Non-contact ACL injuries : association with clegg soil impact test values for sports fields, soil moisture and prevailing weather

Introduction: There is a recognised relationship between dry weather conditions and increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Previous studies have identified 28 day evaporation as an important weather-based predictor of non-contact ACL injuries in professional Australian Football League matches. The mechanism of non-contact injury to the ACL is believed to increased traction and impact forces between footwear and playing surface. Ground hardness and the amount and quality of grass are factors that would most likely influence this and are inturn, related to the soil moisture content and prevailing weather conditions. This paper explores the relationship between soil moisture content, preceding weather conditions and the Clegg Soil Impact Test (CSIT) which is an internationally recognised standard measure of ground hardness for sports fields. Methodology: The 2.25 kg Clegg Soil Impact Test and a pair of 12 cm soil moisture probes were used to measure ground hardness and percentage moisture content. Five football fields were surveyed at 13 prescribed sites just before seven football matches from October 2008 to January 2009 (an FC Women’s WLeague team). Weather conditions recorded at the nearest weather station were obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology website and total rainfall less evaporation was calculated for 7 and 28 days prior to each match. All non-contact injuries occurring during match play and their location on the field were recorded. Results/conclusions: Ground hardness varied between CSIT 5 and 17 (x10G) (8 is considered a good value for sports fields). Variations within fields were typically greatest in the centre and goal areas. Soil moisture ranged from 3 to 40% with some fields requiring twice the moisture content of others to maintain similar CSIT values. There was a non-linear, negative relationship for ground hardness versus moisture content and a linear relationship with weather (R2, of 0.30 and 0.34, respectively). Three non-contact ACL injuries occurred during the season. Two of these were associated with hard and variable ground conditions.

不同耕作方式对黄土高原旱地麦田土壤物理性状的影响

通过冬小麦田间试验,研究了免耕、深松、翻耕三种不同耕作措施对土壤物理特性的影响。结果表明:冬小麦收获时,免耕与其它处理相比,增大了土壤容重、土壤硬度,其土壤干筛法>0.25 mm团聚体含量比深松和翻耕每层平均增加3%和5%,但较冬小麦耕作处理前每层平均下降5%;免耕条件下,湿筛法>0.25 mm团聚体含量比深松和翻耕每层平均增加11%和32%,较冬小麦耕作处理前每层平均下降42%;免耕可增加土壤蓄水量,收获期土壤蓄水量为373.1 mm,较深松和翻耕提高17%和8%;随着降水量的增加,冬小麦收获期水分入渗速率逐渐减少;且不同耕作方式水分入渗速率为免耕>深松>翻耕。

黑龙江省安达市草地碱化后土壤物理性状变化

调查了安达市盐碱地生物资源环境研究中心试验区羊草Leymus chinensis地土壤物理性状,包括土壤硬度、含水量、饱和导水率、粒径分布、剖面特征和土壤温度等。阐明土地碱化对土壤物理性质的影响,为安达市以及松嫩平原生态环境的修复和土地资源的永续利用提供科学依据。同时,讨论了地下水化学成分和土壤冻融变化对碱化的可能影响,认为在没有植被覆盖的条件下,冻融变化会加剧土壤的碱化程度。

高原鼢鼠的挖掘行为及其与土壤硬度的关系(英文)

Burrowing behaviors of the plateau zokors ( Myospalax bailely) in relation to soil hardness were investigated by using radio2telemetry at Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station ,Qinghai , China. The results showed that there were no differences of burrowing behaviors and the efficiencies of the excavating segment between male and female , except the digging duration of the male was longer than that of the female in the same soil. With increase of soil hardness , digging duration in incisors significantly increased , but dried soil mass dug out by the zokors in each bout reduced. Mean-while the field investigation also showed that soil hardness affected the distribution of the zokor.

Study on regional differences in soil-water characteristics and their relevance to aquaculture productivity and fish disease

A total of 45 ponds used for fish polyculture were investigated in three zones of Bangladesh to identify the differences among the zones in respect to aqua-ecology, culture practices, fish productivity and health management. Four hundred and fifty fish from three zones were clinically examined by naked eye and histopathology. Out of total number of fish examined, 45 fish from Dhaka zones were examined for parasites and bacteria in addition to histopathology. Faded and haemorrhagic gill, skin, fin, scale loss and lesions were observed during fish examination. Aeromonas spp. Pseudomonas spp. and Streptococcus spp. were isolated respectively from 56%, 46% and 39% affected fish. Among the five water quality parameters analyzed, the highest average hardness and alkalinity respectively were recorded in Rajshahi (156 ppm and 142 ppm) followed by Dhaka (146 ppm and 132 ppm) and Chittagong (81 ppm and 90 ppm). The highest average pH was recorded in Mymensingh (7.52) followed by Rajshahi (7.13) and Chittagong (7.05). Water holding capacity of soil in Rajshahi zone was poor compared to other zones and farmers were found to be reluctant to fish farming.

Ball Response and Traction of Skinned Infields Amended with Calcine Clay at Varying Soil Moisture Contents

The skinned portions of baseball and softball infields vary widely with respect to soil texture, applied amendments and conditioners, and water management. No studies have been reported that quantify the effects of these varying construction and maintenance practices on the playability of the skinned portions of infields. In Connecticut, USA, skinned infield plots were constructed from five different soils (silt loam, loam, coarse sandy loam, loamy sand, loamy coarse sand) and amended with four rates of calcined clay (0, 4.9, 9.8, 19.6 kg m–2) to determine the effects on surface hardness, traction, and ball-to-surface friction (static and dynamic) at varying soil moisture contents (10, 14, and 18%). Bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and shear strength of the different soil–calcined clay rate combinations were determined. Increasing the rate of calcined clay decreased bulk density and shear strengths, and increased saturated hydraulic conductivity. Surface hardness increased more with coarse-textured soils and increasing calcined clay rate, but decreased more with fine-textured soils and increasing soil moisture. Increasing the calcined clay rate resulted in decreases in ball-to-surface static friction across all soils and decreased dynamic friction with the fine-textured soils. Increases in soil moisture increased friction in all soils. The fine-textured soils had greater traction than the sandy soils, but no consistent calcined clay or moisture effects on traction were observed. Shear strength of the soils was highly correlated with traction and friction. The results suggest that differences in skinned infield soils are quantifiable, which could lead to the development of playing surface standards.

Raman spectroscopy of some complex arsenate minerals—implications for soil remediation

The application of spectroscopy to the study of contaminants in soils is important. Among the many contaminants is arsenic, which is highly labile and may leach to non-contaminated areas. Minerals of arsenate may form depending upon the availability of specific cations for example calcium and iron. Such minerals include carminite, pharmacosiderite and talmessite. Each of these arsenate minerals can be identified by its characteristic Raman spectrum enabling identification.