Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Dry covers'

Kyoto University (京都大学)
0048
新制・課程博士
博士(農学)
甲第19775号
農博第2171号
新制||農||1041(附属図書館)
学位論文||H28||N4991(農学部図書室)
32811
京都大学大学院農学研究科森林科学専攻
(主査)教授 神﨑 護, 教授 柴田 昌三, 教授 大澤 晃, 外国人教師 鄭 克聲
学位規則第4条第1項該当

Unsaturated flow plays an important role in numerous environmental phenomena. It is complex in arid regions, where liquid water fluxes are small and vapor fluxes become relevant, so that heat, water and solute mass transport are needed to understand evaporation. This thesis aims at gaining insight evaporation and vapor flow mechanisms and the relevance of matric potential, temperature and osmotic gradients. These issues are especially relevant for soil salinization, whose mechanisms are poorly understood despite their global impact. We studied them in open soil evaporation column experiments. We found that a water separation process occurs in the soil. Above a very narrow evaporation front, the soil contains high salt concentrations due the solutes transported by the upward liquid flux and concentrated by evaporation. Below, concentrations are lower than the initial ones, because vapor flows downwards below the evaporation front driven by temperature gradients. Condensation of this downward vapor flux dilutes upflowing water, improving soil conditions and providing an area where root plants could live. We modeled nonisothermal multiphase flow and reactive transport during the experiments to quantify the actual processes and to understand the nature of the downward vapor flux. Modeling required modifying the retention curve to represent oven dry conditions. Our model supports the traditional division of soil, by an evaporation front, into a dry region and a moist region. This view may suffice for evaluating evaporation rates and water mass balances, but not for assessing salt processes, which require acknowledging that not only liquid water flow but also vapor diffusion occur below the evaporation front. Unsaturated flow concepts control the design of covers to isolate solid waste. Their goal is to protect the waste from infiltration during long periods of time by promoting surface runoff and lateral drainage and by hindering biointrusion. Two cover designs were built, both consisting of an evapotranspiration layer, a biointrusion barrier and an infiltration barrier. We analyzed their performance for two years (2009 and 2010, which was very wet) by a thorough monitoring system. We conclude that the upper portion of one cover did work as planned, but the lower infiltration barrier did not, which suggests some design improvements: increase the retention capacity of the sand layers, include filter layers and facilitate lateral drainage by increasing the slope in the top area. We studied the daily and annual variations of vapor fluxes using data from the covers. We find that most water flow in the top portion of the soil occurs in the gas phase. Vapor fluxes are controlled by temperature and follow its fluctuations, switching direction with a daily frequency and a depth dependent lag. Downward vapor fluxes are dominant during the summer and upward fluxes during the winter. Deeper into the soil, vapor fluxes vary seasonally, flowing almost constantly upwards during the cold season, and vice versa. Rainfall events have a cooling effect, reversing summer vapor fluxes. Yet, the net annual flux is downwards. Furthermore, an approximate analytical solution to calculate diffusive vapor fluxes at any depth, is presented. While vapor fluxes are quantitatively small, they may still represent a significant source of water during summer for shallow roots. Plants may attract water from hot zones around to the root zone, kept colder by the plant shadow and by transpiration. Numerical modeling is also used to simulate one of the covers. Model output is compared to observations (suction and temperature), which are well reproduced in the top soil layers. The model does not reproduce the failure of the capillary barrier because it did not include gravity fingering, which explains flow through the coarse layer.
