Surface Shear Resistance of Dust Hotspot Soils on a Small Scale in Southwestern Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Soil Science, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources university of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

This research was conducted to quantify the direct and indirect effects of surface shear resistance (SSR) on dust hotspot soils in the southeast of Ahvaz city, Khuzestan, Iran. For this purpose, we measured certain parameters, including the mean weight diameter (MWD) of dry aggregates, particle size distribution (PSD), permanent wilting point percentage, soil moisture percentage, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), organic matter, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and soil electrical conductivity (EC). SSR was measured in 100 different locations of the field conditions using the modified shear device (MSD), specifically designed and manufactured to perform this project. The effects of soil properties on SSR were investigated employing path analysis and multi-linear regression approaches. SSR values (0.32-0.98 kPa) in the dust hotspot soils indicated that these soils are highly susceptible to wind erosion and have a high variability (4.26%). The best regression pedotransfer model accounted for 42% of SSR variations by soil estimating parameters. MWD and CaCO3 were identified as the most sensitive parameters in SSR estimation in the dust hotspot soils in southwestern Iran. MWD and CaCO3 (via PSD) showed the highest direct and indirect effects on SSR, respectively. In general, SAR on SSR represented no significant effects in this region due to high EC values.

Keywords


References 
 
Abbasi HR. 2021. Physico-chmecial propertis of soils in khuzestan dust sources, technical report no.,       Research Institute Forests and Rangelands, Iran, p. 84. (In Persian) 
DESERT2022, 27(1): 81-95                                                                                                                                                    92   
 
DESERT2022, 27(1): 81-95                                                                                                                                                    93   
Abdoli S, Khalilimoghadam B, Rahnama M, Soleimani M. 2017. Comparison of different mass       transport equations for wind erosion quantification purposes in southwest Iran: A wind tunnel study.       Desert, 22: 197-208. (In Persian) Al Qabany A, Soga K. 2013. Effect of chemical treatment used in MICP on engineering properties of       cemented soils. Géotechnique, 63:331.  Arthur E, Schjønning P, Moldrup P, Tuller M, de Jonge LW. 2013. Density and permeability of a loess       soil: long-term organic matter effect and the response to compressive stress. Geoderma, 193: 236–      245. Baumgartl T, Horn R. 1991. Effect of aggregate stability on soil compaction. Soil & Tillage Research, 19: 203–213.Chou CW, Seagren EA, Aydilek AH, Lai M. 2011. Biocalcification of sand through ureolysis. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 137: 1179–1189.  Chu J, Stabnikov V, Ivanov V. 2012. Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation on surface or       in the bulk of soil. Geomicrobiology, 29: 544–549. Ekwue EI. 1990. Organic-matter effects on soil strength properties. Soil & Tillage Research 16, 289– 297. Farahani SS, Asoodar MA, Khalilimoghadam B. 2020. Short-term impacts of biochar, tillage practices,  and irrigation systems on nitrate and phosphorus concentrations in subsurface drainage water. Environmental Science and Pollution Research,  27: 761-771. Ferreira F, Vieira C, Lopes MDL. 2015. Direct shear behaviour of residual soil-geosynthetic       interfaces—influence of soil moisture content, soil density and geosynthetic type. Geosynthetics International,  22: 257–272.  Gee GW, Bauder JW. 1986. Particle Size Analysis. In: Klute, A. (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis: Part       1Agronomy Handbook No 9. American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America,       Madison, WI, pp. 383–411. Havaee S, Mosaddeghi MR, Ayoubi S. 2015. In situ surface shear strength as affected by soil       characteristics and land use in calcareous soils of central Iran. Geoderma, 237:137–148. Horn R, Fleige H. 2003. A method for assessing the impact of load on mechanical      stability and on physical properties of soils. Soil & Tillage Research, 73: 89–99. Institute Research of Forests and Rangelands, 2017. Report of Southeastern Ahwaz Dusty Hotspot,       Phase I: Executive study plan for dealing with dust phenomenon in internal hotspots of Khuzestan.       372 p. (In Persian) Karami E, Ghorbani Dashtaki S, Khalilimoghadam B. 2018. Effects of land management on soil       erodibility-A case study in part of Zayandeh-Rood watershed. Journal of Agricultural Engineering       40: 105-119. (In Persian) Khaboushan EA, Emami H, Mosaddeghi MR, Astaraei AR. 2018. Estimation of unsaturated shear       strength parameters using easily-available soil properties. Soil & Tillage Research, 184: 118-127. Khalilimoghadam B, Bagheri Bodaghabadi M. 2020. Factors influencing the relative recovery rate of       dunes fixed under different sand-fixing measures in southwest Iran. Catena, 194: 104706. Khalilimoghadam B,  AtaollahSiadat S, Yusefi A, Negaresh K. Atmospheric particle adsorption rates of plants in an industrial city of southwest Iran, Aeolian Research, 53: 100752. Knapen A, Poesen J, Govers G, Gyssels G, Nachtergaele J. 2007. Resistance of soils to concentrated       flow erosion: a review. Earth science review, 80: 75–109. Li F, Zhang H, Zhang TH, Shirato Y. 2003. Variation of sand transporation rates in sandy grasslands a       long a desertification gradient in northern China. Catena, 53: 255-272. Luk SH, Hamilton H. 1986. Experimental effects of antecedent moisture and soil strength on rainwash       erosion of two Ontario luvisols. Geoderma, 37: 29–43. Mahmoodabadi M, Dehghani F, Azimzadeh HR. 2011. Effect of soil particle size distribution on wind       erosion rate. Journal of soil management and sustainable production, 1:81-98. (In Persian) Mirmoozen M, Nikokar M, Arabani M. 2013. Determination of soil shear strength parameters of       stabilized soil with lime in three-axis and non-compressive experiments. Iran's first national       conference on geotechnical engineering, Tehran, Iran. Mosaddeghi MR, Hajabbasi MA, Khademi H. 2006. Tensile strength of sand, palygorskite, and calcium       carbonate mixtures and interpretation with the effective stress theory. Geoderma, 134:160–170. 
94  Khalilimoghadam et al. 
 
