Combining traditional and geophysical soil investigation for phytoremediation planning in a hydrocarbon polluted area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Ferré ◽  
Enrico Casati ◽  
Gabriele Cerutti ◽  
Rodolfo Gentili ◽  
Alberto Francioli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aromatic Compounds ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Soil Survey ◽  
Geophysical Survey ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Heavy Hydrocarbons ◽  
Soil Map ◽  
Geostatistical Approach ◽  
Geophysical Surveys

<p>The spatial variability of hydrocarbon content and the physical and chemical properties of the soil were assessed by combining traditional soil sampling and proximal geophysical survey with the aim of planning a pilot phytoremediation experiment in an agricultural area west of Milan (Lombardy, Italy).</p><p>The area, an irrigated arable land of about 1 ha, was affected by a refined oil spillage from an underground pipeline in 2015. Contamination surveys were carried out with a continuous core drilling technique using an hydraulic probe (131 cm diameter core). Heavy (C>12) and light (C<12) alkanes and aromatic compounds (benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene and xilenes) were measured up to three meters depth. Results showed a predominance of heavy hydrocarbons (C>12) with respect to light hydrocarbons (C<12) and aromatic compounds. A map of heavy hydrocarbons soil concentration was obtained using geostatistical techniques.</p><p>In 2019 it was decided to carry out a phytoremediation intervention to reclaim the first meter of contaminated soil where heavy hydrocarbons content ranges from 500 to 5000 mg/kg. The first step of the intervention consists in cultivating a wide variety of vegetal species in experimental plots with different pollution to verify their effectiveness for remediation in the specific environmental condition of that area. For the reclamation of deeper more contaminated layers, enhanced bioremediation have been planned to be used.</p><p>Soil properties, which are crucial for planning phytoremediation activities, were investigated using traditional methods and geophysical surveys. Traditional soil survey was performed describing the 23 drilling cores used to monitor pollutants and opening five profiles; the samples were collected from genetic soil horizons and analysed for organic carbon and the main nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) content, total carbonates, texture and pH in water. The distribution of Eutric Luvisols and Cambisols, developed mainly on sandy or sandy skeletal substrate, was represented in a soil map. A proximal geophysical survey was carried out using an electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor (GSSI Profiler EMP-400) by acquiring multiple frequencies; soil detailed conductivity maps for each frequency (15000, 9000 and 2000 kHz) were obtained. No significant relationships were found between soil electrical conductivity and hydrocarbon concentration, whereas there are relationships with the main soil characteristics: this allowed detailed maps of soil parameters to be obtained.</p><p>On the base of both the soil spatial characterization (traditional soil map and detailed soil property maps with geophysical approach) and the contaminant distribution (hydrocarbon map distribution using geostatistical approach), homogeneous areas were identified in which to set up experimental phytoremediation plots to test the most suitable species for reclamation, chosen among the most widespread crops in the region and considering their suitability for biomass and bio-oil production.</p>

scholarly journals A Reconnaissance Geophysical Survey of the Kawartha Lakes and Lake Simcoe, Ontario

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Todd ◽  
C. F. Michael Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Geophysical Survey ◽  
Paleozoic Rock ◽  
Lower Unit ◽  
Western Lake ◽  
Strong Reflection ◽  
Geophysical Surveys ◽  
Glacier Ice ◽  
Reflection Configuration ◽  
Lake Simcoe ◽  
Tectonic Origin