La zona no saturada juga un paper important en nombrosos fenòmens ambientals. És complex en zones àrides, on els fluxos d'aigua líquida són petits i els fluxos de vapor adquireixen rellevància. El transport de calor, d'aigua i de soluts és necessari per entendre l'evaporació. Aquesta tesi vol millorar el coneixement sobre l'evaporació i els mecanismes de flux de vapor, i analitzar la rellevància dels gradients de succió, de temperatura i osmòtics. Aquestes qüestions són especialment rellevants per la salinització de sòls, els mecanismes són poc coneguts malgrat el seu impacte global. Hem estudiat experiments de columna d'evaporació on s'ha trobat un procés de separació d'aigua al sòl. Per sobre del front d'evaporació, que és molt estret, el sòl conté altes concentracions a causa dels soluts transportats pel flux ascendent de líquid i la seva posterior evaporació. Per sota, les concentracions són inferiors a les inicials, perquè el vapor flueix cap avall des del front d'evaporació impulsat per gradients de temperatura. Allà condensa, causant la dilució del flux ascendent d'aigua, millorant les condicions del sòl i proporcionant una àrea on les arrels de les plantes podrien viure. Mitjançant un model de flux multifàsic no isoterm i transport reactiu dels experiments, s'han quantificat els processos per entendre la naturalesa del flux descendent de vapor. S'ha modificat la corba de retenció per representar condicions molt seques del sòl. El nostre model és compatible amb la divisió tradicional del sòl, per un front d'evaporació, en una regió seca i una regió humida. Aquest punt de vista pot ser suficient per a l'avaluació de tases d'evaporació i balanços de massa d'aigua, però no per a l'avaluació dels processos de sals, que requereixen no només el coneixement del flux d'aigua líquida, sinó també la difusió de vapor per sota del front d'evaporació. Conceptes de flux no saturat controlen el disseny de cobertures per aïllar residus sòlids. El seu objectiu és protegir els residus de la infiltració durant llargs períodes de temps mitjançant la promoció de l¿escorrentia superficial i el drenatge lateral, i evitant la biointrusió. Dos dissenys de cobertura, basats en una capa per l'evapotranspiració, una barrera de biointrusió i una barrera d'infiltració, van ser construïts. Analitzem el seu funcionament durant dos anys a través d'un complet sistema de monitorització. Es conclou que la part superior de la cobertura va funcionar com estava previst, però no així la barrera d'infiltració inferior. Es suggereixen millores de disseny: augmentar la capacitat de retenció de les capes de sorra, incloure capes de filtre i facilitar el drenatge lateral augmentant el pendent a la zona superior. S'han estudiat les variacions diàries i anuals dels fluxos de vapor a partir de dades de la cobertura i de modelació numèrica. Trobem que la major part del flux d'aigua a la part superior del sòl es produeix en la fase gasosa. Els fluxos de vapor són controlats per la temperatura i segueixen les seves fluctuacions, canviant de direcció diàriament i amb un desfasament que augmenta amb la profunditat. Els fluxos de vapor descendent són dominants durant l'estiu i els ascendents durant l'hivern. A més profunditat, els fluxos de vapor varien estacionalment, i flueixen gairebé constantment cap amunt durant les èpoques fredes, i viceversa. Les pluges tenen un efecte de refredament, revertint els fluxos de vapor a l'estiu. El flux net anual és descendent. El model demana simular flux a través de vies preferencials. Si bé els fluxos de vapor són quantitativament petits, poden representar una important font d'aigua durant l'estiu per a les arrels poc profundes. S'ha presentat també, una solució analítica per al càlcul de fluxos difusius de vapor al sòl.
La zona no saturada juega un papel importante en numerosos fenómenos ambientales. Es complejo en zonas áridas, donde los flujos de agua líquida son pequeños y los flujos de vapor adquieren relevancia. El transporte de calor, de agua y de solutos es necesario para entender la evaporación. Esta tesis quiere mejorar el conocimiento sobre la evaporación y los mecanismos de flujo de vapor, y analizar la relevancia de los gradientes de succión, temperatura y osmóticos. Estas cuestiones son especialmente relevantes para la salinización de suelos, cuyos mecanismos son poco conocidos a pesar de su impacto global. Hemos estudiado experimentos de columna de evaporación en los que se ha encontrado un proceso de separación de agua en el suelo. Por encima del frente de evaporación, que es muy estrecho, el suelo contiene altas concentraciones de sal debido a los solutos transportados por el flujo ascendente de líquido y su posterior evaporación. Por debajo, las concentraciones son inferiores a las iniciales, porque el vapor fluye hacia abajo desde el frente de evaporación impulsado por gradientes de temperatura. Allí condensa, causando la dilución del flujo ascendente de agua, mejorando las condiciones del suelo y proporcionando un área donde las raíces de las plantas podrían vivir. Mediante un modelo de flujo multifásico no isotermo y transporte reactivo de los experimentos, se han cuantificado los procesos, para entender la naturaleza del flujo descendente de vapor. Se ha modificado la curva de retención para representar condiciones muy secas del suelo. Nuestro modelo es compatible con la división tradicional del suelo, por un frente de evaporación, en una región seca y una región húmeda. Este punto de vista puede ser suficiente para la evaluación de tasas de evaporación y balances de masa de agua, pero no para la evaluación de los procesos de sales, que requieren no sólo el conocimiento del flujo de agua líquida, sino también la difusión de vapor por debajo del frente de evaporación. Conceptos de flujo no saturado controlan el diseño de coberturas para aislar residuos sólidos. Su objetivo es proteger los residuos de la infiltración durante largos periodos de tiempo mediante la promoción de la escorrentía superficial y el drenaje lateral, y evitando la biointrusión. Dos diseños de cobertura, basados en una capa para la evapotranspiración, una barrera de biointrusión y una barrera de infiltración, fueron construidos. Analizamos su funcionamiento durante dos años a través de un completo sistema de monitorización. Se concluye que la parte superior de la cobertura funcionó como estaba previsto, pero no así la barrera de infiltración inferior. Se sugieren algunas mejoras de diseño: aumentar la capacidad de retención de las capas de arena, incluir capas de filtro y facilitar el drenaje lateral aumentando la pendiente en la zona superior. Se han estudiado las variaciones diarias y anuales de los flujos de vapor a partir de datos de la cobertura y de modelación numérica. Encontramos que la mayor parte del flujo de agua en la parte superior del suelo se produce en la fase gaseosa. Los flujos de vapor son controlados por la temperatura y siguen sus fluctuaciones, cambiando de dirección diariamente y con un desfase que va en aumento con la profundidad. Los flujos de vapor descendente son dominantes durante el verano y los ascendentes durante el invierno. A mayor profundidad, los flujos de vapor varían estacionalmente, y fluyen casi constantemente hacia arriba durante las épocas frías, y viceversa. Las lluvias tienen un efecto de enfriamiento, revirtiendo los flujos de vapor en verano. El flujo neto anual es descendente. El modelo necesita simular flujo a través de vías preferenciales. Si bien los flujos de vapor son cuantitativamente pequeños, pueden representar una importante fuente de agua durante el verano para las raíces poco profundas. Se ha presentado también, una solución analítica para el cálculo de flujos difusivos de vapor en el suelo

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2009.
