Estimating Pore Water Electrical Conductivity of Sandy Soil from Time Domain Reflectometry Records Using a Time-Varying Dynamic Linear Model.

Despite the importance of computing soil pore water electrical conductivity () from soil bulk electrical conductivity () in ecological and hydrological applications, a good method of doing so remains elusive. The Hilhorst concept offers a theoretical model describing a linear relationship between , and relative dielectric permittivity () in moist soil. The reciprocal of pore water electrical conductivity (1/) appears as a slope of the Hilhorst model and the ordinary least squares (OLS) of this linear relationship yields a single estimate ( 1 / σ p ^ ) of the regression parameter vector () for the entire data.

Assessment of metal retention in newly constructed highway embankments.

Newly constructed embankments should provide both a specific bearing capacity to enable trafficability in emergency cases and a sufficient pollutant retention capacity to protect the groundwater. A number of lysimeters were installed along the A115 highway to determine total and dissolved metal concentrations in road runoff and in the soil solution of newly constructed embankments. Dissolved concentrations in soil solution of the embankments did not exceed the trigger values of the German legislation.

Effect of biochar on reclaimed tidal land soil properties and maize (Zea mays L.) response.

Reclaimed tidal land soil (RTLS) often contains high levels of soluble salts and exchangeable Na that can adversely affect plant growth. The current study examined the effect of biochar on the physicochemical properties of RTLS and subsequently the influence on plant growth performance. Rice hull derived biochar (BC) was applied to RTLS at three different rates (1%, 2%, and 5% (w/w)) and maize (Zea mays L.

Metal leaching in a highway embankment on field and laboratory scale.

Increasing worldwide motor vehicle traffic leads to the question of the possible environmental consequences. This paper aims to analyse metal leaching in a highway embankment using both field and laboratory experiments. Soil, soil solution and road runoff were collected along one of the oldest highways in the world to characterize leaching of the metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn.

Metals in European roadside soils and soil solution--a review.

This review provides a summary of studies analysing metal concentrations in soils and soil solution at European roadsides. The data collected during 27 studies covering a total of 64 sites across a number of European countries were summarised. Highest median values of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were determined in the top soil layer at the first 5 m beside the road.

Heavy metal pattern and solute concentration in soils along the oldest highway of the world--the AVUS Autobahn.

Highways and main roads are a potential source of contamination for the surrounding environment. High traffic rates result in elevated heavy metal concentrations in road runoff, soil and water seepage, which has attracted much attention in the recent past. Nonetheless, investigations of pollutants in roadside soils are still a subject of major interest due to the rapid development of traffic systems and increasing traffic all over the world.