ABSTRACT A marine geophysical survey program has been conducted in lakes of southern Ontario. The survey was designed to detect neotectonic features, if they exist, and to evaluate their geological importance. High-resolution single- and multichannel seismic reflection profiling were used to delineate late- and post-glacial sedimentary strata and structures, as well as the sediment/bedrock interface, in the Kawartha Lakes and Lake Simcoe. Results show that two seismostratigraphic sequences are common within the unconsolidated overburden. The lower unit exhibits a parallel reflection configuration having strong reflection amplitudes, whereas the upper unit is acoustically transparent and overlies the lower unit conformably in some places and unconformably in others. Both units vary in thickness within lakes and from lake to lake. Typical subbottom profiles of Precambrian rock surfaces are rolling; those of Paleozoic rock surfaces are smooth. At one location in Lower Buckhorn Lake, tilted rock surfaces may be faulted but disturbance of overlying glacioge-nic sediments was not observed. In western Lake Simcoe and Kempenfelt Bay, slumping into graben-like features was observed. Also in Lake Simcoe, a diapiric feature was documented. It is speculated that these disturbances most likely result from glacier ice block melting and fluid migration. A tectonic origin, however, cannot be discounted at this stage of investigation. Additional systematic marine geophysical surveys are required in the future to map features in detail to determine whether they are of neotectonic or glaciotectonic origin.

scholarly journals Soil physico-chemical characterization in the different soil layers of National Maize Research Program, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-44
Author(s):  
Dinesh Khadka ◽  
Sushil Lamichhane ◽  
Amit P Timilsina ◽  
Bandhu R Baral ◽  
Kamal Sah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Program ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Bottom Layer ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Physico Chemical

Soil pit digging and their precise study is a decision making tool to assess history and future of soil management of a particular area. Thus, the present study was carried out to differentiate soil physico-chemical properties in the different layers of excavated pit of the National Maize Research Program, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. Eight pits were dug randomly from three blocks at a depth of 0 to 100 cm. The soil parameters were determined in-situ, and in laboratory for texture, pH, OM, N, P (as P2O5), K (as K2O), Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn of collected soils samples of different layers following standard analytical methods at Soil Science Division, Khumaltar. The result revealed that soil structure was sub-angular in majority of the layers, whereas bottom layer was single grained. The value and chrome of colour was increasing in order from surface to bottom in the majority pits. Similarly, the texture was sandy loam in majority layers of the pits. Moreover, four types of consistence (loose to firm) were observed. Furthermore, mottles and gravels were absent in the majority layers. Likewise, soil was very to moderately acidic in observed layers of majority pits, except bottom layer of agronomy block was slightly acidic. Regarding fertility parameters (OM, macro and micronutrients), some were increasing and vice-versa, while others were intermittent also. Therefore, a single layer is not dominant for particular soil physico-chemical parameters in the farm. In overall, surface layer is more fertile than rest of the layers in all the pits.     

scholarly journals Soil quality indicators of arable lands in the Russian Federation

2020 ◽  
pp. 31-67
Author(s):  
V. S. Stolbovoy ◽  
A. M. Grebennikov
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Soil Quality Indicators ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Grain Crops ◽  
The Russian Federation

The study presents three groups of Soil Quality Indicators (SQI) of arable lands in the Russian Federation, such as agroclimate conditions, soil parameters and negative soil characteristics. The selection of SQI meets the requirements of the crop growth model for calculating the standard crop yield. The application of SQI in the Grain Equivalent Model allows ranking quality of the soils of agricultural lands in the country. The share of the best quality Chernozems with the standard yield of grain crops exceeding 4 t/ha is about 10%. At the same time, arable Chernozems occupy nearly 66% of total area of agricultural lands. More than 74% of the arable lands including podzolized and leached Chernozems in the northern part and Chernozems southern in the southern part of the agricultural zone are characterized by medium quality with the standard yield of grain crops 2-4 t/ha. About 10% of the arable land occupied by Chestnut solonetzic and saline soils are of poorer quality with the standard yield of grain crops less than 1 t/ha. The proposed indicators are included in the government programs for valuating and monitoring the quality of agricultural lands. The universal validity of indicators is a basis for the development of a new generation of standards for the protection and rational use of soils based on modern digital technologies and GIS approaches.

scholarly journals Changes in the soil’s biological and chemical properties due to the land use

