Soil structure changes: aggregate size and soil texture effects on hydraulic conductivity under different saline and sodic conditions

Soil Research ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 688 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ben-Hur ◽  
G. Yolcu ◽  
H. Uysal ◽  
M. Lado ◽  
A. Paz
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Loamy Sand ◽  
Structural Degradation ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Ks Values

Hydraulic conductivity of soil is strongly dependent on soil structure, which can be degraded during wetting and leaching. It was hypothesised that this structural degradation is dependent on initial aggregate size distribution and soil texture. The general aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aggregate sizes and soil textures, and their interactions, on the structural degradation and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of smectitic soils under different saline and sodic conditions. The studied soils were clay and loamy sand soils with low (~4.5) or high (~10) exchangeable sodium percentages (ESP), and with aggregate sizes in the ranges: (i) <1 mm (small aggregates); or (ii) 2–4 mm (large aggregates). The Ks values of the samples in a column after slow or fast pre-wetting were determined by means of a constant head device. Different wetting rates and leaching under various saline and sodic conditions had no effect on the Ks of the loamy sand; however, the Ks values of this soil with large aggregates were an order of magnitude greater than those of the soil with small aggregates. In contrast, in the clay soil with large aggregates, the Ks values after fast pre-wetting were significantly smaller than those after slow pre-wetting, probably because of aggregate slaking. No significant effects of the wetting rates on Ks were found in clay soil with small aggregates. An increase in the ESP in the clay soil decreased the Ks by a factor of 1.5 for the large aggregates and by an order of magnitude for the small aggregates, mainly as a result of increased clay swelling. Leaching the clay soil with deionised water significantly decreased the Ks values, partly because of clay dispersion. Although significant structural degradation of the clay soil occurred during leaching, the Ks values were smaller in the soils with small aggregates than in those with large aggregates, indicating the importance of the initial aggregate size on Ks even in soils that are prone to structural damage.

Persistent improvements in the structure and hydraulic conductivity of a Ferrosol due to liming

Soil Research ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 218 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Kirkham ◽  
B. A. Rowe ◽  
R. B. Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil Penetration Resistance ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability

Changes in the soil structure and hydraulic conductivity of an Acidic Red Ferrosol were measured in a long-term (1968–2003) fertiliser experiment on pasture in north-western Tasmania, Australia. Studies were initiated following observations of both softer soil surface and cracking on plots that had received 15 t/ha of ground agricultural limestone. Liming decreased penetration resistance and increased hydraulic conductivity. These structural improvements were associated with increased mean dry aggregate size, a small increase in wet aggregate stability, higher exchangeable calcium levels, and increased plant growth, but a 9% decrease in total soil organic carbon in the surface 50 mm. This decrease in organic carbon was not associated with deterioration in soil structure, as may have been anticipated. This was probably because total organic C was still 82 g/kg on unlimed plots. Decreases in soil penetration resistance due to liming increased the likelihood of pugging from livestock but may improve ease of tillage. This research demonstrates that liming can improve the structure of a well-aggregated Ferrosol as well as its previously reported effects of increasing soil pH and yields of pasture and barley despite decreasing organic C.

An assessment of the single-head analysis for the constant head well permeameter

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Reynolds ◽  
G. C. Topp ◽  
S. R. Vieira
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Field Method ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
Constant Head ◽  
The Many

An in-situ constant head well permeameter (CHWP) method employing three or more ponded heads per well was used to establish relationships between field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs), matric flux potential [Formula: see text], the alpha parameter (α*), soil texture, and soil structure. The relationships were then used to evaluate a single-head CHWP technique which employs representative mean α* values in the determination of Kfs and [Formula: see text]. The measurements were made at several depths on four soils which ranged in texture from loamy sand to silty clay, and in structure from single grain to strong, fine subangular blocky. The Kfs and [Formula: see text] results obtained from the multiple-head CHWP measurements were found to be highly variable within and between soils, yielding within-soil ranges as high as 3.5 orders of magnitude and standard deviation factors (SDF) as high as 5.1. The geometric mean (GM) Kfs and [Formula: see text] values were also highly variable between soils, but they were controlled primarily by soil structure rather than by soil texture or other factors. The α* values, on the other hand, were relatively consistent both within and between soils, yielding an overall SDF of only 1.2 and an overall GM of 11 m−1. Use of α* = 11 m−1 in the single-head CHWP technique yielded Kfs and [Formula: see text] values which were usually accurate to within a factor of 2, and often accurate to within ±25%. These levels of accuracy are within acceptable limits for a field method, considering the many potential sources of error and the extreme range and variability of Kfs and [Formula: see text] normally encountered in the field. Key words: Constant head well permeameter, hydraulic conductivity, matric flux potential, alpha parameter, soil texture, soil structure, single-head analysis

