Cracking of soils affects their geotechnical properties and behavior such as soil strength and stability. In this paper, 2D Electrical Resistivity Imaging Method, as a non-invasive technique, was adopted to investigate the effect of soil cracks of a centemetric scale on resistivity of sandy soil. The electrical resistivity measurements were carried out using ABEM SAS 300C Terrameter system at a laboratory scale using Wenner array. The measurements were interpreted using horizontal profiles, forward modeling and 2D inverse resistivity sections. The results showed that soil cracks cause significant changes in soil resistivity. These changes can be attributed to the high resistivity contrast between the highly resistive air-filled cracks and the surrounding intact soil. The results indicate the visibility of the method to detect cracking of soils which is of high importance in the geological and geotechnical investigations.
The main aim of this study was to molecular identification and determine the antagonistic impact of rhizosphere Trichoderma spp. against some phytopathogenic fungi, including (Magnaporthe grisea) pyricularia oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phasolina. Four Trichoderma isolates were isolated from rhizosphere soils of the different host plants in different locations of Egyptian governorates. The morphological characterization of isolated Trichoderma as well as using of (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) ribosomal gene sequence acquisition and data analyses. By comparing the results of DNA sequences of ITS region, the fungi represented one isolate were positively identified as T. asperellum (1 isolate T1) and one as T. longibrachiatum (1 isolate T2)
... Show MoreSoil suction is one of the most important parameters describing the moisture condition of unsaturated soils. The measurement of soil suction is crucial for applying the theories of the engineering behavior of unsaturated soils.
The filter paper method is one of the soil suction measurement techniques In this paper, five soil samples were collected from five sites within Baghdad city – al-Rasafa region. These soils have different properties and they were prepared at different degrees of saturation. For each sample, the total and matric suction were measured by the filter paper method at different degrees of saturation. Then correlations were made between the soil properties and the total and matric suction. It was concluded that the
Measurement of 238U, 233Th and 40K concentrations in soil samples collected from Ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu west region of Baghdad, have been evaluated, using high purity germanium detector. The activity concentrations of 238U, 233Th and 40K varied from 16.040 to 26.620 , 14.510 to 31.480 , and 153.820 to 266.320 with average values of 20.604±2.9 , 24.534±3.3 , 212.22±25.1 , respectively. The importance of these measurements lies in the estimation of radiation risk, radium equivalent, absorbed dose, annual effective dose, risk indices, gamma index, and cancer risk. The average value of the absorbed dose ranged from 33.187 outdoors to 63.111 indoo
... Show MorePhosphorus (P) is an element that is potatoes require in large amounts. Soil pH is a crucial factor impacting phosphorus availability in potato production. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of P application rates on the P efficiency for tuber yield, specific gravity, and P uptake. Additionally, the relationship between soil pH and total potato tuber yield was determined. Six rates of P fertilization (0–280 kg P ha−1) were applied at twelve different sites across Northern Maine. Yield parameters were not responsive to P application rates. However, regression analysis showed that soil pH was significantly correlated with total potato tuber yield(R2 = 0.38). Sites with soil pH values < 6 had total tuber yields,
... Show MoreThe issues related to the development of permafrost and seasonally frozen soils without their preliminary loosening by various earthmoving machines with active working bodies, magnetostrictive vibrators, that soften dense and frozen soils using acoustic elastic waves, are considered. The analytical studies allowed us to establish the regularities of the process of destruction of frozen soil by active teeth of bucket working bodies, according to which, the formulas for calculating the critical tensile stress and shear resistance were obtained. The research results allow us to determine the main parameters of wave loading for both a single radiation source and a group of "n" in-phase radiation sources. The intensity of the acoustic
... Show MoreSoft clays are generally sediments deposited by rivers, seas, or lakes. These soils are fine-grained plastic soils with appreciable clay content and are characterized by high compressibility and low shear strength. To deal with soft soil problems there is more than one method that can be used such as soil replacement, preloading, stone column, sand drains, lime stabilization and Prefabricated Vertical Drains, PVDs. A numerical modeling of PVD with vacuum pressure was analyzed to investigate the effect of this technique on the consolidation behavior of fully and different depths of partially saturated soft soils. Laboratory experiments were also conducted by using a specially-designed large consol
... Show MoreThis research shows the experimental results of the bending moment in a flexible and rigid raft foundation rested on dense sandy soil with different embedded depth throughout 24 tests. A physical model of dimensions (200mm*200mm) and (320) mm in height was constructed with raft foundation of (10) mm thickness for flexible raft and (23) mm for rigid raft made of reinforced concrete. To imitate the seismic excitation shaking table skill was applied, the shaker was adjusted to three frequencies equal to (1Hz,2Hz, and 3Hz) and displacement magnitude of (13) mm, the foundation was located at four different embedment depths (0,0.25B = 50mm,0.5B = 100mm, and B = 200mm), where B is the raft width. Generally, the maximum bending
... Show MoreThe accumulation of toxic elements in vegetables and melons grown in agriculture, Brassica rapa - turnip, Solanum lycopersicum - tomato, Citrullus lanatus - watermelon, Capsicum annuum - bell pepper, Daucus carota - carrots, Cucurbita pepo - pumpkin, Cucumis melo - melon, and also Prunus armeniaca - apricot from fruit trees were analyzed. The excess of maximum allowable concentrations in agricultural crops of the element As by 1.65-1.75, Cd - 1.6-2.3, Cr -1.2-2.35, Cu -1.6-3.3, Ni - 1.16-3.53, Pb - 1.54-3.08, Al - 1.36-3.5, Sb - 2.0-33, Se - 1.1-3.3 times was established. The maximum allowable concentration of mercury in vegetables and melons was equal to 0.02 mg/kg,
... Show MoreThe primary objective of this study is to monitor and collect data from the main
tributaries of Smaquli stream during rainfall storm events, which can be used to
establish relationship between suspended sediment concentration and discharge. The
Smaquli catchment is divided into two sub-catchments namely Sarwchawa and
Krosh with areas of 80.64 and 34.82 km2 respectively. Jali dam is built at watershed
outlet. Rainfall, stream discharge, and suspended sediment concentration are
monitored during ten rainfall storms in the water years (2012-2013) and (2013-
2014). Analysis of the data from the two sampling sites, shows two different
responses of suspended sediment concentrations. The Krosh sub-catchment reacts
rapi
Four major factories (Petroleum Refineries Company, Detergents Plant, Thermal Power Plant, and Gaseous Power Plant) are located to the north of Baiji City. They release pollutants in form of gases, liquids and solids; they find their way to the surrounding environment. To assess the environmental pollution of the area, 18 samples of surface soil distributed around the industrial establishments were collected and analyzed to determine the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) components which are often targets in the environmental checking. Identification and quantification of the 16 PAHs components was accomplished using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) had a model Shimadzu LC-10 AVP. The total concentratio
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