Fine root decomposition in forest ecosystems: an ecological perspective

Fine root decomposition is a physio-biochemical activity that is critical to the global carbon cycle (C) in forest ecosystems. It is crucial to investigate the mechanisms and factors that control fine root decomposition in forest ecosystems to understand their system-level carbon balance. This process can be influenced by several abiotic (e.g., mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, site elevation, stand age, salinity, soil pH) and biotic (e.g., microorganism, substrate quality) variables. Comparing decomposition rates within sites reveals positive impacts of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and negative effects of lignin concentration. Nevertheless, estimating the actual fine root breakdown is difficult due to inadequate methods, anthropogenic activities, and the impact of climate change. Herein, we propose that how fine root substrate and soil physiochemical characteristics interact with soil microorganisms to influence fine root decomposition. This review summarized the elements that influence this process, as well as the research methods used to investigate it. There is also need to study the influence of annual and seasonal changes affecting fine root decomposition. This cumulative evidence will provide information on temporal and spatial dynamics of forest ecosystems, and will determine how logging and reforestation affect fine root decomposition

Overturning stability of supported geomembrane tube for flood control

As a kind of rapid filling hydraulic structure, geomembrane tube can effectively act as flood barriers and cofferdams for flood risk management. L-shaped block is used to support geomembrane tube to prevent it from rolling. The contact force between the L-shaped block and the geomembrane tube is analyzed by using particle flow code (PFC2D) software, and the overturning stability of the L-shaped block is calculated. The relationship between the key factors and the overturning stability was established. It is found that the central angle of the L-shaped block has little influence on the overturning stability. The overturning stability decreases with the increase of the initial pumping pressure. Keeping Lw/Lb unchanged, increasing Lb will improve the overturning stability where Lw and Lb are the width and the height of the Lshaped block. Under the ultimate water level, when 1.23 Lbcr < Lw≤1.55 Lbcr, the L-shaped block is in the state of overturning stability where Lbcr is the critical height of the L-shaped block. The initial pumping pressure is less than 0.152γL, the L-shaped block is in the state of overturning stability with Lw/Lbcr =1.0 where L is the cross-sectional perimeter of the geomembrane tube and γ is the unit weight of the filling liquid, on the contrary, Lw/Lbcr must be greater than 1 to ensure its overturning stability