ALTERATIONS OF SOIL STRUCTURE UPON FREEZING AND THAWING AND SUBSEQUENT DRYING

1968 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Hinman ◽  
Frederick Bisal
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Soil Aggregates ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Freezing And Thawing ◽  
Initial Size ◽  
Freeze Dried

A laboratory investigation of a clay soil indicated that the percentage of aggregates < 1 mm in diameter might be increased, decreased or unaffected by freezing and thawing depending on the initial moisture content, the initial size of soil aggregates and the method of drying the sample. Little or no changes in aggregate size occurred if the initial moisture content was at 15 atmospheres. At 0.1 atm, aggregates which were initially coarse (> 4 mm) tended to break down slightly when exposed to alternate freezing and thawing followed by air-drying at room temperature. On the other hand, a substantial decrease in aggregates < 1 mm in diameter occurred when aggregates which were originally fine received the same sequence of treatments. However, if the samples were freeze-dried following the same treatments, all aggregates were reduced to < 1 mm in diameter. Similar trends were established with samples which were continuously frozen and when the initial moisture content was at 0.33 atm, although the magnitude of the change was much smaller. It is proposed that forces engendered during freezing disrupt aggregates, but this process is reversed during thawing and drying at room temperatures.

Unsaturated water transmission characteristics of soils in relation to texture, aggregate size and initial moisture content

1989 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-204
Author(s):  
M. C. Mundra ◽  
Raj Pal ◽  
R. S. Siyag ◽  
S. R. Poonia
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Loamy Sand ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Water Diffusivity ◽  
Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Water Transmission

SummaryTo study the effect of soil texture, aggregate size and initial moisture content on soil water diffusivity, D(θ), and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, K(θ), horizontal absorption experiments were conducted on samples of loamy sand, sandy loam and clay–loam soils as well as on artificially prepared water-stable aggregates of a clay–loam sample (sizes 0.·25–0–25, 0·25–0·5, 0·5–1, 1–2, and 2–4 mm). For comparable moisture contents, D(θ) followed the order loamy sand > sandy loam > clay–loam. The effect of initial moisture content on D(θ) varied with soil texture. K(θ), which was evaluated using D(θ) for air-dry initial moisture content and the slopes of the water retention curves, also varied with soil texture.The D(θ) function for air-dry initial moisture content increased with the decrease in aggregate size, the increase being more pronounced below a size of 1 mm. Values of D(θ) obtained from initially airdry soil and at 10% of saturation moisture content did not differ greatly from one another. The K(θ) function was almost the same for aggregate sizes 1–2 and 2–4 mm. In the size ranges of < 1 mm, K(θ) increased with the decrease in aggregate size. The particle/aggregate size range of 0·1–0·5 mm was the most conducive to unsaturated water flow.

EFFECTS OF CROPPING ON MACRO-AGGREGATION OF A MARINE CLAY SOIL

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 723-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. ANGERS ◽  
G. R. MEHUYS
Keyword(s):  
Soil Structure ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Growth Chamber ◽  
Marine Clay ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Field and growth chamber experiments were conducted to evaluate the short-term effects of selected crops on macro-aggregation of a Kamouraska clay soil. Under field conditions, the growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) for up to 2 yr resulted in increased macro-aggregate size and stability compared to a fallow control and to initial conditions. Under these two crops, the proportion of water-stable aggregates of the 2- to 6-mm fraction increased from 25% in May 1986 to 40% in September 1987 at the expense of the 0.25- to 1.0-mm fraction which decreased from 37% to 19% over the same period. Macro-aggregation after 2 yr was not different in corn (Zea mays L.) and fallow control. Seasonal variations in aggregate stability were significant but small and less important than the effects of cropping treatments. Results of the growth chamber experiment agreed with those obtained under field conditions suggesting that controlled environment experiments can be used to model cropping effects on the aggregation of this soil. Key words: Aggregation, soil structure, clay soil, corn, barley, alfalfa