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 228-236
Author(s):  
Eva Horáková ◽  
Lubica Pospíšilová ◽  
Vitězslav Vlček ◽  
Ladislav Menšík
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Humic Substances ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Biological Stability ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Basal Soil Respiration ◽  
And Chemical Properties

Increasing the soil productivity is challenged by the increasing biotic threat to plants and microorganisms, by the resistance to agrochemicals, and by the declining soil health. Soil management strategy is, therefore, aimed at erosion prevention and the minimisation of soil organic matter losses. A key factor in an agroecosystem is the appropriate biological stability. It is essential not only at present, but also for further sustainable agriculture. This study was based on the hypothesis that afforestation and conversion from arable land to permanent grassland improves the organic matter status and biological stability in the agroecosystem. The experiment was conducted from 2014 to 2018 in the Uhřice bio-corridor (Kroměříž region, the Czech Republic). Haplic Luvisol has been investigated for its basic biological and chemical properties after the arable land was converted to a natural vegetation system. The afforested segment (F), permanent grassland segment (G), and arable land segment (A) have been sampled in the upper soil horizon (0–0.30 m). Standard analytical methods were applied for the determination of the basic soil properties. A principal component analysis and factor analysis were used for interpreting the connection between the parameters of the soil organic carbon, the humic substances, the humic acids, and the fulvic acids, the agrochemical properties of the soil (the pH, the content of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, etc.), and the soil biological properties (basal soil respiration (BSR), the ratios of the N/BSR, NG/BSR, etc.). After five years of investigation, the differences in the studied parameters were evident. The factor analysis and multivariate exploratory techniques showed that the soil properties were grouped based on the management into three different categories – F, G and A. The different land use directly influenced the quality and stability of the humic substances, basal soil respiration, and carbon and nitrogen utilisation. In comparison to the arable land, the forest and grassland were considered to have a higher accumulation potential of carbon and nitrogen. A negative correlation between the soil basal respiration (r = –0.95); total nitrogen (r = –0.93); total organic carbon (C<sub>ox</sub>) content (r = –0.82); and partial Ca (r = –0.82) was found. A positive correlation (r = 0.80) between the humic substances (C-HS) and soil reaction (pH) was determined.

scholarly journals Effect of Tillage Systems on Spatial Variation in Soil Chemical Properties and Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Performance in Small Fields

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth-Maria Hausherr Lüder ◽  
Ruijun Qin ◽  
Walter Richner ◽  
Peter Stamp ◽  
Bernhard Streit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Grid Point ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Grid Pattern ◽  
Tillage Systems

To investigate how tillage intensity modifies the small-scale spatial variability of soil and winter wheat parameters, field trials were conducted on small plots (12 m × 35 m) in three temperate environments in the Swiss midlands: Zollikofen in 1999 (loamy silt soil; Gleyic Cambisol) and Schafisheim in 1999 and in 2000 (sandy loam soil; Orthic Luvisol). Total soil nitrogen (Ntot), total carbon (Ctot) and pH were assessed after harvest. A regular nested grid pattern was applied with sampling intervals of 3 m and 1 m at 0–30 cm on a total of nine no-tillage (NT) and nine conventional tillage (CT) plots. At each grid point, wheat biomass, grain yield, N uptake and grain protein concentration were recorded. Small-scale structural variance of soil Ntot, Ctot and pH was slightly larger in NT than in CT in the topsoil in the tillage direction of the field. Wheat traits had a slightly greater small-scale variability in NT than in CT. Spatial relationships between soil and crop parameters were rather weak but more pronounced in NT. Our results suggest limited potential for variable-rate application of N fertilizer and lime for NT soils. Moderate nugget variances in soil parameters were usually higher in CT than in NT, suggesting that differences in spatial patterns between the tillage systems might occur at even smaller scales.

scholarly journals Inland Excess Water Projection Based on Meteorological and Pedological Monitoring Data on a Study Area Located in the Southern Part of the Great Hungarian Plain