Includes abstract. Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Title from first page of PDF file (viewed March 20, 2010). Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

In the semiarid Southwestern United States, prolonged drought conditions since the early 2000s have resulted in widespread declines of the vegetation productivity in this water-constrained ecosystem, as revealed by analyses of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). However, the spatial pattern of the NDVI response to dry years is not uniform: a divergent response of NDVI to precipitation is observed between the low-lying desert and the high montane forests at elevations above 2,500 meter. Weanalyzed relationships between 15 years of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) NDVI and gridded climate data (PRISM) along elevation gradients at scales from regional to local. Our elevation-explicit analysis captures the transition from water-limited to temperature-limited ecosystems, with a sign-reversal in the correlation coefficient between precipitation and NDVI observed at about 2,500-3,000m altitude. Wesuggest warmer temperatures and less snow cover associated with drier years as explanations for high elevation gains in vegetation productivity during dry years.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2009.
Includes abstract. Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Title from first page of PDF file (viewed March 16, 2010). Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho de diferentes tipos de coberturas secas utilizadas em células experimentais preenchidas com rejeitos piritosos de carvão mineral. Quatro células de igual dimensão foram preenchidas com rejeitos piritosos, provenientes do beneficiamento de carvão mineral da Unidade Mineira II – Verdinho, pertencente à Carbonífera Criciúma S.A., situada no município de Forquilhinha, Estado de Santa Catarina. Em relação à composição das células, a primeira foi construída sem cobertura; a segunda, com somente pré-cobertura, constituída de mistura de rejeitos; a terceira, com cobertura de argila compactada; e a quarta elaborada com sistema de barreira capilar dupla. Todas foram expostas às mesmas condições meteorológicas. Para avaliação do desempenho das coberturas analisou-se o volume e características químicas e físico-químicas da água de percolação no período compreendido entre 2009 e 2010. Os parâmetros físicoquímicos considerados foram os seguintes: pH, Eh, acidez, alcalinidade e condutividade enquanto que os parâmetros químicos foram Fe, Al, Mn, Zn e sulfato. A partir dos resultados obtidos, fez-se uma análise técnica dos diferentes tipos de cobertura seca utilizados. De acordo com análise técnica constatou-se que o melhor desempenho no tocante ao volume e à qualidade da água percolada ocorreu na célula em que se utilizou cobertura com argila compactada e na célula em que se empregou cobertura do tipo barreira capilar dupla.
This work aimed to evaluate the performance of different types of dry cover employed in experimental cells filled with pyritic waste of mineral coal. Four cells with the same dimension were filled with coal tailings from the coal preparation plant of Unidade Mineira II –Verdinho, which belongs to Carbonífera Criciúma SA, located in Forquilhinha, Santa Catarina State. The first cell was constructed without any kind of cover, the second one was built with a cover composed by a mixture of coal wastes, the third one was built with a layer of compacted clay, and the forth one was constructed with a system composed by a dual-capillary barrier. All were exposed to the same meteorological conditions. To evaluate the performances of dry covers we analyzed the volume and the chemical and physicochemical characteristics of seepage between 2009 and 2010. The water was analyzed in terms of pH, Eh, acidity, alkalinity, conductivity and the concentration of Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, and sulfate. The experimental results showed that the best performance concerning the volume and the quality of the percolated water was obtained in the cell that received a cover of compacted clay and in the one that received a cover composed by dualcapillary barrier.