Crop rotation effects on soil carbon and physical fertility of two Australian soils

Soil Research ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelly Blair ◽  
G. J. Crocker
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Labile Carbon ◽  
Red Clay ◽  
Carbon Fractions ◽  
Rotation Crops

The effect of using different crop rotations, including legumes and fallows, on soil structural stability, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, and the concentration of different carbon fractions was examined in a long-term rotation trial established in 1966 on a Black Earth (Pellic Vertisol) and a Red Clay (Chromic Vertisol) soil. There was a large decrease in the concentration of soil carbon fractions following cropping and cultivation on both soils. The inclusion of some legume rotation crops resulted in an increase in labile carbon concentrations compared with continuous wheat or a long fallow treatment. Aggregate stability to wetting under both immersion and tension wetting was reduced as a result of cropping and cultivation for both soil types. However, there was an improvement in aggregate stability with immersion wetting, on the Red Clay soil, for the lucerne (Medicago sativa), clover (Trifolium subterraneum), and continuous wheat (Triticum aestivium) treatments compared with the long fallow. Similar results were found for the Black Earth soil; however, on this soil the medic (Medicago scutella) rotation also showed an improvement in soil structure. On the Red Clay soil there was a decrease in hydraulic conductivity (K) with cropping, at all tensions measured. K for the Black Earth soil was higher at 30 and 40 mm tension on the cropped soil than on the uncropped reference soil, but at 10 mm tension the reference soil had a higher K value than all rotations except the lucerne. There was a significant correlation between labile carbon and all determinations of aggregate stability for the Red Clay soil. Farmers should be encouraged to eliminate long fallowing and to adopt no-till techniques combined with the return of residues from either the primary crop or rotation crops which have a slower breakdown rate, as this management is likely to have a better potential for increasing soil carbon content and improving soil structure. The investigation of ways to better increase the quantity and quality of soil organic matter and hence soil chemical and physical fertility is necessary if long-term sustainable agriculture is to be possible.

scholarly journals Saturated hydraulic conductance of forest soils affected by track harvesters

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 321-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Rejšek ◽  
P. Holčíková ◽  
V. Kuráž ◽  
A. Kučera ◽  
P. Dundek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Soil Mechanics ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Study Plot ◽  
Specific Objective ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Guelph Permeameter ◽  
The Impact

The exact data from the field of soil mechanics from specific forest stands exposed to forestry mechanization operation were obtained. Field surveys were performed on four study plots within the Křtiny Training Forest Enterprise, Masaryk Forest, followed by laboratory analyses of the collected soil samples aimed at evaluation of the impacts of Zetor 7245 Horal System, PONSSE ERGO 16 harvester and Gremo 950 forwarder on the compaction of upper soil horizons as well as on the dynamics of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity. A specific objective of the performed investigation was to assess the influence of the used hauling/skidding technology on measurable parameters of soil mechanics with the emphasis on a possibility to apply the Guelph permeameter for direct study of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity. In the measurement points affected by machinery operation, the impact of the changed soil structure on the values of saturated conductivity is very well noticeable &ndash; on study plots No. 3 and 4, the values decreased by one order of magnitude from 0.7 &times; 10<sup>&ndash;5</sup> m&middot;s&ndash;1 to 0.09 &times; 10&ndash;5 m&middot;s<sup>&ndash;1</sup>: specifically, (i) on study plot No. 3 and from 6.9 &times; 10&ndash;5 m&middot;s&ndash;1 to 0.7 &times; 10&ndash;5 m&middot;s&ndash;1, and (ii) on study plot No. 4; on study plot No. 2 even by two orders, i.e. from 1.6 &times; 10&ndash;5 m&middot;s&ndash;1 up to 0.03 &times; 10&ndash;5 m&middot;s&ndash;1. After the operation of a universal wheeled tractor at the Babice nad Svitavou locality, the situation partially improved by one order to 0.3 &times; 10&ndash;5 m&middot;s&ndash;1, similarly like at the Rudice locality to 1.5 &times; 10&ndash;5 m&middot;s&ndash;1. Significant changes were found in both surface and subsurface horizons. Field-saturated hydraulic conductivity indicates also a reduction of the pore volume after machinery traffic; however, tendencies towards restoration of the original state were detectable as soon as after six months. &nbsp;

