Outlook on fertilizer use efficiency in the tropics

In this paper efficiency of applied fertilizers under tropical conditions is examined. Understanding of the fertilizer efficiency is particularly important for the developing countries mainly because there is need for enhancement of crop yields at a reduced cost. Many of the soil, plant and climatic factors of the tropical regions that contribute to the efficiency of the applied fertilizers have been discussed. Many of the tropical soils are acidic in nature and in these soils efficiency of applied fertilizer is relatively poor, mainly because plant roots are unable to grow and function to their fullest extent in utilizing the soils available nutrients. To enhance yield potentials there is need for understanding of interaction between crop species and soil and climatic variables. Incorporation and adoptation of a suitable application time can greatly enhance efficiency of urea form of nitrogen. Research findings in tropical soils have shown that an initial broadcast application of P and subsequent band treatment is more effective than either method of application alone. Current crop yields in tropical countries are far below the known yield potentials. Such low production potentials are attributed to the lack of suitable crop germplasms and understanding of improved agronomic practices. Intensification of research activities in fertilizer use efficiency in tropical countries is suggested.Senior author formerly was a Research Advisor to EMBRAPA/IICA/World Bank Program in Brazil.     

城市异形排涝通道消能防冲新技术

该文针对感潮河段魁岐排涝二站?型复杂流道的不利冲刷问题,通过建立整体水工模型,研究城市异形排涝通道消能防冲新技术,提出导流坎、消力坎和消力墩联合消能防冲技术,探索其在宽幅水位变化、多工程交替运行及通航情况下的适应能力,并给出水力设计方法。研究表明,联合消能工对复杂工况适应良好,能有效解决异形排涝通道的消能防冲问题。     

An easy pot incubation method for measuring nitrogen mineralization from easily decomposable organic material under well defined conditions

A pot incubation method for measuring mineralization dynamics from fresh plant material was tested. The aim was to develop a method which under well-defined conditions could produce mineralization data suited for estimating model input parameters for nitrogen prediction models. The results showed that the water tension of the soil could be controlled easily and precisely by diffusion through porous ceramic cups, and that nitrogen mineralization or immobilization could be measured already after 15 days at 15°C. The results showed that for the incubated catch crop residues carbon, nitrogen and nitrate-N contents were the most important factors determining mineralization. No significant effects ould be ascribed to other parameters measured.     

向家坝水电站不同埋设方式蜗壳结构有限元分析

针对向家坝地面电站,采用三维有限元法分析比较蜗壳不同埋设方式下的流道及其外围混凝土结构的静力特性,为蜗壳埋设方式的选择提供依据。研究表明:直埋方案所需配筋最多,不经济,且可能产生贯穿性裂缝;垫层方案应力普遍较小,垫层沿水流向敷设至蜗壳45°断面的组合方案仅局部区域有较大拉应力。推荐采用垫层埋设方式或垫层敷设至蜗壳45°断面的组合埋设方式,但同时应采取有效工程措施避免局部产生贯穿性裂缝。     

被动桩中土拱形成机理的平面有限元分析

国内外对被动桩中土拱形成机理的研究比较少,尤其针对不同土性土体中这类问题的对比研究更是少见。借助平面有限元数值方法,对粘性土与无粘性土中被动桩间的土拱形成机理作了研究和对比分析,并讨论了土拱形成过程与土拱效应随土体参数如粘聚力、内摩擦角、弹性模量、剪胀角、泊松比、桩土接触特征的变化规律。研究表明:土性不同时,土拱形成过程中桩周土体的受力和破坏形式不同;剪胀角、泊松比、桩土接触特征对桩间土拱形成机理和效应影响明显。     

Groundnut Yield Response to Single Superphosphate, Calcitic Lime and Gypsum on Acid Granitic Sandy Soil

Phosphorus and calcium are the major nutrients limiting groundnut production. The objectives were to determine (a) optimum application levels of P and Ca, and (b) compare the effectiveness of calcitic lime (40% Ca, 4.5% Mg) and gypsum (22% Ca, 17% S) as sources of Ca for groundnut grown on sandy soils. Field experiments were established in smallholder farming areas using four levels of P (0, 8.5, 17 and 34 kg ha⁻¹) combined factorially with calcitic lime (0, 200, 400 and 800 kg ha⁻¹) to give 16 treatments. Similar levels of P were combined factorially with gypsum (0, 100, 200 and 400 kg ha⁻¹) to give sixteen treatments. Experiments were laid in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Phosphorus had a significant effect on groundnut yield at the majority of the experimental sites. Application of P at 8.5 kg ha⁻¹ gave the optimum groundnut yield response. The optimum application rates for calcitic lime and gypsum were 200 and 100 kg ha⁻¹. Gypsum and calcitic lime were not significantly different as sources of Ca for groundnut. Soil chemical properties were significantly improved following application of P and Ca sources.     

