Archive SOILS-L: file log9404, part 1/1, size 34816 bytes:
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Greetings to the Soils-L readership;
The following is a request for discussion/help. Here on the DelMarVa
Pennisula, there is a continuing expansion of housing into the landscape --
sort of like the creeping plague <g>. Most of these houses use an on-site
septic system. The attempt is being made, as it is in other sections of
the country, to specify different system designs based on soil conditions.
How is it working where you are? Do you do things the same or differently?
The attempt is made via system design to encourage denitrification of the
wastewater effulent. To get denitrification, the NH4 in the effulent must
first undergo nitrification. This process, mediated by chrmoautorophs,
requires O2; 3' of aerobic soil below the disposal bed per state
specification.
State specifications assign system type by the depth to a limiting zone.
The limiting zone initially was defined as the depth to the presence of
soil matrix/mottling with a chroma of 2 or less. This deinition is per
_Soil Taxonomy_.
Several problems have since arrisen. There has been an increasing tendency
on the part of state regulators to include both 3 and then 4 chroma
mottling as indicative of reduced conditions. Is there any research on
this ? Enquiring minds want to know ;->
Likewise, the occurance of free water above the presence of 2 chroma
mottling for however brief a period of time is used to raise the limiting
zone. Comments on findings regarding the interaction between soil mediated
wastewater renovation and the presence of free water would be appreciated.
My feeling is that if gleyization doesn't occur the phenomena is too short
lived to effect renovation.
While I admit to being barely able to keep up with the literature - in a
one man office you do the science, sweep the floor, etc, etc, etc - I've
not seen alot on these subjects. Help is appreciated.
[Robert P. Eastburn, CPSC Eastburn JOAT]
[Eastburn @ delphi.com CIS 73551,1754 302-653-0769]
[ P.O. Box 419, Townsend, DE 19734, USA ]
Dear Subscribers,
I will be using pressure chambers to determine the middle
portion of a soil moisture release curve (0.2 to 7.0 bars). I
would assume that light textured soils will reach equilibrium at
low applied pressures in a short period of time and that heavy
textured soils will take quite a long time to reach equilibrium
at high pressures. My question is:
Is there a simple method for determining when the soil
cores have reached equilibrium with the applied pressure?
Thanks in advance,
Jerome Pier
jp@unl.edu
Jerome,
The best, not most simple, method for determining the equilibrium of a soil
core subjected to desorption pressures, is to wait until all water has ceased
draining from the pressure chamber. Then remove cores and weigh. Repeat untilweight is constant. We have discovered that better equalibrium is achieved,
each time the cores are removed for weighing, when small quantities of free
water are applied to the surface of the ceramic plate before re-seating the
soil cores.
One comment regarding your terminology describing soil textures. We are all
undergoing a paradigm shift from referring to the size of the horse (eg., heavy)
required to plow a fine-textured clay soil, which also confuses most scientists,
to using more descriptive terms such as "coarse-textured sand soil" and "fine-
textured clay soil". Additionally, the bulk density of a given volume of sand
is greater than the bulk density for a clay soil. Hopefully, most of us in the
soil science community will modify our terminologies describing soil texture,
so that we can better communicate among ourselves and with associated
scientific disciplines.
With best regards,
Alvin Smucker
Jerome,
One comment regarding your terminology describing soil textures. We are all
undergoing a paradigm shift from referring to the size of the horse (eg., heavy)
required to plow a fine-textured clay soil, which also confuses most scientists,
to using more descriptive terms such as "coarse-textured sand soil" and "fine-
textured clay soil". Additionally, the bulk density of a given volume of sand
is greater than the bulk density for a clay soil. Hopefully, most of us in the
soil science community will modify our terminologies describing soil texture,
so that we can better communicate among ourselves and with associated
scientific disciplines.
With best regards,
Alvin Smucker
Dear Alvin,
I stand corrected! I think that this is not just a
'nit-picking' idea but it is a good idea. The terms are more of a
mouth full but much more descriptive and therefore communicate
the idea of the soil texture to a fellow scientist much better
than the traditional terms. I will stand by the new terminology.
Hey I can say Native American and African American; why not
coarse-textured sand soil?
Sincerely,
Jerome Pier
jp@unl.edu
Dear Subscribers,
For your information
>
> The March archive for your list is now available.
>
Jerome Pier
List Owner
jp@unl.edu
Greetings all...
Aside from the usual information exchanges that take place regularly via
listserver, what other resources are available to interneters
wanting/needing info on gardening, crops development/propogation, soil
data, bot. data??? Are there gophers or other repositories that are
readily accessable via internet? If so, who and where and what do they
offer?
Thanks...