Natural forests are characterised by great vegetation diversity and create habitats for a major part of Earth’s terrestrial organisms. Plantation forests, which are mainly composed of a few genera of fast-growing trees, constitute an increasing fraction of global forests, but they only partly compensate for loss of area, habitat and ecological functions in natural forests. Plantation forests established near natural forests can be expected to serve as buffers, but they seem to be relatively poor in invertebrate species and it is not clear why. This bachelor’s degree project aimed at establishing the ecological and edaphic factors that correlate with soil invertebrate diversity in dry upland forests and surrounding plantation forests in eastern Africa. Some aspects of the above-ground vegetation heterogeneity were investigated since this was assumed to influence the heterogeneity of the soil environment, which is considered as critical for soil biodiversity. The obtained knowledge may be valuable in conservation activities in East African forests, which are threatened by destruction, fragmentation and exotic species. The study area was Karura Forest, a dry upland forest in Nairobi, Kenya. Three different sites were investigated; a natural forest site characterized by the indigenous tree species Brachylaena huillensis and Croton megalocarpus, and two different plantation forest sites, characterized by the exotic species Cupressus lusitanica and Eucalyptus paniculata, respectively. For each forest type, six plots were visited. Soil invertebrates were extracted from collected soil and litter samples by sieving and Berlese-Tullgren funnels. The invertebrates were identified, and the taxonomic diversity calculated at the order level. The ecological and edaphic factors, measured or calculated for each plot, were tree species diversity, ratio of exotic tree species, vertical structure of trees, vegetation cover, vegetation density, litter quality, soil pH, soil temperature and soil moisture. One-way ANOVA was used to compare soil invertebrate diversity and other variables between different forest types. Akaike’s Information Criterion and Multiple Linear Regression were used to establish linear models with variables that could explain measured variations of the diversity. There was some evidence for higher soil invertebrate diversity in natural forests than in surrounding plantation forests. The abundance of soil invertebrates was also clearly higher in natural forests, which indicates that natural forests are more important than plantation forests for conservation of soil invertebrate populations. Soil invertebrate diversity (in terms of number of orders present) was found to be influenced by forest type and litter quality. The diversity was higher at places with high amounts of coarse litter, which here is considered as more heterogenous than fine litter. The dependence on forest type was partly a consequence of differences in soil pH since Eucalyptus trees lower soil pH and thereby also soil biodiversity. No relation to heterogeneity of above-ground vegetation was found. For future conservation activities in Karura Forest Reserve it is recommended to continue removing exotic plant species and replanting indigenous trees, to prioritize the removal of Eucalyptus trees before Cypress trees, to only remove a few trees at a time and to establish ground vegetation when doing so.

O presente experimento teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito da antecipação da adubação da cultura da soja no acúmulo de matéria seca e extração de nutrientes pelo capim-pé-de-galinha (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) e no acúmulo de matéria seca e exportação de nutrientes pela cultura da soja em sucessão, em sistema de plantio direto. O experimento foi conduzido em área experimental da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" (USP/ESALQ), no município de Piracicaba – SP, durante o ano agrícola de 2001/2002, em solo LATOSSOLO AMARELO Distrófico. O cultivar de soja utilizado foi o BRS-133. A adubação, segundo a recomendação oficial para o estado de São Paulo, consistiu da aplicação de 90 kg de P2O5 ha -1 , 50 kg de K2O ha -1 e de micronutrientes (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo e Zn). Os tratamentos consistiram em níveis de antecipação da adubação da soja para a cultura do capim-pé-de-galinha (T1: 0%; T2: 50% de P; T3: 50% de K; T4: 100% de P; T5: 100% de K; T6: 50% de P e K; T7: 100% de P e 50% de K; T8: 50% de P e 100 % de K; T9: 100% de P e K; T10: micronutrientes; T11: 100% de P e K + micronutrientes; T12: controle), totalizando 12 tratamentos, delineados em blocos completos ao acaso com três repetições. As características avaliadas foram: produção de matéria seca, concentração e acúmulo dos nutrientes na parte aérea do capim-pé-de-galinha; acúmulo de matéria seca, concentração e acúmulo de nutrientes nos grãos de soja. As principais conclusões são: a) no que concerne à produtividade de matéria seca, o capim Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. constitui-se em espécie recomendável à produção de palhada em sistema de produção sob plantio direto, desde que implantada em solo com média a alta fertilidade; b) considerando-se o acúmulo de nutrientes na matéria seca produzida, constata-se que o capim Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. apresenta a seguinte seqüência de absorção: K > N > Ca > Mg > S > P >> Mn> Fe > Zn > Cu; c) a produção de matéria seca e o acúmulo dos nutrientes fósforo e cálcio pelo capim Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. aumentam com a aplicação antecipada da adubação fosfatada de base recomendada para a soja; d) a antecipação da adubação de base da soja, por ocasião da instalação do capim Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn., não diminui o acúmulo de matéria seca e nem interfere com a exportação de nutrientes pelas plantas de soja.