 
Mortensen B, Haber M, DeJong J, Caslake L, Nelson D. 2011. Effects of environmental factors on      microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 111: 338–349.  Nelson DW, Sommers LP. 1986. Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: Page, A.L. (Ed.),       Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 2: Agronomy Handbook No 9, American Society of Agronomy and       Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, pp. 539–579. Nelson RE. 1982. Carbonate and gypsum. In: Page, A.L. (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis: Part I:       Agronomy Handbook No 9, American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America,       Madison, WI, pp. 181–197. Nikookar M, Arabani M, Mirmoa'zen SM, Pashaki MK. 2016. Experimental Evaluation of the Strength of Peat Stabilized with Hydrated Lime. Periodica Polytechnica Civil Engineering, 60(4): 491502.  Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR. (Eds.). Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Chemical and       Microbiological Properties. 2nd ed. Agron. Monogr. No. 9. ASA/SSSA, Washington, Madison, WI. Poornazari N, Khalilimoghadam B, Hazbavi Z, Bagheri Bodaghabadi M. 2021. Land degradation assessment in the dust hotspot of southeastern Ahvaz, Iran. Land Degradation Development , 32: 896913. Doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3748. Qajar A, Hemmat A. 2014. Effect of salinity on soil shear strength and its parameters. First National       Conference on Sustainable Land and Environmental Resource Management. Kerman, Iran. Rachman A, Anderson SH, Gantzer CJ, Thompson AL. 2003. Influence of long term cropping systems       on soil physical properties related to soil erodibility. Soil Science Society of America Journal,  67: 637–644.  Romkens MJM, Wang JY. 1986. Effect of tillage on surface roughness. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 29: 429–433.  Rougoor CW, Dijkhuizen AA, Huirne RBM, Mandersloot F, Schukken YH. 1997. Relationships       between technical, economic and environmental results on dairy farms: an explanatory study. Livestock Production Science, 4:235–244.  Sadek MA, Chen Y, Liu J. 2011. Simulating shear behavior of a sandy soil under different soil       conditions. Journal of Terramechanics, 48: 451–458.  Saeedavi Z, Khalilimoghadam B, Bagheri Bodaghabadi M, Rangzan N. 2017. Land suitability assessment for urban green space using AHP and GIS: A case study of Ahvaz parks, Iran. Desert,  22:117-133. Sharma B, Bora PK. 2003. Plastic limit, liquid limit and undrained shear strength of soil—reappraisal.       Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 129:774–777.  Soane B. 1990. The role of organic matter in soil compactibility: a review of some practical aspects.  Soil & Tillage Research, 16: 179–201. Soil Survey Staff. 2006. Keys to Soil Taxonomy. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources       Conservation Service. Six J, Guggenberger G, Paustian K, Haumaier L, Elliott ET, Zech W. 2001. Sources and composition       of soil organic matter fractions between and within soil aggregates. Europ. Journal of Soil Science, 52: 607-618. Torri D, Santi E, Marignani M, Rossi M, Borselli L, Maccherini S. 2013. The recurring cycles of       biancana badlands: erosion, vegetation and human impact. Catena, 106: 22–30. Wójciga A, Bolte K. Horn R, Stêpniewski W. Bajuk E. 2009. Surface shear resistance of soils on the       micro- to meso-scale. International Agrophysics, 23: 391–398.World soil resources reports. 2006. World Reference Base for Soil Resources. Food and Agriculture       Organization of the United Nations, Rome. Yusefi A, Farrokhian Firouzi A, Khalilimoghaddam B. 2013. Evaluation of temporal variation of splash erosion in different slopes and agricultural and forest land uses. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 3(3): 11-20 (in Persian) 
DESERT2022, 27(1): 81-95                                                                                                                                                    93   
Zhang C, Wang X, Zou X, Tian J, Liu B, Li J, Kang L, Chen H, Wu Y. 2018. Estimation of surface       shear strength of undisturbed soils in the eastern part of northern China’s wind erosion area. Soil & Tillage Research, 178:1–10. Zhang B, Zhao QG, Horn R, Baumgartl T. 2001. Shear strength of soil surface as affected by soil bulk       density and soil water content. Soil & Tillage Research, 59: 97-106. Zydroń T, Zaleski T, Janik D. 2016. Influence of moisture content and shearing rate on shear strength      of silty soils from the neighbourhood of Kotlina Sądecka. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Formatio Circumiectus, 15: 165–177.