Aboveground nitrogen in relation to estimated total plant uptake in maize and bean

The main objective of this field study was to estimate the total plant uptake of soil mineral N in maize (Zea mays L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in crop rotations under different N content in Nicaragua. Secondary objectives were to estimate the fraction of the measured soil mineral N content taken up in this way, and to determine how the measured N in plant aboveground parts was related to the total mineral N uptake. A large variation in N content was obtained by using data from fertilisation experiments. Plant total N uptake was estimated as the residual N in a mass balance calculation of soil mineral N. Mineral N content in the top 0–0.3 m soil layer in the field cultivations and in tubes isolated from root uptake, and N content in aboveground plant parts were measured every 30 days. Estimated plant total uptake of soil mineral N varied considerably (2.5–14 g N m⁻² 30 day⁻¹) over periods and N treatments. The range of variation was similar for maize and bean. The fraction of the soil mineral N that was taken up by the plant daily varied more in maize (about 0.03–0.12 day⁻¹) than in bean (about 0.05–0.08 day⁻¹). Our results suggest that monthly changes in N in aboveground plant parts were linearly related to plant total N uptake during the same period. Aboveground plant N constituted between about 55% and 80% of total uptake of soil mineral N in maize depending on period within season, whereas for bean it was more constant and smaller (about 40%).     

Permeability characteristics of carbonated concrete considering capillary pore structure

During carbonation process, the calcium phases present in cement are attacked by CO₂ and converted into CaCO₃ and the permeability of concrete is changing due to the change in porosity. The rate of carbonation depends upon porosity and moisture content of the concrete. Especially in underground reinforced concrete structures, the interior portion of concrete surface may be exposed to carbonation and the exterior portion of concrete surface exposed to wet soil or underground water. As carbonation proceeds from outer surface into internal portion of concrete, microstructure is also changed continuously from outer surface into internal portion of concrete. Even the deteriorations in the structures due to the carbonation have been reported more, research on permeability characteristics of concrete considering carbonation and micro-structural information is very scarce.In this study, the permeability coefficient in carbonated concrete is derived by applying a capillary pore structure formation model in carbonated cement mortar and assuming that aggregates do not affect carbonation process in early-aged concrete as a function of porosity. The permeability obtained from the micro-level modeling for carbonated concrete is verified with the results of accelerated carbonation test and water penetration test in cement mortar.     

不同炭化压力下沥青炭结构特性的研究

将高温煤沥青和浸渍剂沥青在不同压力下炭化，在2500℃下对所得沥青炭进行石墨化处理；测试了所得沥青炭的体积密度、开孔率；利用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）观察了所得沥青炭的显微结构；利用XRD检测了不同炭化压力所得沥青炭石墨化处理后的石墨化度。结果表明：随着炭化压力的增大．沥青炭的体积密度增大而开孔率减小；随着炭化压力的增大沥青炭显微结构有从流线型向镶嵌型和域型转变的趋势：流线型结构沥青炭石墨化度较高；沥青中QI组分也会影响沥青炭的显微结构。     

Surface properties of surfactants derived from natural products. Part 1: Syntheses and structure/property relationships—Solubility and emulsification

Several novel and some previously known, mostly sugar-based, surfactants have been synthesized and some of their surface properties have been characterized and compared with those of commercial nonylphenol ethoxylates. The surfactant solubility in water, ethanol, and dodecane was studied. The properties of these compounds as emulsification agents in systems composed of the surfactant with water/isopropyl myristate, water/rapeseed oil, and water/dodecane are presented. The aqueous solubility of the surfactants follows the general trend expected from their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance according to Griffin (HLBG), but it is also clear that the nature of the headgroup and the structure of the nonpolar part affect the solubility in a manner not aptured in the standard HLBG concept. An ester or amine group as the connecting unit between the hydrophile and the hydrophobe produces a more water-soluble surfactant than the corresponding amide derivative. Some effective emulsifiers were found. For instance, the surfactants with a dehydroabietic nonpolar group appear to be promosing emulsifiers. Most sugar-based surfactants were able to form macroemulsions of up to around 2 wt/vol% of oil. The stability of many of these amulsions was very high, extending for months.