Assessment of clogging in constructed wetlands by saturated hydraulic conductivity measurements

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 314-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Licciardello ◽  
R. Aiello ◽  
V. Alagna ◽  
M. Iovino ◽  
D. Ventura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Laboratory Scale ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Conductivity Measurements ◽  
Multiple Spatial Scales ◽  
Ks Values

Abstract This study aims at defining a methodology to evaluate Ks reductions of gravel material constituting constructed wetland (CW) bed matrices. Several schemes and equations for the Lefranc's test were compared by using different gravel sizes and at multiple spatial scales. The falling-head test method was implemented by using two steel permeameters: one impervious (IMP) and one pervious (P) on one side. At laboratory scale, mean K values for a small size gravel (8–15 × 10−2 m) measured by the IMP and the P permeameters were equal to 19,466 m/d and 30,662 m/d, respectively. Mean Ks values for a big size gravel (10–25 × 10−2 m) measured by the IMP and the P permeameters were equal to 12,135 m/d and 20,866 m/d, respectively. Comparison of Ks values obtained by the two permeameters at laboratory scale as well as a sensitivity analysis and a calibration, lead to the modification of the standpipe equation, to evaluate also the temporal variation of the horizontal Ks. In particular, both permeameters allow the evaluation of the Ks decreasing after 4 years-operation and 1–1.5 years' operation of the plants at full scale (filled with the small size gravel) and at pilot scale (filled with the big size gravel), respectively.

scholarly journals Soil Texture Alters the Impact of Salinity on Carbon Mineralization

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Ruihuan She ◽  
Yongxiang Yu ◽  
Chaorong Ge ◽  
Huaiying Yao
Keyword(s):  
Soil Texture ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
C Mineralization ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Silty Clay Soil

Soil salinization typically inhibits the ability of decomposer organisms to utilize soil organic matter, and an increase in soil clay content can mediate the negative effect of salinity on carbon (C) mineralization. However, the interactive effects of soil salt concentrations and properties on C mineralization remain uncertain. In this study, a laboratory experiment was performed to investigate the interactive effects of soil salt content (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 1.0%) and texture (sandy loam, sandy clay loam and silty clay soil with 6.0%, 23.9% and 40.6% clay content, respectively) on C mineralization and microbial community composition after cotton straw addition. With increasing soil salinity, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the three soils decreased, but the effect of soil salinity on the decomposition of soil organic carbon varied with soil texture. Cumulative CO2 emissions in the coarse-textured (sandy loam and sandy clay loam) soils were more affected by salinity than those in the fine-textured (silty clay) soil. This difference was probably due to the differing responses of labile and resistant organic compounds to salinity across different soil texture. Increased salinity decreased the decomposition of the stable C pool in the coarse-textured soil, by reducing the proportion of fungi to bacteria, whereas it decreased the mineralization of the active C pool in the fine-textured soil through decreasing the Gram-positive bacterial population. Overall, our results suggest that soil texture controlled the negative effect of salinity on C mineralization through regulating the soil microbial community composition.

scholarly journals A framework for quantifying hydrologic effects of soil structure across scales

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Bonetti ◽  
Zhongwang Wei ◽  
Dani Or
Keyword(s):  
Soil Texture ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Pedotransfer Functions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Spatial Correlations ◽  
Surface Parameterization ◽  
Exchange Processes ◽  
Local Soil ◽  
Spatially Distributed

AbstractEarth system models use soil information to parameterize hard-to-measure soil hydraulic properties based on pedotransfer functions. However, current parameterizations rely on sample-scale information which often does not account for biologically-promoted soil structure and heterogeneities in natural landscapes, which may significantly alter infiltration-runoff and other exchange processes at larger scales. Here we propose a systematic framework to incorporate soil structure corrections into pedotransfer functions, informed by remote-sensing vegetation metrics and local soil texture, and use numerical simulations to investigate their effects on spatially distributed and areal averaged infiltration-runoff partitioning. We demonstrate that small scale soil structure features prominently alter the hydrologic response emerging at larger scales and that upscaled parameterizations must consider spatial correlations between vegetation and soil texture. The proposed framework allows the incorporation of hydrological effects of soil structure with appropriate scale considerations into contemporary pedotransfer functions used for land surface parameterization.

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