Restoration of degraded lands by adoption of recommended conservation management practices can rehabilitate watersheds and lead to improving soil and water quality. The objective was to evaluate the effects of grass buffers (GBs), biomass crops (BCs), grass waterways (GWWs), agroforestry buffers (ABs), landscape positions, and distance from tree base for AB treatment on soil quality compared with row crop (RC) (corn [Zea mays L.]–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation) on claypan soils. Soil samples were taken from 10‐cm‐depth increments from the soil surface to 30 cm for GB, BC, GWW, and RC with three replicates. Soil samples were collected from summit, backslope, and footslope landscape positions. Samples were taken at 50‐ and 150‐cm distances from the tree base. β‐Glucosidase, β‐glucosaminidase, dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolase (FDA), soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), active carbon (AC), and water‐stable aggregates (WSA) were measured. Results showed that β‐glucosidase, β‐glucosaminidase, dehydrogenase, FDA, AC, WSA, and TN values were significantly greater (P < 0.01) for the GB, BC, GWW, and AB treatments than for the RC treatment. The first depth (0–10 cm) revealed the highest values for all soil quality parameters relative to second and third depths. The footslope landscape had the highest parameter values compared with summit and backslope positions. The 50‐cm distance of AB treatment had higher values than the 150‐cm distance for all measured parameters. Results showed that perennial vegetation practices enhanced soil quality by improving soil microbial activity and SOC.
Core Ideas
Permanent vegetative management (trees and grasses) enhanced soil quality.
Perennial practices improved microbial activity and increased soil organic carbon.
Perennial vegetative practices have agricultural and environmental significance.
Establishing perennial practices is an effective approach to enhance soil quality.
Abstract<p>Soil pH is one of the main factors to consider before undertaking any agricultural operation. Methods for measuring soil pH vary, but all traditional methods require time, effort, and expertise. This study aimed to determine, predict, and map the spatial distribution of soil pH based on data taken from 50 sites using the Kriging geostatistical tool in ArcGIS as a first step. In the second step, the Support Vector Machines (SVM) machine learning algorithm was used to predict the soil pH based on the CIE-L*a*b values taken from the optical fiber sensor. The standard deviation of the soil pH values was 0.42, which indicates a more reliable measurement and the data distribution is normal.</p>
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The clayey soils have the capability to swell and shrink with the variation in moisture content. Soil stabilization is a well-known technique, which is implemented to improve the geotechnical properties of soils. The massive quantities of waste materials are resulting from modern industry methods create disposal hazards in addition to environmental problems. The steel industry has a waste that can be used with low strength and weak engineering properties soils. This study is carried out to evaluate the effect of steel slag (SS) as a by-product of the geotechnical properties of clayey soil. A series of laboratory tests were conducted on natural and stabilized soils. SS was added by 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20% to the soil.
Background: Soft Laser has been advantageous in medical applications and is widely used in clinical practice. It is
applied because it doesn’t cause the significant thermal effects or tissue hurt when irradiated. The blood response to low
power laser radiation provides information about processes of laser radiation interaction with live creatures.
Objective: The aim of the current work was to evaluate the laser-induced changes of in vitro erythrocyte sedimentation
rate (ESR), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in patients
with breast cancer by irradiating a human blood sample using a green laser and comparing its effects before and after
irradiation with the same power density (100mW/c
Abstract<p>This study presents the findings of a 3D finite element modeling on the performance of a single pile under various slenderness ratios (25, 50, 75, 100). These percentages were assigned to cover the most commonly configuration used in such kind of piles. The effect of the soil condition (dry and saturated) on the pile response was also investigated. The pile was modeled as a linear elastic, the surrounded dry soil layers were simulated by adopting a modified Mohr-Coulomb model, and the saturated soil layers were simulated by the modified UBCSAND model. The soil-pile interaction was represented by interface elements with a reduction factor (R) of 0.6 in the loose sand layer and 0.7 in t</p>
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The present work investigates the effect of magneto – hydrodynamic (MHD) laminar natural convection flow on a vertical cylinder in presence of heat generation and radiation. The governing equations which used are Continuity, Momentum and Energy equations. These equations are transformed to dimensionless equations using Vorticity-Stream Function method and the resulting nonlinear system of partial differential equations are then solved numerically using finite difference approximation. A thermal boundary condition of a constant wall temperature is considered. A computer program (Fortran 90) was built to calculate the rate of heat transfer in terms of local Nusselt number, total mean Nusselt number, velocity distribution as well as te
Objective
To evaluate recently developed acidic calcium-phosphate (CaP) pastes as conservative enamel-conditioning systems for bracket bonding and investigate their effects on the shear bond strength, adhesive residues, and enamel damage in comparison to a conventional 37 % phosphoric acid (PA) gel.
Materials and methods
Two experimental etchant pastes consisting of hydroxyapatite and monocalcium phosphate monohydrate were prepared by mixing them with 37 % and 10 % PA solutions, respectively. These were characterized using X-ray diffraction. Metal brackets were bonded to 90 freshly extracted human premolars and assigned to three groups, depending on etchant type: 37 % PA-gel (control) and the two experimental (HPA and MPA) pastes. Shear bon
In present study, the technique was used, including nuclear track detector type (CR-39), for appreciative concentrations uranium and radon in soil samples from Baghdad University Campus-AL-Jadiriyah utilizing a prolonged -term with a solid-state nuclear path sensor, a technique for charged particles has been developed., the radon concentrations, effective dose rate and uranium concentrations have measured in soil samples. Eight various venues from soil Baghdad University Campus have appointed. The results indicated variant values about uranium and radon concentrations, the average value for radon gas, effective dose rate and uranium concentrations was found to be 281.59 Bq/cm3, 7.09 mSv/y and 0.01 Bq/mm-2 respectively. All results a
The performance of a diesel engine was tested with diesel oil contaminated with glycol at the engineering workshop/Department of Agricultural Machines and Equipment / College of the Agricultural Engineering Sciences at the University of Baghdad. To investigate the impact of different concentrations of glycol on the performance of a diesel engine, an experimental water-cooled four-stroke motor was utilized, with oil containing 0, 100, and 200 parts per million (ppm). Specific fuel consumption, thermal efficiency, friction power, and exhaust gas temperature were examined as performance indicators. To compare the significance of the treatments, the study employed a full randomization design (CRD), with three replicates for each treatment at th
Abstract<p>The performance of a diesel engine was tested with diesel oil contaminated with glycol at the engineering workshop/Department of Agricultural Machines and Equipment / College of the Agricultural Engineering Sciences at the University of Baghdad. To investigate the impact of different concentrations of glycol on the performance of a diesel engine, an experimental water-cooled four-stroke motor was utilized, with oil containing 0, 100, and 200 parts per million (ppm). Specific fuel consumption, thermal efficiency, friction power, and exhaust gas temperature were examined as performance indicators. To compare the significance of the treatments, the study employed a full randomization des</p>
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