Don
Jerome,
I assume by pressure chambers you mean extractors. You can easily determine
when soil cores ore clods reach equillibrium by attaching a burette to the
air-water outlet tube. When the water in the burette stops rising the soil
samples have reached equillibrium. At least that works for me.
If anyone has something easier or better I would very much appreciate hearing
about it.
Dave Langille
On Wed, 13 Apr 1994 15:21:04 -0500 Alvin Smucker said:
>Jerome,
>
>The best, not most simple, method for determining the equilibrium of a soil
>core subjected to desorption pressures, is to wait until all water has ceased
>draining from the pressure chamber. Then remove cores and weigh. Repeat
>untilweight is constant. We have discovered that better equalibrium is
>achieved,
>each time the cores are removed for weighing, when small quantities of free
>water are applied to the surface of the ceramic plate before re-seating the
>soil cores.
>
>One comment regarding your terminology describing soil textures. We are all
>undergoing a paradigm shift from referring to the size of the horse (eg.,
>heavy)
>required to plow a fine-textured clay soil, which also confuses most
>scientists,
>to using more descriptive terms such as "coarse-textured sand soil" and "fine-
>textured clay soil". Additionally, the bulk density of a given volume of sand
>is greater than the bulk density for a clay soil. Hopefully, most of us in the
>soil science community will modify our terminologies describing soil texture,
>so that we can better communicate among ourselves and with associated
>scientific disciplines.
>
>With best regards,
>
>Alvin Smucker
Are you serious about the term "heavy" refering to the size of horse
required to plow? Isn't that a bit complicated? The horse is heavy at
least in part because the soil is heavy (dense). I'm not arguing with
your plea for more precise terminology, just your etymology...
R. DON WAUCHOPE, RESEARCH CHEMIST DON@TIFTON.CPES.PEACHNET.EDU
USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE (912) 386-3892 FAX 386-7225
POB 748, U. GA COASTAL PLAIN EXPERIMENT STATION
TIFTON, GA 31793
----- Begin Included Message -----
>Jerome,
>One comment regarding your terminology describing soil textures. We are all
>undergoing a paradigm shift from referring to the size of the horse (eg.,
>heavy)
>required to plow a fine-textured clay soil, which also confuses most
>scientists,
>to using more descriptive terms such as "coarse-textured sand soil" and "fine-
>textured clay soil". Additionally, the bulk density of a given volume of sand
>is greater than the bulk density for a clay soil. Hopefully, most of us in the
>soil science community will modify our terminologies describing soil texture,
>so that we can better communicate among ourselves and with associated
>scientific disciplines.
>
>With best regards,
>
>Alvin Smucker
Are you serious about the term "heavy" refering to the size of horse
required to plow? Isn't that a bit complicated? The horse is heavy at
least in part because the soil is heavy (dense). I'm not arguing with
your plea for more precise terminology, just your etymology...
R. DON WAUCHOPE, RESEARCH CHEMIST DON@TIFTON.CPES.PEACHNET.EDU
USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE (912) 386-3892 FAX 386-7225
POB 748, U. GA COASTAL PLAIN EXPERIMENT STATION
TIFTON, GA 31793
----- End Included Message -----
Don,
Yes, according to three reliable sources, soil scientists from Australia who
studied in England, the misnomer for describing a fine-textured soil originated
with soil scientists from Rothemstead who attempted to communicate with local
farmers, sometime during the early 1900s.
Alvin Smucker
please unsubscribe jbushnell@esusda.gov
unsub soils-l
>
> unsub soils-l
>
Dear Matt,
plsease send this command to the address listserv@unl.edu. That
should do the job. Let me know if you need further assistance.
Sincerely,
Jerome Pier
Soils-L List Owner
jp@unl.edu
PLEASE DO NOT BUY PCKARD BELL COMPUTERS , THEIR SERVICE STINKS
Hello,
I am Paul Feikema, a master of science student at the Cooperative
Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, at Monash University,
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I have studied agricultural science
and have become ineterested in environmental problems relating to
agriculture, especially that of dryland and irrigated salinity - a
major problem in Victoria and Western Australia. Currently I am
undertaking research work on an Eucalypt plantation in an area of
shallow (within 2m of the land surface) and saline water tables. The
2.5ha plantation, established 18 years ago, is being studied to
describe the water flow and solute concentration processes underneath
the plantation. The study of tree plantations in irrigated areas with
shallow watertables is relatively new in Australia. The plantation is
not irrigated yet irrigation does occur on pastures surrounding the
plantation.
To date, the plantation has lowered water tables by about 3m, the
effect of which is limited to 10-30m outside the plantation.
Piezometric levels in the plantation have been lowered by 0.5-1.5m.