This research was to evaluate the effect of the anticipation of soybean fertilization on dry matter production and extraction of nutrients by finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) and on dry matter accumulation and exportation of nutrients by soybean seed cultivated in sequence, in a no-till system. The experiment was carried out at the experimental fields of Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" (USP/ESALQ), in Piracicaba-SP, during the growing season of 2001/2002, in an Oxisol. The cultivar used was BRS-133. The soybean fertilization, according to the official recommendation to the state of São Paulo, consisted in the application of 90 kg of P2O5 ha -1, 50 kg of K2O ha -1 and of micronutrients (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn). The treatments consisted of levels of anticipation of the soybean fertilization to the finger millet crop (T1: 0%; T2: 50% of P; T3: 50% of K; T4: 100% of P; T5: 100% of K; T6: 50% of P and K; T7: 100% of P and 50% of K; T8: 50% of P and 100 % of K; T9: 100% of P and K; T10: micronutrients; T11: 100% of P and K + micronutrients; T12: controle), totaling 12 treatments, designing a complete randomized blocks with three replications. The evaluated characteristics were: dry matter production, concentration and nutrients accumulation at biomass of finger millet; dry matter accumulation, nutrients concentration and accumulation in soybean seed. The main conclusions are: a) in reference to the dry matter production, Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. is a recommended specie to obtain plant residues in no-till systems, since it is growing on medium to high fertility soils; b) considering the nutrients accumulation in dry matter, it is verified that Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. presents the following sequence of nutrient absorption: K > N > Ca > Mg > S > P >> Mn > Fe > Zn > Cu; c) the anticipation of the soybean fertilization to the Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. sowing do not decrease dry matter accumulation nether interferes with the nutrients exportation by soybean seed; d) dry matter production and phosphorus and calcium accumulation by Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. increase in response of phosphorus anticipation from soybean fertilization.

De par sa géométrie et sa situation géographique (2°N-13°N – 8°E-16°E ; ouverture sur l’océan Atlantique), le Cameroun offre l’avantage de proposer un ensemble représentatif des climats régionaux rencontrés en Afrique tropicale. La diminution des cumuls de précipitations enregistrée dans la région pendant la seconde moitié du XXe siècle, est associée à la récurrence de périodes anormalement sèches, essentiellement au cœur de la saison des pluies. Ces conditions ont amplifié la dégradation du couvert végétal au travers ses contraintes socioéconomiques et démographiques (déforestation, extension des surfaces d’activité). Les conséquences souvent dommageables de la variabilité climatique en général, et des sécheresses en particulier, sur les hommes et leurs activités suscitent l’intérêt de développer des études pour mieux comprendre comment le climat et les pressions naturelles et environnementales interagissent localement. Ainsi, l’objectif de cette thèse est de diagnostiquer la variabilité multiéchelle (saisonnière, interannuelle, intra-saisonnière, synoptique) des précipitations et les relations qu’elle entretient avec le couvert végétal au sens large qui, à ces latitudes, est associé directement ou non, à la dynamique d’occupation et d’utilisation du sol, particulièrement sur la période 1951-2002. A partir de données de précipitations observées (CRU/ponctuelles), les modes spatiaux de la variabilité ont été définis aux échelles annuelles et interannuelles, par Analyses en Composante Principale (ACP) et la Classification Ascendante Hiérarchique (CAH). Ces méthodes de classifications ont permis de discriminer cinq zones climatiques, différentes les unes des autres par l’intensité des cumuls et la saisonnalité (unimodal/bimodal). Pour chaque zone, l’attention a été portée sur les paramètres intrasaisonniers qui modulent la variabilité annuelle telle que, les séquences sèches (nombre, longueur, périodes d’occurrence) et les variations des dates de début et de fin des périodes végétatives. La répartition du couvert végétal dans l’espace et dans le temps (1982-2002) a été étudiée, en utilisant des méthodes de classification non supervisée (ISODATA) sur les données de NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation index) à 8km de résolution. Enfin, des méthodes statistiques et de télédétection ont permis d’évaluer l’impact des facteurs pluviométriques et anthropogéniques (croissance démographique et utilisation du sol) sur la dynamique du couvert végétal en utilisant des bases de données à plus fine résolution (NDVI/1Km ; Global Land Cover (GLC 2000/1Km)). Ces dernières investigations ont été menées dans le Nord-Cameroun (6°N-13°N – 11°E-16°E), qui est la région la plus sensible des points de vue climatique, économique et environnemental
