SOILS-L: 199710XX
is the compilation of discussion during Oct 97
via AB4EL Web Digests @ SunSITE
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:02:08 -0600
From: Automatic digest processor (LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu)
Subject: SOILS-L Digest - 28 Sep 1997 to 30 Sep 1997
There are 2 messages totalling 32 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. drop measurement (2)
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Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 09:01:18 +0100
From: Clara Marti (cmarti@POSTA.UNIZAR.ES)
Subject: drop measurement
Dear group,
We are working on rain simulation, and we have a problem:
How we can measure the drop diameter? I've read that is possible to use the
splash on a paper and with a mathematical expression, transform the value
as the real diameter.
Has anyone more information about this method? Wich is the mathematical
expression?
Any information will be apreciated,
Thank you in advance
Clara
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Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 14:14:51 -0400
From: PEATCONS@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: drop measurement
Why couldn't you weigh a number of drops and calculate the volume from the
weight and the density of water, then divide by the number of drops to find
the volume per drop and then calculate the diameter of the sphere giving rise
to that volume?
John Peterson, GTF labs
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End of SOILS-L Digest - 28 Sep 1997 to 30 Sep 1997
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Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 03:48:53 -0600
From: Automatic digest processor (LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu)
Subject: SOILS-L Digest - 30 Sep 1997 to 1 Oct 1997
There are 2 messages totalling 105 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. drop measurement (2)
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Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 16:47:48 +1000
From: Brendan Williams (b.williams@VCAH.UNIMELB.EDU.AU)
Subject: Re: drop measurement
There are many ways to measure droplet size. In-situ methods that use laser
beams directed through the droplet cloud. These determine the droplet
spectrum either directly by measuring the shadow effect of each individual
drop or indirectly by measuring the refracted light from a droplet cloud.
These are relatively expensive methods.
The cheapest method is to do as you suggest, use water sensitive card to
record the droplet size. This card is available from Spraying Systems. When
a water drop hits the yellow card it changes color to blue. You can then
measure the blue stain to dtermine the drop size. The relationship between
stain size and drop size is specified by the manufacturer of the water
sensitive paper.
Good luck.
in color. re are At 09:01 AM 30/09/97 +0100, you wrote:
)Dear group,
) We are working on rain simulation, and we have a problem:
)How we can measure the drop diameter? I've read that is possible to use the
)splash on a paper and with a mathematical expression, transform the value
)as the real diameter.
)Has anyone more information about this method? Wich is the mathematical
)expression?
)Any information will be apreciated,
)Thank you in advance
)Clara
)
)
*******************************************************************
Brendan Williams ph 0353 622239
Lecturer in Agricultural Engineering fx 0353 622213
Longerenong College, Email: b.williams@vcah.unimelb.edu.au
The University of Melbourne,
RMB 3000,
HORSHAM, 3401,VICTORIA,AUSTRALIA
*******************************************************************
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Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 09:29:05 +0100
From: Claudio MARCHISIO (claudio.marchisio@REGIONE.PIEMONTE.IT)
Subject: Re: drop measurement
Dear Clara,
a few lines from Norman Hudson, "Soil Conservation" B.T. Batsford Limited
(1971, 1981) pages 51-2.
"The earliest recorded measurement of the size of raindrops were made by
Lowe in 1892 who caught raindrops on flat sheets of slate which were ruled
off into squares so that the size of splashes could be measured. This
method of calculating the size of drop from the size of the splash which it
makes on collecting device is one of the most popular methods. One
technique is to take an adsorbent paper and lightly dust on to the surface
a very finely powdered water-soluble dye. In the dry state the dye is
invisible but on exposure to rain each raindrop makes a roughly circular
stain which can be measured later. The drop size can be calculated from the
formula D=aS^b, where D is the drop diameter, S is the stain diameter, an a
and b ara constats establisched by laboratory calibration for the paper
used. The method is reviewed by Hall (1970 - "Use of the Stain Method in
Determining the Drop-Size Distribution of Coarse Liquid Spays", Transactios
American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 13, 1, 33-37, 41) and is
increasingly attractive because the previously tedious job of measuring and
counting the drop stains can now be accomplished by the use of electronic
scanners and inage analysers (Attle et al, 1980 - "Applications of Image
Analysis", American Laboratory, April 1980).