Although the watertable fluctuates seasonally, an upward gradient of
flow exists under the trees at all times as water tables never rise
above piezometric levels. Solute exclusion by tree roots together
with this upward gradient have resulted in an increased salt
concentration in the root zone than when compared to surrounding
pasture.
My work intends to model these processes in an attempt to gain some
understanding of the sustainability of the system. The questions to
be asked are; will the increase in salts in the root zone affect tree
growth? if so, when? and so will this system be sustainable in the
long term given the possibility of hardwood production?
I would appreciate any research conducted on the use of trees for
control of salinisation and information and experience with models
that have been used in this instance.
Hope to hear from you,
Paul Feikema
CRC Catchment Hydrology
Dept. Civil Engineering
Monash University
Clayton, Vic. 3168
Tel: 905 4947
email: feikema@eng3.eng.monash.edu.au
unsubscribe
yes please unsubscribe me
Greetings all.
The update to Ag Hdbk #18 (Oct 93) _Soil Survey Manual_ is reported to now
be available. It is not for sale by the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, however. Would someone post information
regarding where and at what cost to obtain this reference? Thank you.
Robert Eastburn, CPSC aka eastburn @ delphi.com
Hi,
I would like to unsuscribe to this mailing list,but I forgot how I have to do.
Could you help ?
>
> Greetings all.
>
> The update to Ag Hdbk #18 (Oct 93) _Soil Survey Manual_ is reported to now
> be available. It is not for sale by the Superintendent of Documents,
> Government Printing Office, however. Would someone post information
> regarding where and at what cost to obtain this reference? Thank you.
>
Hope this helps. You should be able to get more info on availability from
your Soil Conservation Service State Office, State Soil Scientist, I am not
sure where you are, so you may have to call US Gov. Info 800-735-8004.
If the State Office doesn't have copies or know then contact the Regional
Office.
> Robert Eastburn, CPSC aka eastburn @ delphi.com
>
>
> Hi,
> I would like to unsuscribe to this mailing list,but I forgot how I have to do.
> Could you help ?
>
Dear list subscribers,
Sorry to waste bandwidth...
To unsubscribe from the soils-l mail list send the
following email to listserv@unl.edu:
UNSUB SOILS-L
and that should do it!
Sincerely,
Jerome Pier
Soils-l List owner
jp@unl.edu
Greetings:
This is a reply to Robert Eastburn, CPSC aka eastburn @ delphi.com who asked
about getting a copy of the new Soil Survey Manual.
I was able to get a copy by calling 202-690-0333 (USDA-SCS in DC).
__________________________________________________________________________
Michael L. Thompson thompson@mica.agron.iastate.edu
Agronomy Department 515-294-2415 phone
2503 Agronomy Hall 515-294-3163 fax
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011-1010
__________________________________________________________________________
Help! We are looking for a PRS-10 printer sequencer for a Perkin Elmer
Atomic Absorption Model 560 Spectrophotometer. The AA works just fine
(hard to believe after all these years), but the sequencer has just
expired, forcing us to write the numbers by hand.
Alternatively, if there is someone out there who can service one of these
little gadgets, please send a message.
Contact Beth Johnson at johnson@cfr.cfr.ncsu.edu.
HELP
thats it some one take me of this mailing list. It may be a good list but Im
allway getting excited about mail and it is all ways this stuff.
Greetings to all!
I goofed in giving out a phone number to request a copy of the Soil Survey
Manual. Please do _not_ use that number. You'll get Hari Eswaran at USDA-SCS
(at least today you will). He is a very understanding fellow, and he
accepted my apology. But....
Copies of the Soil Survey Manual may be requested tomorrow (today is a federal
holiday) from Thomas Calhoun at 202-720-1824.
I apologize to all of you for the confusion!
__________________________________________________________________________
Michael L. Thompson thompson@mica.agron.iastate.edu
Agronomy Department 515-294-2415 phone
2503 Agronomy Hall 515-294-3163 fax
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011-1010
__________________________________________________________________________
I've been contacted by someone who has turpentine in their home garden. Two
questions: 1) can the soil be used for food crops; and 2) how to clean it
up.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Kirk V. Iversen Agronomy Department
E-mail: kvi1@psuvm.psu.edu Penn State University
Phone: 814/865-2119 University Park, PA 16802
Hi,I would apreciate if anybody can send me some help to use efficiently this
mailing list.
Thank you.
***** ATTENTION*****
Soil Survey Manual - USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 18
October 1993 Revision.
Yes, the revised Soil Survey Manual has been printed. The bad
news is that copies for sale were not sent from the printers to
the Government Printing Office, Superintendent od Documents.
Soil Conservation Service staff is working to rectify this problem.
Please bear with us. We hope to get the problem solved as soon
as possible. In the meantime, just hang tight. When it is
availabe for sale, we will get an announcement out.
Thank you for your understanding.
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