Due to its shape and location (2°N-13°N – 8°E-16°E; proximity of the Atlantic Ocean), Cameroon is characterized by a panel of cross-regional climate encountered widely in tropical Africa. Over the region, the decrease rainfall during the second half of the last century has been shown to be associated with stronger recurrence of drier periods, specifically in the core of the rainy season. These conditions have favored the degradation of vegetation cover, driven by socioeconomic and demographic constraints. The substantial impacts on human activities and local society highlight the need to better understand how climate and environmental dynamics do interact locally. The aim of this study is to diagnose multi-scale rainfall variability and its relationship with vegetation cover (natural and/or grown), which is directly or indirectly associated to the land-cover and land-use dynamics at these latitudes. Using observed rainfall data (Climatic Research Unit/punctual), the spatial modes of rainfall variability at annual and intraseasonal scales are defined through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC). These regionalizations lead to the discretisation of 5 climatic zones, distinguished from each other, by both the amount of rainfall and seasonality (unimodal / bimodal). New intraseasonal dry spells statistics (number, length, period of occurrence) are produced as well as dates of onset and end of the vegetative seasons by sub-regions. Using unsupervised classification methods (such as ISODATA) in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data at a 8km spatial resolution, vegetation cover spatiotemporal distribution and typology were produced. Then, based on a concomitant use of statistical and GIS approaches, higher resolutions of NDVI (SPOT-1Km) and Global Land-cover data (GLC 2000), allowed to further evaluate both the pluviometric and anthropogenic factors (demography, land use) influencing vegetation dynamics. Analysis were carried out in Northern Cameroon (6°N-13°N – 11°E-16°E), which is the most sensitive region with regards to climatic and environmental variability, that could lead to important socio-economic thread locally

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007.
Committee Chair: Dr. Robert E. Dickinson; Committee Member: Dr. Irina Sokolik; Committee Member: Dr. Judth Curry; Committee Member: Dr. Peter Webster; Committee Member: Dr. Rong Fu.

Dredging activities at Ports and Harbors are inevitable for the safe navigation of ships and vessels. Dredged material may range from very fine and contaminated sediments to sand and gravels. While, granular dredged material can be directly utilized in civil engineering applications, fine sediments may require further treatment before use. In geotechnical context, fine sediments are characterized by low shear strength and high compressibility. However, these unfavorable properties do not rule out the suitability of these fine dredged sediments for use in geotechnical construction, such as, road embankment, building foundation or as structural backfill in land reclamation. Mass stabilization solidification provides a comprehensive technology for amending fine sediments at high initial water content, resulting into construction materials of improved strength and reduced compressibility. The ultimate in-situ soil behavior types, stiffness and strength properties of stabilized mass depend on various factors such as binders, mixing equipment, curing temperature, in-situ boundary conditions and mostly important the applied preloading weight during the period of curing. However, despite improved mechanical properties for geotechnical applications, the performance of treated materials becomes susceptible to repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Understanding geotechnical design process, which includes evaluation of material properties, loading condition and selection of appropriate constitutive model, is an important task for settlement and stability analysis of structures founded on stabilized mass. The selection of suitable material model is vital for successful finite element analysis. Nevertheless, among all existing constitutive soil models, none of them can capture all aspects of soil behavior. Therefore, the meaningful and quantifiable predictions of field behaviors are possible only if, undisturbed samples or in-situ tests are used for determination of mechanical properties, and the predictive capacity of selected constitutive model comes from the comparison with field observations In the present research work, utilization of cone penetration test (CPT) data for evaluating the mechanical properties of stabilized dredged sediments for geotechnical design and analysis was presented. A large-scale field test at the Port of Gävle was utilized as a case study, to verify the simulated settlement of preloaded stabilized dredged sediments. The stabilized mass–soil classification behavior type was studied utilizing CPT classification charts. Computation of the primary consolidation settlement due to preloading weight were carried out in PLAXIS 2D geotechnical software and verified against field measurements. A suggestion to protect the stabilized mass against severe weather condition was discussed.