Another popular approach is the "Flour Pellet" method (Hudson, 1964 - "The
Flour Pelle Method for Measuring the Size of Raindrops", Research Bulletin
4, Department of Conservation, alisbury, Zimbawe). A samle of rain is
caught in a dish containing flour. Each raindrop forms a small glubule of
wet flour and when dried in an aven these set into hard pellets which can
be separated from the rest of the flour. A laboratory calibration has
previously established the relationship between the size of a pellet and
the size of a pellet and the size of the drop which formed it."
Hadson cited also some pressure transducers used to measur rainfall imact
and can also measure the size and size distribution of raindrops.
RPC Morgan ("Soil erosion and conservation") cited some works on drop size
distribution:
- Law and Pearson, 1943 - "The relationship of raindrop size and
intensity", Trans. Am. Geophys. Un. 24, 452-60;
- Mason and Andrews, 1960 - "Drop size distribution from various types of
rain", Quart. J. Roy. Met. Soc. 86, 346-53;
- Carter et al, 1974 - Raindrop characteristics in the south central United
States", Trans. Am. Soc. Agric. Engnrs. 17, 1033-7.
I looked also into some WMO pubblications on meteorological instruments but
I didn't find anything about raindrop measurement.
Ciao.
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End of SOILS-L Digest - 30 Sep 1997 to 1 Oct 1997
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Date: Thu, 09 Oct 1997 03:48:42 -0600
From: Automatic digest processor (LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu)
Subject: SOILS-L Digest - 1 Oct 1997 to 8 Oct 1997
There are 2 messages totalling 42 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Microbe population measurement
2. unsubscribe
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Date: Wed, 8 Oct 1997 09:36:14 +0000
From: Cullan Riley (cullan.riley@LUTON.AC.UK)
Subject: Re: Microbe population measurement
Sorry for the time delay in replying to your posted message. I read
the message and then placed it in my to reply folder in my e-mail and
its taken me this long to get round to answering you......
I'm also a graduate student, my research centers around indentifying
the level of soil microbial diversity in different agricultural
ecosystems. I was intrigued to see you are using
fumigation-incubation. Have you considered fumigation-extraction, a
similar but more effective technique for soil microbial biomass.
Similarly microbial phospholipid phosphate is a good method for
linking metabolic activity and microbial biomass. One off-shoot of
phospholipid analysis is that it can also be sued to determine fatty
acid methyl ester profiles that can be used as an index of microbial
diversity.
I have references on all of these, or if you want to continue the
discussion further please don't hesitate to e-mail me.
Your Cullan
Cullan Riley
Graduate School
Faculty of Science and Technology
University of Luton
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Date: Wed, 8 Oct 1997 17:52:24 -0500
From: THOMAS@DEM.EHNR.STATE.NC.US
Subject: unsubscribe
please take me off of this list. if anyone can tell me
how to unsubscribe, it would help tremendously. Sorry
to bother you all about this...
Thanks.
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End of SOILS-L Digest - 1 Oct 1997 to 8 Oct 1997
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Date: Sun, 12 Oct 1997 00:01:53 -0600
From: Automatic digest processor (LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu)
Subject: SOILS-L Digest - 8 Oct 1997 to 11 Oct 1997
There is one message totalling 44 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Microwave owen for soil moisture determination
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Date: Sat, 11 Oct 1997 19:21:20 +0100
From: Luca Bechini (bechini@IMIUCCA.CSI.UNIMI.IT)
Subject: Microwave owen for soil moisture determination
Dear listmembers,
maybe it's a FAQ: I wish to know whether soil moisture determination
with a microwave owen gives reliable results or not.
