What determines pH of biochars?

Most biochars have alkaline pH (above 8). That could be explained by Ca, Mg, K oxides released during the charring process (pyrolysis). Yet, some biochars have acidic pH (less than 6). What may be...

05 June 2018 2,324 5 View

How to correct subsoil acidity for perennial crops?

Soil acidity is often characterized by high Al/Mn and low Ca/Mg. Dolomite or calcite (i.e., agricultural lime) can be used to mix with the surface soil and correct its acidity. But for tree crops,...

04 May 2018 2,136 0 View

Where does positive charge on biochar come from?

It has been reported that biochars can retain anions, such as nitrate and phosphate. Specific adsorption could explain P retention, but positive charge must be present to electrostatically retain...

01 February 2018 6,146 1 View

Are there minimum numbers of variables and observations in Principal Component Analysis (PCA)?

It is understood that PCA can be used to combine/reduce rather large numbers of related variables into a few independent (orthogonal) factors for statistical analysis and interpretation. Yet, are...

07 August 2017 2,424 1 View

Can I use a pressure cooker to sterilize soils? If yes, what precautions should I take?

I need to sterilize about 100 kg soil for a greenhouse experiment. Knowing that methyl bromide has been banned and sodium azide or toluene is not appropriate (because I want to study N and C), is...

04 May 2016 326 2 View

How to separate abiotic from biotic effects of biochar on soil quality?

We know that biochars have several properties from tiny pores that can retain water and protect microorganisms to surface functional groups (e.g., COOH, OH, C=O, etc) that can retain plant...

04 May 2016 4,806 4 View

How can we match biochars -- as soil amendments -- with soil conditions?

Since different biochars have different properties, what kind of biochars should be used as a soil amendment for nutrient-poor, acidic tropical soils? The goal is to improve soil productivity and...

04 May 2016 669 4 View

What is the effective way to measure the real cation exchange capacity (CEC) of biochars?

Biochars are thought of as 'inert' carbon materials, yet their reported CEC are relative high (over 20 centimole of charge per kg). Are these values correct? or the methods of measurement are not...

09 October 2015 2,068 6 View

How to control eutrophication?

Eutrophication is a serious problem in many water ways from China to the US gulf coast. It is believed to be caused by high P and N from erosion and run-off. Are there any good ways to control it?

04 May 2015 5,857 2 View

How valuable is h-index?

h-index is sometimes listed as a measure of research/citation (quality). How meaningful is it? and what is the expected h-index of a newly-hired assistant professor?

02 March 2015 4,473 7 View

After a reference from Int J Body Compos Res, can any body help?

Hi, I am after the reference below, my library says it cannot obtain a copy either locally or internationally, any help appreciated! Chris Wang ZM, Heshka S, Wielopolski L, Pi-Sunyer FX, Pierson...

03 March 2021 6,193 1 View

Can we block unwanted images during the x-ray prediction?

i am try to classify the x-ray images. During classification , can i block unwanted images (except x-ray image).

03 March 2021 7,100 1 View

What is the production process of CaFe ferroalloys?

I looking for ferro calcium production process

03 March 2021 1,755 4 View

12% ledeburitic cold work tool steel, etched for revealing retained austenite, any help for clarifying?

Hello everyone. Given microstructure image belongs to a 12% ledeburitic cold work tool steel (annealed and tempered). The sample was etched with picral (100 mL ethanol and 4 g picric acid). I...

02 March 2021 4,119 3 View

Why Austenite grains in steel show much more twinning than ferrite grains?

It is oftentimes said to be a distinctive metallographic trait that differentiates a fully austenitic and a fully felly ferritic steel without etching that might distinguish between two. Why...

02 March 2021 728 2 View

Does anyone know to clarify these changes?

01 March 2021 1,290 2 View

How to calculate the crystallinity of cellulose film?

27 February 2021 2,753 4 View

What could be the reason for not having further low chi square value (better agreement) in my refinement result?

I have tried every combination of parameter changes and after that i have a poor chi square value. I can't get it lower any further. I know there have been a lot of discussion about Rietveld...

26 February 2021 8,480 3 View

Can anyone share his experience regards Smoothing in origin?

I am working on TiO2 composite material and the results of XRD have a lot of small/junk peaks and while I apply a smooth filter in Origin then the other characteristics peaks disappear so anyone...

26 February 2021 8,183 3 View

How to replicate the well conditions of a crystal hit with 20%(w/v) isopropanol?

I had a crystal hit in a well with 0.1M HEPEs pH 7.5, 10%(w/v) PEG 4000, and 20%(w/v) isopropanol. Why is isopropanol in w/v here if it's just solvent? How do I recreate this well condition?

25 February 2021 9,761 1 View