Godkänd; 2013; 20130409 (makusa); Tillkännagivande licentiatseminarium 2013-04-25 Nedanstående person kommer att hålla licentiatseminarium för avläggande av teknologie licentiatexamen. Namn: Gregory Paul Makusa Ämne: Geoteknik/Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering Uppsats: Mechanical Properties of Stabilized Dredged Sediments for Sustainable Geotechnical Structures Examinator: Professor Sven Knutsson, Institutionen för samhällsbyggnad och naturresurser, Luleå tekniska universitet Diskutant: Civ.ing. Forskningsdirektör Göran Holm, Statens Geotekniska Institut, Linköping Tid: Torsdag den 16 maj 2013 kl 10.00 Plats: F1031, Luleå tekniska universitet

The use of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) as (i) covers for arsenic-rich gold mine tailings and landfills, (ii) subsurface barrier for migration of hydrocarbons in the Arctic, and (iii) basal liner for sewage treatment lagoons were examined. After 4 years in field and laboratory experiments, it was found that best cover configuration above gold mine tailings might include a layer of GCL product with polymer-enhanced bentonite and a geofilm-coated carrier geotextile serving above the tailings under ≥ 0.7 m overburden. However, acceptable performance could be achieved with using a standard GCL with untreated bentonite provided that there is a minimum of 0.7 m of cover soil above the GCL. When GCL samples were exhumed from experimental landfill test cover with complete replacement of sodium in the bentonite with divalent cations in the adjacent soil, it was observed that the (i) hydraulic head across the GCLs, (ii) size of the needle-punched bundles, and (iii) structure of the bentonite can all significantly affect the value of the inferred in-situ hydraulic conductivity measured at the laboratory. The higher the hydraulic head and the larger the size of the needle-punched bundles, the higher the likelihood of internal erosion/structural change of bentonite at bundles that will cause a preferential flow for liquids to occur. A key practical implication was that GCLs can perform effectively as a single hydraulic barrier in covers provided that the water head above the GCL kept low. The hydraulic performance of a GCL in the Arctic was most affected by the location within the soil profile relative to the typical groundwater level with the highest increase in the hydraulic conductivity (by 1-4 orders of magnitude) for GCL below the water table. However, because the head required for jet fuel to pass through the GCL was higher than that present under field conditions, there was no evidence of jet fuel leakage through the barrier system. The leakage through GCLs below concrete lined sewage treatment lagoons was within acceptable limits, in large part, due to the low interface transmissivity between GCLs and the overlying poured concrete.
Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2014-02-28 08:53:29.171

Weed control is the primary challenge in organic dry edible bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production, however no previous Canadian studies have considered cereal cover crops for organic pulse production. The objectives of this study were to characterize the effects of fall rye (Secale cereal L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) cover crops and tillage management on weeds and the soil microclimate in organic dry beans. Above ground weed biomass was significantly lower in fall rye (3778 kg ha -1) and NT treatments (4867 kg ha -1). Fall rye significantly lowered spring soil nitrate-N by 72% and 74% in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Cover crops did not affect soil moisture or soil growing degree day (GDDsoil ) accumulation in early spring. Further research is needed on fall-seeded fall rye termination in organic conditions to reduce its competitiveness with the main crop.
October 2015

Waste rocks (WRs) from coal mining and fly ash (FA) from coal combustion were studied to determine the potential of the WRs to generate AMD, FAs to neutralise it and estimate their impacts on environment. The ultimate goal was to develop a methodology based on co-disposal to mitigate the environmental problems associated to both wastes. Two methods for co-disposal were tested: i) Mixing WRs and FAs and ii) covering WRs with FAs. WRs were sampled from the Lakhra coal mines in Pakistan (PK), which has an estimated coal reserves of 1.3 Btonne, varying from lignite to sub-bituminous quality. The FA was sampled from a power plant utilising coal from Lakhra coal mines and is situated in close vicinity (15km) of the mine site. For comparative purposes a bituminous FA from Finland (FI) and biomass FA from Sweden (SE) were also characterised. The WRs and FA samples were characterised by mineralogical and geochemical methods. Besides organic material (coal traces), quartz, pyrite, kaolinite, hematite, gypsum and traces of calcite, lime, malladerite, spangolite, franklinite and birnessite were identified in WRs by XRD. The major elements Si, Al, Ca and Fe were in the range (wt. %) of 8 – 12, 6 – 9, 0.3 – 3 and 1 – 10, respectively, with high S concentrations (1.94 – 11.33 wt. %) in WRs. The AMD potential of WRs ranged from -70 to -492 kg CaCO3 tonne-1. All FAs contained quartz, with iron oxide, anhydrite and magnesioferrite in PK, mullite and lime in FI and calcite and anorthite in SE. The Ca content in SE was 6 and 8 times higher compared to PK and FI, respectively. FAs were enriched in As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn compared to continental crust. The acid neutralising potential of PK was equivalent to 20 kg CaCO3 tonne-1 compared to 275 kg CaCO3 tonne-1 (SE) and 25 kg CaCO3 tonne-1 (FI). During the period of 192 days in weathering cell experiments (WCE), the pH of leachates from most acidic WRs was maintained from 1 to 2.5, whereas, the less acidic WRs produced leachates of mildly acidic (2.7) to neutral (7.3) pH. The leachates from very acidic WRs