土壤原始颗粒对不同破碎机制下团聚体稳定性的影响

土壤团聚体是土壤结构的基本单元,其稳定性是描述土壤抵抗外力破坏作用的重要指标。目前常用的团聚体测定方法很少考虑到土壤原始颗粒对其不同破碎机制下稳定性的影响。以两种不同质地团聚体特征差异明显的壤质砂土和砂质黏壤土为研究对象,对土壤全样进行快速湿润(FW)、预湿润后震荡(WS)以及慢速湿润(SW)三种处理方式预处理以研究团聚体不同破碎机制,同时考虑将各粒级团聚体中的土壤原始颗粒剥离出来,消除土壤原始颗粒对各粒级团聚体含量结果的影响,研究土壤原始颗粒对不同破碎机制下团聚体稳定性的影响。结果表明:两种土壤在不同处理方式下,各粒级土壤含量存在较大差异,砂质黏壤土在三种处理模式下平均质量直径(MWD)均显著大于壤质砂土,两种土壤MWD均呈现MWD_(fw)MWD_(ws)MWD_(sw)的大小顺序,两种土壤团聚体破坏均是团聚体快速湿润时孔隙内部封闭的空气压力作用为主,其次是机械扰动作用,黏粒膨胀作用影响最小。土壤原始颗粒对各粒级团聚体的影响程度受到土壤类型和破碎机制影响,土壤原始颗粒对壤质砂土影响较大,对砂质黏壤土的影响相对较小。分散前的团聚体(0.05 mm)占总土壤的百分比(AR)值难以正确反映土壤团聚体稳定性,消除土壤原始颗粒影响后,AR能够较好体现土壤团聚体稳定性。消除土壤原始颗粒影响前后的AR比值表明土壤原始颗粒对壤质砂土的影响远远大于对砂质黏壤土的影响。     

沟头高度和土壤质地对细沟溯源侵蚀特征和形态发育的影响

沟头溯源侵蚀是黄土高原主要的侵蚀方式之一。为研究细沟沟头高度和土壤质地对侵蚀产沙、沟头溯源侵蚀过程及沟道形态发育的影响,该研究采用不同沟头高度的沟头,在室内进行了一系列冲刷试验(流量为2、4和6 L/min)。结果表明:1)随着沟头高度的增加,产沙率增加,土壤流失过程的波动程度也增加,且越易被侵蚀;2)对比不同土壤质地,总体上,壤质砂土的产沙率和溯源侵蚀速率大于粉砂质壤土。当沟头高度为15 cm、流量为6 L/min时,壤质砂土的沟头溯源侵蚀速率最大,为19.45 cm/min;3)粉砂质壤土土壤下切深度较深,更易发生下切侵蚀,壤质砂土土壤沟道横截面宽深比最大值是粉砂质壤土土壤的3倍多,且沟头溯源侵蚀累积距离为75cm时沟道横截面宽深比值较小,更易发生侧向侵蚀;4)4个细沟形态地形子参数(起伏度、粗糙度、切割深度和坡度)与产沙量有较好的线性线相关关系(R2≥0.48),沟头侵蚀下的微地形可以在一定程度上反映产沙量的大小,进而估算产沙量。研究结果可为黄土高原细沟侵蚀下的水土保持措施提供参考依据。     

一维马尔可夫链模拟黑河中游流域土壤质地垂向变异

黑河中游地区土壤剖面砂、黏层次相间排列的特点及部分区域剖面中出现的不透水层对土壤中的水分运动和溶质迁移具有重要影响。该研究调查了黑河中游100km2区域内土壤剖面的质地分层情况,运用一维嵌入马尔可夫链模型模拟该地区的土壤质地剖面。研究表明,研究区土壤剖面共出现砂土、壤质砂土、砂质壤土、壤土、黏质壤土、粉黏壤土和粉黏土7种质地类型,层次厚度呈对数正态分布。粉黏土未在表层土壤出现,而砂土在表层出现的概率明显高于其余质地类型,剖面某一质地层之下多出现细粒含量比其高的下一质地类型。剖面上相邻两质地层之间的转移具有明显的马尔可夫链特征(简称马氏性),且马氏链是平稳的。一维嵌入马尔可夫链模型能够较好地描述研究区土壤质地层次的垂向变化,剖面主要的质地层次组合为:砂—壤、壤—砂、壤—黏、黏—壤。对土壤质地剖面的定量模拟,可以为开展该区域土壤水循环、转化和溶质迁移等相关研究提供参考。     