If the method is reliable, where can I find detailed information?
Thank you very much for your attention,
Luca Bechini
===========================================================
Luca Bechini, PhD student, University of Milano
Institute of Agronomy tel +39-2-70.600.164
Faculty of Agriculture fax +39-2-70.633.243
Via Celoria, 2 e-mail: luca.bechini@unimi.it
I-20133 Milano - Italy
http://imiucca.csi.unimi.it/~agra/iami/iami0.html
Italian Ph.D. Association: http://distart.ing.unibo.it/dott
===========================================================
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End of SOILS-L Digest - 8 Oct 1997 to 11 Oct 1997
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Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 00:02:05 -0600
From: Automatic digest processor (LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu)
Subject: SOILS-L Digest - 11 Oct 1997 to 13 Oct 1997
There are 2 messages totalling 134 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Microwave owen for soil moisture determination (2)
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Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 09:07:04 +0000
From: Heinrich Hiemesch (IGEWA_GmbH@T-ONLINE.DE)
Subject: Re: Microwave owen for soil moisture determination
On Sat, 11 Oct 1997 19:21:20 +0100, you wrote:
) Dear listmembers,
)
)maybe it's a FAQ: I wish to know whether soil moisture determination
)with a microwave owen gives reliable results or not.
)If the method is reliable, where can I find detailed information?
)Thank you very much for your attention,
)Luca Bechini
It's possible to have reasonable results about soil moisture with a
microwave oven after a drying time of about 10 minutes or more (power
switch of the oven at max. position).
I assume that the duration of the process is the information you are
interested in mainly...=20
There is a DIN-paper (German standards) describing the methods for
determing soil moisture. Since 1989 it includes a "part 2" concerning
fast methods. If you are interested i'll send you a hardcopy - however
it's written in German.
Our own experiences are that if you are working on clay - e.g. for
sealing purposes of landfills - you need to check the results of the
microwave oven procedure against "normal" heating conditions (as it is
stated out in the DIN). Dewatering of clay minerals may cause
irritating effects (max 0.5%). In this case you'll have to reduce the
power and increase the heating time until the results of both
processes are equal.
If you are working on sands or gravels instead, dewatering of minerals
will have an neglective effect.
Hope this helps,
Heinrich
Heinrich Hiemesch snail: IGEWA (R) GmbH
mailto: IGEWA_GmbH@t-online.de Ingenieurbuero fuer
Geotechnik und Wasser
PF 1444
D-84667 Waldkraiburg
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 14:56:34 +1000
From: Gareth Swarbrick (G.Swarbrick@UNSW.EDU.AU)
Subject: Re: Microwave owen for soil moisture determination
I agree that micowaving has been used for sucessfull soil moisture
determination. In Australia there is a standard procedure for using
microwaves for this purpose - AS1289.2.1.4. See:
http://www.standards.com.au/ and
http://www.standards.com.au/catalogue/script/Details.asp?SearchID=3D30806.0.=
352101
071134304&RN=3D18
The main concerns are that microwaves tend to drive more water from within
clay soils due to the particle-water molecule bonding. This why Australia
uses 105=B0 C for conventional drying rather than the British 50=B0 C -
different drying temperatures have different efficiencies at removing
interstitial moisture. Microwaves are very effective at this. Another
concern, but not as common, is the risk of the soil igniting. This can
occur when the soil contains a significant organic fraction.
Gareth.
-----
)On Sat, 11 Oct 1997 19:21:20 +0100, you wrote:
)
)) Dear listmembers,
))
))maybe it's a FAQ: I wish to know whether soil moisture determination
))with a microwave owen gives reliable results or not.
))If the method is reliable, where can I find detailed information?
))Thank you very much for your attention,
))Luca Bechini
)
)It's possible to have reasonable results about soil moisture with a
)microwave oven after a drying time of about 10 minutes or more (power
)switch of the oven at max. position).
