A comprehensive approach to evaluating watershed models for predicting river flow regimes critical to downstream ecosystem services

Selection of strategies that help reduce riverine inputs requires numerical models that accurately quantify hydrologic processes. While numerous models exist, information on how to evaluate and select the most robust models is limited. Toward this end, we developed a comprehensive approach that helps evaluate watershed models in their ability to simulate flow regimes critical to downstream ecosystem services. We demonstrated the method using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), the Hydrological Simulation Program–FORTRAN (HSPF) model, and Distributed Large Basin Runoff Model (DLBRM) applied to the Maumee River Basin (USA). The approach helped in identifying that each model simulated flows within acceptable ranges. However, each was limited in its ability to simulate flows triggered by extreme weather events, owing to algorithms not being optimized for such events and mismatched physiographic watershed conditions. Ultimately, we found HSPF to best predict river flow, whereas SWAT offered the most flexibility for evaluating agricultural management practices.     

Bauxite residue (red mud) increases phosphorus retention in sandy soil catchments in Western Australia

The Peel-Harvey estuary on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia has become eutrophic partly because of the leaching of fertiliser phosphorus from sandy soils. The acid, coarse textured sandy soils are predominantly quartz, have a low iron and aluminium content and do not retain phosphorus. Red mud, derived from bauxite, is a by-product of the alumina industry and has the ability to retain phosphorus. Retention of phosphorus is enhanced when the red mud is neutralised with gypsum. Red mud has been suggested as a soil amendment to reduce phosphorus leaching.To investigate the reduction in the leaching of phosphorus from soils amended with red mud, weirs were constructed at the outlets from a pair of catchments to quantify the amount of phosphorus in the streamflow. Both catchments were deep grey Bassendean sand. One of the catchments was treated with 80 t/ha of red mud which had been neutralised with waste gypsum from the phosphate industry. The red mud was applied to the soil surface using conventional fertiliser spreading equipment. The other catchment was untreated.The red mud reduced phosphorus loss by 70% from 13.8 kg/ha on the untreated catchment, to 4.2 kg/ha on the treated catchment. Both catchments were treated with 20.4 kg/ha of phosphorus as superphosphate. The catchment treated with red mud also received a further 41.5 kg/ha of phosphorus from the phosphogypsum that was used to neutralise the red mud.Our results show that red mud reduces phosphorus leaching and is potentially a nutrient management option in sandy soils. Red mud has the potential to reduce the impact of agriculture on the estuarine environment and has implications for the continued expansion and intensification of agriculture in the Peel-Harvey catchment.     

十二烷基苯磺酸钠水溶液聚集性质的研究

用滴体积法测出十二烷基苯磺酸钠（ＳＤＢＳ）稀水溶液的表面张力；然后求出其临界胶束浓度（ＣＭＣ）。同时通过溶液的电导率、吸收光谱以及荧光光谱测定求出其ＣＭＣ。这样测出的ＣＭＣ值为１．２～１．６×１０－３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ，与文献值相符。也研究了部分水解的聚丙烯酰胺（ＰＨＰＡＭ）对ＳＤＢＳ聚集性质的影响；发现ＳＤＢＳ的ＣＭＣ值随ＰＨＰＡＭ的加人而减少并且ＰＨＰＡＭ水溶液的粘度随ＳＤＢＳ的存在而急剧降低（类似盐效应）。这些方法与性质对强化采油（ＥＯＲ）是重要的。     

Fate of nitrogen fertilizer applied to lowland rice on a Sulfic Tropaquept

A field experiment was conducted on an acid sulfate soil in Thailand to determine the effect of N fertilization practices on the fate of fertilizer-N and yield of lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.). A delayed broadcast application of ammonium phosphate sulfate (16-20-0) or urea was compared with basal incorporation of urea, deep placement of urea as urea supergranules (USG), and amendment of urea with a urease inhibitor. Deep placement of urea as USG significantly reduced floodwater urea- and ammoniacal-N concentrations following N application but did not reduce N loss, as determined from an¹⁵N balance, in this experiment where runoff loss was prevented. The urease inhibitor, phenyl phosphorodiamidate (PPD), had little effect on floodwater urea- and ammoniacal-N, and it did not reduce N loss. The floodwater pH never exceeded 4.5 in the 7 days following the first N applications, and application of 16-20-0 reduced floodwater pH by 0.1 to 0.3 units below the no-N control. The low floodwater pH indicated that ammonia volatilization was unimportant for all the N fertilization practices. Floodwater ammoniacal-N concentrations following application of urea or 16-20-0 were greater on this Sulfic Tropaquept than on an Andaqueptic Haplaquoll with near neutral pH and alkaline floodwater. The prolonged, high floodwater N concentrations on this Sulfic Tropaquept suggested that runoff loss of applied N might be a potentially serious problem when heavy rainfall or poor water control follow N fertilization. The unaccounted-for¹⁵N in the¹⁵N balances, which presumably represented gaseous N losses, ranged from 20 to 26% of the applied N and was unaffected by urea fertilization practice. Grain yield and N uptake were significantly increased with applied N, but grain yield was not significantly affected by urea fertilization practice. Yield was significantly lower (P = 0.05) for 16-20-0 than for urea; however, this difference in yield might be due to later application of P and hence delayed availability of P in the 16-20-0 treatment.     

