampt and USDA SCS runoff models, as well as a snowmelt runoff equation, were used to predict runoff from both the manure pack, as well as the scraped soil surface. Using manure and soil hydraulic parameters determined in the laboratory (from falling head permeameter measurements) and the field (from rainfall simulations), as well as incorporating the greatest 24 hour rainfall amounts and 30 minute intensities experienced at the feedlot, the USDA model found that 29 mm of runoff would occur from the scraped soil surface. Additionally, snowmelt runoff was estimated to be 19 mm for the winter precipitation received. Drainage beneath the 0.6 m soil depth was negligible and the top 0.6 m of soil experienced an increase in moisture of 54 mm. Finally, 211 mm was lost as evaporation. For the manure pack, no runoff was predicted using the Green-Ampt and USDA SCS models and snowmelt runoff equation, which corresponded well to the lack of runoff measured both from the weir and rainfall simulations. Drainage beneath 0.6 m soil depth was negligible. Of the 313 mm of precipitation that fell during the study year, 42 mm was stored within the manure pack and the rest was lost as evaporation (271 mm).