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 31-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Károly Barta
Keyword(s):  
Field Capacity ◽  
Flood Plain ◽  
Soil Survey ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Soil Factors ◽  
Southeastern Part ◽  
Genetic Types ◽  
Excess Water ◽  
Complex Measurement ◽  
Different Depths

Abstract The research investigated the process of excess water formation. Complex measurement stations were developed in order to determine the most important hydro-meteorological and soil factors contributing to the formation of excess water. The stations measure the amount of precipitation, evapotranspiration, evaporation from water surface, soil moisture in 3 different depths; soil temperature in 5 different depths; furthermore, soil water level. The study area is located in the southeastern part of Hungary, near Szeged, in the flood plain of Tisza and Maros with extremely clayey soils. The former soil data were completed by new soil survey to determine several soil parameters (e.g. bulk density, porosity, field capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity). Infiltration was calculated from the measured parameters and water budget elements of bigger rainfall event were analyzed between March 2010 and August 2011. Genetic types of excess water can be separated based on the data.

Soils and water uptake by vines in pomerol (france). I - Soils distribution and variability

OENO One ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Isabelle Mérouge ◽  
Dominique Arrouays ◽  
Gérard Seguin
Keyword(s):  
Textural Properties ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Soil Survey ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Soil Map ◽  
Fluvial Terraces ◽  
Swelling Clays ◽  
Textural Changes

<p style="text-align: justify;">The Pomerol vineyard (France) is located 35 km east from Bordeaux, on the left side of the Isle river. Its area is approximately 800 ha. The geology is made of a system of fluvial terraces, including gravels and stones of various sizes. The underlying substratum is made of tertiary clays and sands. This stratification of terraces of various thickness leads to overlays of very different materials in which various soil development are observed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We studied the distribution of soils and produced a 1/25 000 soil map showing four main soil scapes and 11 soil maping units. The four main soil scapes were : a plateau, mainly characterised by the presence of swelling clays ; a large area (south and west) made of filtering sands on underlying more clayey materials ; the lower terraces with deep sandy soils ; and areas of immature soils from recent colluvial or alluvial origin. The soil survey pointed out the great variability of soils within the Pomerol vineyard. The textural properties exhibited a very broad range from very sandy to heavy clayey ones, with abrupt changes, both laterally and vertically. These various textural changes might induce various water behaviours.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">All basic soil data were stored into a geographical information system. Besides its interest for map production, this computerization enables a better characterization of mapping units variability. Actually, from a soil map user point of view, the range of variation - and even the statistical distribution - of a given parameter is as important as the mean observed value. This study gives an exarnple of spatial output taking into account this variability. These georeferenced data will also allow the overlay with other sources of geographical information.</p>

Analyzing Effects of Soil Parameters on Buried Pipe Behavior and Deciding Governing Parameter Using Statistical Approach

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav P. Bhende ◽  
Pallavi B. Kulkarni ◽  
Priyanka M. Kale
Keyword(s):  
Stress Analysis ◽  
Friction Angle ◽  
Soil Survey ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Buried Pipe ◽  
Governing Parameter ◽  
Active Length ◽  
Soil Parameter ◽  
Future Design ◽  
Analysis Methods

One of the most common and practical difficulties a pipeline engineer faces at the initial stage of the project is the lack of Soil survey data. Hence, various soil parameters like soil type, density, friction angle, cohesive pressure, depth of cover, pipe coating etc. are needed to be assumed. The critical designs like anchor block requirement, pipe route changes, support loads which involve a huge cost are required to be ‘Issued for Construction’ based on assumed data. This paper briefly illustrates and compares the results obtained from the two most common buried pipe stress analysis methods viz. ‘American Lifeline Alliance - Appendix B’ (1) and ‘Stress Analysis Methods for Underground Pipelines’ (2) and shows their effects graphically on the various Stress Analysis results like pipe movement, end force, active length (virtual anchor length) and bending stress generated in the buried pipeline. Further, this paper comes up with an unique application of ANOVA, a Statistical method, to find out the most significant soil parameter affecting the said results. The paper explains this method with a solved example. These results are useful for a pipeline engineer to determine the governing soil parameter in the design and thus provide a useful tool to make optimum assumptions in absence of soil data so as to minimize the changes in future design and helps saving the cost of the project due to rework.