Available nitrogen in soils and its determination by the ‘Nmin-method’ and by electroultrafiltration (EUF)

Excess nitrogen fertilizer rates are an environmental hazard. To avoid excess rates, the level of available nitrogen in the soil must be known and considered for assessing the nitrogen fertilizer rate. In arable soils nitrate and exchangeable ammonium in the rooting depth of a crop are directly available to plant roots. These two nitrogen forms are recovered with the Nmin method and they are considered in assessing the nitrogen fertilizer rate for arable crops.Besides nitrate and ammonium recovered by the Nmin method from soil samples taken in early spring, a considerable amount of organic soil nitrogen may be mineralized during the growth period and contribute to crop nutrition. The nitrogen mineralization potential can be determined in incubation tests. The absolute quantities of mineralized nitrogen thus obtained, however, are much higher than the mineralization rates under field conditions. It is for this reason that incubation tests have not obtained a major importance for assessing nitrogen fertilizer rates.With the electro-ultrafiltration (EUF) method nitrate, ammonium, and a minor portion of organic soil nitrogen are extracted from a soil suspension. There is experimental evidence that this organic nitrogen (=Norg) is easily mineralizable. Based on field experiments with cereals and maize formulae were established by which the nitrogen fertilizer rate can be calculated. In these formulae nitrate, ammonium and organic nitrogen extracted by EUF are considered.Advantages and drawbacks of the Nmin method and EUF method are discussed.     

Molten salts/ceramic-foam matrix composites by melt infiltration method as energy storage material

A new type of high temperature energy storage material was obtained through the melt infiltration method, using compounding SiC ceramic foam as matrix and Na₂SO₄ as phase change material. The resulting composite material was measured by XRD, SEM, TG-DSC methods. The experimental results indicate that the composite is composed of silicon carbide, sodium sulfate and square quartz, and no chemical reactions occurs between Na₂SO₄ and SiC matrix. Na₂SO₄ has a good bonding with the SiC ceramic foam matrix. As the composite material is characterized by high thermal energy storage density and high thermal conductivity, it is suit for energy storage under high temperature. Funded by the “863” Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (2008AA05Z418)     

确定土壤背景值的Hazen概率法——以铜陵矿区Pb为例

本文选取已知土壤背景含量的铜陵矿区,基于Hazen概率曲线,探讨了土壤污染重金属元素Pb背景含量与污染叠加含量的区分方法.得到Pb元素的背景含量为28.5μg/g,与该区深层土壤样中Pb元素含量的平均值(34μg/g)比较接近.还得到了Pb元素污染叠加含量与背景含量的界线点51μg/g.基于Hazen概率曲线区分铜陵矿区土壤Pb元素背景含量与污染叠加含量的方法是有效的,有必要将该方法推广到土壤中其它重金属污染元素、其它地区作进一步研究.     

开封引黄灌区灌溉条件下稻田土壤盐分阈值研究

结合各生育期水稻耐盐度、各处理实际种前初始土壤含盐量和对应生育期最高的土壤含盐量,分析了各灌溉处理条件下的稻田土壤含盐量在水稻各生育期的动态变化规律和允许初始土壤含盐量阈值.结果表明:控制灌溉及控制灌溉加淋洗条件下,各水稻生育期土壤含盐量均有不同程度降低,随着淋洗水量的增加土壤含盐量逐渐降低,并获得了不同灌溉方式下的允许稻田初始土壤含盐量阈值.此结论对实际应用有指导意义.     

沸腾两相流动压力波动信号的特性

研究了竖直管内沸腾两相流动时压力波动信号的特性,对压力波动时间序列进行了标准偏差分析、功率谱密度函数分析、分维数分析、相关维分析及Kolmogorov熵分析,考察了热流密度对压力波动的影响规律.结果表明沸腾两相流动具有非线性混沌特性,且热流密度对各特征参数有不同影响.     

无烟煤熔融盐催化气化反应特性研究

根据煤催化气化原理及熔融盐特性,设计了一套小型熔融盐催化煤气化实验装置。针对无烟煤燃烧特性差的特点,在实验中研究了温度和二氧化碳流量对气化结果的影响,并对影响机理进行分析。