)I assume that the duration of the process is the information you are
)interested in mainly...
)
)There is a DIN-paper (German standards) describing the methods for
)determing soil moisture. Since 1989 it includes a "part 2" concerning
)fast methods. If you are interested i'll send you a hardcopy - however
)it's written in German.
)
)Our own experiences are that if you are working on clay - e.g. for
)sealing purposes of landfills - you need to check the results of the
)microwave oven procedure against "normal" heating conditions (as it is
)stated out in the DIN). Dewatering of clay minerals may cause
)irritating effects (max 0.5%). In this case you'll have to reduce the
)power and increase the heating time until the results of both
)processes are equal.
)
)If you are working on sands or gravels instead, dewatering of minerals
)will have an neglective effect.
)
)Hope this helps,
)Heinrich
)
)Heinrich Hiemesch snail: IGEWA (R) GmbH
)mailto: IGEWA_GmbH@t-online.de Ingenieurbuero fuer
) Geotechnik und Wasser
) PF 1444
) D-84667 Waldkraiburg
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gareth Swarbrick __ ^ Interests:
School of Civil Engineering _/ \__/ \ Municipal Waste,
University of New South Wales / \ Mud &
Sydney, Australia 2052 / \ Macs
Internet: \ ____ */
mailto:G.Swarbrick@unsw.edu.au \_/ \___/
mailto:gareth@civeng.unsw.edu.au __o __
Phone: +61-2-9385-5016 --- +-\(: --- \/ "In vino e veritas"
=46ax: +61-2-9385-6139 ---..(O)/(O)..---
http://www.civeng.unsw.edu.au/staff/geotech/swarbrick.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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End of SOILS-L Digest - 11 Oct 1997 to 13 Oct 1997
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Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 00:02:31 -0600
From: Automatic digest processor (LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu)
Subject: SOILS-L Digest - 13 Oct 1997 to 14 Oct 1997
There is one message totalling 23 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Soil Test with a microwave
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Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 09:37:05 -0500
From: Ralph Anderson (cnty4093@UNLVM.UNL.EDU)
Subject: Soil Test with a microwave
There has been limited discussion of doing soil moisture tests with
microwaves. The Aussie's offer a set of stanards for $9.50 plus but since
I'm such a cheap skate, I'm looking for free advise. My interest would be
to use the test as a teaching tool to teach soil moisture determination by
sight and feel, such as go out to a field and collect several samples of
soil of different texture and moiture level and then confirm our estimates
in a microwave, if we could get the test results quickly. How long would we
have to heat the soil to get an approximate reading(+/- 5%)? Could we put
several samples in at one time?? Thanks!
Ralph Anderson
Extension Educator Ph (308) 236-1235 Fax (308) 234 6319
1400 E 34 E-Mail cnty4093@unlvm.unl.edu
Kearney NE 68847
Home Page http://ianrwww.unl.edu/ianr/screc/fortepu/Buffalo/Buffalo.htm
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End of SOILS-L Digest - 13 Oct 1997 to 14 Oct 1997
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Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 00:01:12 -0600
From: Automatic digest processor (LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu)
Subject: SOILS-L Digest - 14 Oct 1997 to 15 Oct 1997
There is one message totalling 54 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Soil Test with a microwave
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Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 08:27:34 +0000
From: Heinrich Hiemesch (IGEWA_GmbH@T-ONLINE.DE)
Subject: Re: Soil Test with a microwave
On Tue, 14 Oct 1997 09:37:05 -0500, you wrote:
)There has been limited discussion of doing soil moisture tests with
)microwaves. The Aussie's offer a set of stanards for $9.50 plus but =
since
)I'm such a cheap skate, I'm looking for free advise. My interest would =
be
)to use the test as a teaching tool to teach soil moisture determination =
by
)sight and feel, such as go out to a field and collect several samples of
)soil of different texture and moiture level and then confirm our =
estimates
)in a microwave, if we could get the test results quickly. How long =
would we
)have to heat the soil to get an approximate reading(+/- 5%)? Could we =
put
)several samples in at one time?? Thanks!