scholarly journals Effect of afforestation of agricultural soils and tree species composition on soil physical characteristics changes

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Vopravil ◽  
Vilém Podrázský ◽  
Tomáš Khel ◽  
Ondřej Holubík ◽  
Stanislav Vacek
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Type ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Type A ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Soil Survey ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Soil Physical Characteristics

AbstractThis paper deals with the evaluation of the effect of afforestation of previously arable land to soil characteristics changes. One of the main aims was to evaluate the effects of each forest species on the soil structure quality after afforestation. Soil samples were taken at two climatically distinct subregions within the Czech Republic. Based on the different site conditions, two study sites were chosen at each locality for a total of four research sites. Detailed soil survey and basic forest stand inventories were conducted at all four sites. The first locality was established in the Rychnov nad Kněžnou district in the Protected Landscape Area of the Orlické mountains (soil type a Haplic Cambisol). The second locality was established in the Prague-East district (soil type a Haplic Cambisol and a Haplic Stagnosol). Afforestation had a positive influence on the soil physical characteristics which are important for the maintenance of soil stability. Forest cover has a major influence on increasing the soil porosity, by decreasing the reduced bulk density and increasing capillary and gravitational pores, which is crucial. Afforestation was also found to be positively related to increases in soil organic matter content in different forms, both stable and unstable, and tendency of considerable soil organic matter accumulation not only in the layer of surface humus but also in the entire soil profiles of the research sites. The main contributor to soil improvement after afforestation is the formation of stable soil aggregates. This is typical also for spruce and pine cover.

Distribution and causes of intricate saline - sodic soil patterns in an upland South Australian hillslope

Soil Research ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 328 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Thomas ◽  
R. W. Fitzpatrick ◽  
G. S. Heinson
Keyword(s):  
Soil Survey ◽  
Terrain Analysis ◽  
Topographic Wetness Index ◽  
Sodic Soil ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Landscape Processes ◽  
Surface Water Flow ◽  
Geophysical Surveys ◽  
Soil Landscape ◽  
D Loop

We describe a soil–landscape investigation conducted in a South Australian upland hillslope (128 ha) to understand the distribution and causes of saline–sodic soil patterns using convenient, ground-based geophysical surveys of the hillslope. These surveys included: (i) EM31 for deep (~6 m) apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) patterns, (ii) EM38 for shallow (>1.5 m) ECa patterns, and (iii) Bartington MS2-D loop sensor for surface volume magnetic susceptibility (κ) patterns. From these surveys we inferred hillslope distributions of: (i) deep (~6 m) concentrations of salinity associated with deep groundwater systems and deposits of magnetic gravels (dominated by maghemite and hematite) (EM31 sensor); (ii) shallow (<1.5 m) soil salinity (EM38 sensor); and (iii) preservation of pedogenic magnetic materials (e.g. maghemite and hematite) (MS2-D loop sensor). We also describe terrain analysis to locate near-surface hydropedological patterns using topographic wetness index. When combined in 3D geographic information system, strong visual matches were identified between patterns in: (i) geophysical surveys, (ii) terrain, and (iii) soil survey data, thus allowing integrated interpretations of soil–landscape pedogenic processes to be made on a whole-of-landscape basis. Such mechanistic interpretations of soil–landscape processes reveal and map intricate saline and sodic soil–regolith patterns and groundwater and fresh surface water flow paths that were not revealed during a previous traditional soil survey.

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