ranged in the concentrations of Fe, SO24− and Al from mg L-1 to g L-1. The samples were subjected to column leaching experiments (CLE) in which mixture (FA:WR; 1:3) and cover (FA:WR; 1:5) cases were mimicked (with 10mm particle size) and effects of particle size (2, 5 and 10mm) on element leaching were studied. Despite having the lowest acid-neutralisation potential compared to FI and SE, co-disposal of PKFA as mixture readily provides acid buffering minerals, resulting in better start-up pH conditions and leachate quality. However, acidity produced by secondary mineralisation contributes towards the acidification of the system, causing stabilisation of pH at around 4.5−5. Secondary mineralisation (especially Fe- and Al-mineral precipitation) also removes toxic elements such as As, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Co, Ni and Mn, and these secondary minerals can also buffer acidity when the pH tends to be acidic. In contrast, the pH of the leachates from the PKFA cover scenario gradually increased from strongly acidic to mildly acidic and circumneutral along with decrease in EC and elemental leaching in different WRs. Gradually increasing pH can be attributed to the cover effect, which reduces oxygen ingress, thus sulphide oxidation, causing pH to elevate. Due to the fact that pH~4–5 is sufficient for secondary Fe- and Al-mineral precipitation which also removes toxic elements (such as Cd, Co, Cu, Zn and Ni) by adsorption and/or co-precipitation, the FA cover performs well enough to achieve that pH until the conclusion of the CLE. However, due to the slower reactivity of the buffering system (additional to the initial flush-out), leaching in the beginning could not be restricted. The co-disposal of FA as cover and/or mixture possesses potential for neutralisation of AMD and improving leachate quality significantly. Particle size of the WRs affected the leaching of the sulphide related elements (such as Fe, S, Zn, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn and Ni) in CLE and WCE. Experiments with ≤1mm particle size constantly produced acidic and metal laden leachates. Co-disposal of FA and WRs as cover and mixture need to be investigated on pilot-scales before full-scale application.

Traditional irrigation was practiced in Ethiopia since time immemorial. Despite this, water productivity in the sector remained low. A survey on the Godino irrigation scheme revealed that farmers used the same amount of water and intervals, regardless of crop species and growth stage. In an effort to improve the water productivity, two traditional irrigation scheduling methods were compared with two scientific methods, using furrow irrigation. The growth performance and tuber yield of potato (cv. Awash) revealed that irrigation scheduling using a neutron probe significantly outperformed the traditional methods, followed by the SWB model Irrigation Calendar. Since the NP method involves high initial cost and skills, the use of the SWB Calendar is suggested as replacement for the traditional methods. SWB is a generic crop growth model that requires parameters specific to each crop, to be determined experimentally before it could be used for irrigation scheduling. It also accurately describes deficit irrigation strategies where water supply is limited. Field trials to evaluate four potato cultivars for growth performance and assimilate partitioning, and onions' critical growth stages to water stress were conducted. Crop-specific parameters were also generated. Potato and onion crops are widely grown at the Godino scheme where water scarcity is a major constraint. These crop-specific parameters were used to calibrate and evaluate SWB model simulations. Results revealed that SWB model simulations for Top dry matter (TDM), Harvestable dry matter (HDM), Leaf area index (LAI), soil water deficit (SWD) and Fractional interception (FI) fitted well with measured data, with a high degree of statistical accuracy. The response of onions to water stress showed that bulb development (70-110 DATP) and bulb maturity (110-145) stages were most critical to water stress, which resulted in a significant reduction in onion growth and bulb yields. SWB also showed that onion yield was most sensitive to water stress during these two stages. An irrigation calendar, using the SWB model, was developed for five different schemes in Ethiopia, using long-term weather data and crop-specific parameters for potatoes and onions. The calendars revealed that water depth varied, depending on climate, crop type and growth stage.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009.
Plant Production and Soil Science
unrestricted

Title: Snow water content modelling in small catchments This work deals with modeling of amount of snow cover, snow water equivalent, respectively, on an experimental catchment in the Jizerské hory Mts. Measuring and modelling of the snow cover is an important part of water management practice from the perspective of reservoir operation and flood management. The first part of this thesis describes physical-geographical characteristics of the Jizerské hory Mts.especially from the climatological and hydrological point of view but also other charakteristics and conditions that may affect the dynamic of snow accumulation and melting are described with detailed focus on the experimental catchment of Černá Desná river - Jezdecká. Two modelling approaches were applied to simulate snow water equivalent (SWE) based on observed precipitation and temperature. Beside the well knowen SNOW17 model a simple method based on heat index was developed in this work and its parameters were calibrated based on measured timeseries of daily average air temperature, daily precipitation and observed SWE for winter periods 2001 to 2009. Both methods provided reasonably accurate estimates of SWE over the tested period, however it was found that the results for winters with extreme conditions (very warm or very cold) are less...