)Ralph Anderson
)Extension Educator Ph (308) 236-1235 Fax (308) 234 6319
)1400 E 34 E-Mail cnty4093@unlvm.unl.edu
)Kearney NE 68847
)Home Page http://ianrwww.unl.edu/ianr/screc/fortepu/Buffalo/Buffalo.htm
You should calculate about 10 to 15 minutes for heating out your
probes in the microwave (power switch at maximum position).
Please mention, that you can do tests at your on: heat the probes you
want to test minute-wise until the weight of the probe remains
constant.
You can heat several samples at the same time without problems. The
micowave oven should have a good ventilation though.
Best is to have the probes in glass bowls and to fill them in not very
dense (sorry for poor my english - hope you understand what I mean).
Heinrich
Heinrich Hiemesch snail: IGEWA (R) GmbH
mailto: IGEWA_GmbH@t-online.de Ingenieurbuero fuer
Geotechnik und Wasser
PF 1444
D-84667 Waldkraiburg
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End of SOILS-L Digest - 14 Oct 1997 to 15 Oct 1997
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Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 00:02:16 -0600
From: Automatic digest processor (LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu)
Subject: SOILS-L Digest - 15 Oct 1997 to 16 Oct 1997
There is one message totalling 84 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Post-doc Position in Soil-water and Plant Relationship Available Now!
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Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 07:42:05 -0400
From: "Ali Fares, Ph.D." (af@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU)
Subject: Post-doc Position in Soil-water and Plant Relationship Available Now!
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
--------------C55ED7BCABEBD49C188793CE
POSTDOC ASSOCIATE - NITROGEN CHEMISTRY AND USE
EFFICIENCY:
To conduct cooperative research to develop best management
practice for nitrogen fertilization of citrus in deep sandy
soils under
heavy rainfall and micro-irrigation conditions. The study
will focus
to increase N use efficiency by citrus trees with an improved
understanding on the nitrogen metabolism within the tree,
while
minimizing losses including volatilization and leaching.
Basic
investigations on N transformation, mineralization, N uptake
and
partioning within the tree, volatilization, denitrification,
and
leaching losses are required. The candidate must have good
background in soil chemistry, soil physics, plant physiology,
environmental chemistry, solute transport, dynamics of N in
soils
and within the tree including 15 N studies, and application of
computer models to study leaching losses. Some knowledge of
irrigation scheduling, fertigation, techniques for measuring
soil
moisture in field condition, and crop water requirement is
desirable.
The candidate must have experience and interest to conduct
field
experiments along with controlled basic investigations.
Experience
in tree crop nutrition and N budgeting for tree crop is
preferred.
The position is available immediately for a years appointment
likely
to be renewed subject to availability of funding. Please send
your
resume, list of publications and names of three references to:
A. K.
Alva, Citrus Research and Education Center, Lake Alfred, FL
33850. Phone no. 941-956-1151, Fax No. 941-956-4631, E-Mail:
AKA@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU.
--------------C55ED7BCABEBD49C188793CE
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fn: Ali Fares
n: Fares;Ali
org: University of Florida
adr: CREC, University of Florida;;;Lake Alfred;FLorida;33880;USA
email;internet: af@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu
title: Research Associate
tel;work: 941-956-1151 Ext 308
tel;fax: (941)-956-4631
x-mozilla-cpt: ;0
x-mozilla-html: FALSE
end: vcard
--------------C55ED7BCABEBD49C188793CE--
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End of SOILS-L Digest - 15 Oct 1997 to 16 Oct 1997
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Prepared by Steve Modena, AB4EL
Suggestions and comments to: modena@SunSITE.unc.edu