滇池流域原位模拟降雨条件下不同土壤质地磷素流失差异研究

在滇池流域的设施大棚和露地两种土地利用类型上,选择粉砂质壤土、粘壤土、砂质粘土、壤质粘土等4种典型土壤质地,应用原位模拟人工降雨设备,对地表径流和渗漏的流失过程以及水中的总磷(TP)、水溶性总磷(DTP)和溶解性正磷酸盐(DRP)的浓度、流失量变化特征进行了研究,模拟降雨量为80 mm,雨强采用40 mm/h以模拟渗漏流失过程和120 mm/h以模拟径流流失过程。结果表明:在不同土壤质地下,壤质粘土在两种流失方式下都极易发生养分流失,而砂质土的径流量和渗漏量较高,养分流失风险增加;壤质粘土的TP流失浓度和流失量高,而砂质土的DTP、DRP流失浓度和流失量高;在两种不同流失方式下,径流比渗漏初始产流时间早,产流历时短;而且径流是磷素流失的主要途径,砂质壤土、粘壤土、壤质粘土(露地)径流水中的TP、DTP、DRP流失浓度和流失量要高于渗漏,但砂质粘土和壤质粘土(大棚)的渗漏流失量较高。在不同土地利用方式下,露地比大棚更易发生径流流失,且土壤磷素流失多以泥砂结合态的PP为主要流失形态,而砂质粘土和壤质粘土(大棚)以水溶性总磷(DTP)为磷素流失的主要流失形态;在本研究区域内,土壤速效磷含量已经高达272.38 mg/kg,远远超过了作物适宜生长的土壤速效磷含量,也超过了土壤磷素淋溶的临界值,因此,滇池流域土壤磷素向下淋溶的趋势对地下水的富营养化造成了巨大威胁。     

地表覆被因子对华北寒旱区土壤抗风蚀力的影响

为了明晰不同类型土壤的抗风蚀力特征与华北寒旱区农田地表覆被因子减降土壤风蚀的效果,采用国家发明专利"土壤风蚀测定装置",通过室内模拟与田间实证研究,分析砂砾、垡片覆被以及耕作措施、残茬存留等地表覆被因子对不同类型农田土壤抗风蚀力的影响。结果表明,砂质栗钙土抗风蚀能力高于壤质草甸栗钙土,在连续吹蚀下地表土壤吹蚀量呈"L"形下降特征;砂砾与垡片覆被可显著增强土壤抗风蚀能力,随覆被度增加土壤吹蚀量呈近线性指数型下降特征。华北寒旱区多年免耕的燕麦留茬农田,地表土壤吹蚀量较传统翻耕田降低70.28%～88.42%,多年免耕的地表砂砾覆被对增强砂质栗钙土农田的抗风蚀力起重要作用;而留茬覆被的粗糙度效应对增强壤质草甸栗钙土农田抗风蚀力更为重要。壤质草甸栗钙土秋耕立垡覆被,较传统翻耕田地表土壤吹蚀量降低92.21%。研究表明,生物性残茬覆被、非生物性砂砾与垡片覆被具有显著提高土壤抗风蚀力效应;在华北寒旱区农田,燕麦留茬免耕覆被可显著降低土壤吹蚀量;对无植被存留条件的壤质草甸栗钙土农田,秋耕立垡覆被同样具有显著提高土壤抗风蚀力效果。     

可溶性有机碳在典型土壤上的吸附行为及机理

定量分析可溶性有机碳(DOC)在不同土壤上的吸附行为可为DOC在不同地区土壤中的去向及污染风险评估提供理论基础。本研究以河南潮土(包括砂质、壤质和黏质3种质地)、江苏黄泥土、江西红黏土和海南砖红壤等典型土壤为吸附介质,采用一次平衡法比较了DOC在不同土壤中的吸附容量及平衡液中DOC的结构变化。结果表明,供试土壤对DOC的吸附可用修正的Langmuir模型拟合。最大吸附量(Q_(max))从高到低依次为红黏土(2 892.67 mg/kg)、砖红壤(1 969.77 mg/kg)、黏质潮土(1 803.03 mg/kg)、黄泥土(1 003.84 mg/kg)、壤质潮土(989.31 mg/kg)和砂质潮土(441.18 mg/kg)。黄泥土的亲和系数(k)最大(2.53×10~(–3)),其次为砖红壤、红黏土和3种潮土。吸附后,除砂质潮土和壤质潮土外,其他土壤平衡液的芳香性均降低。相关性分析表明无定形氧化铝显著影响了Q_(max),而氧化铁的形态(无定形、络合态和低结晶态)决定了k值大小。红黏土、砖红壤和黄泥土更容易吸附DOC中的芳香族成分,主要吸附机制可能为配位体交换;砂质潮土和壤质潮土主要为阳离子架桥,而黏质潮土同时存在这两种吸附机制。     

保水剂粒径与不同质地土壤吸、失水特性的相关关系

通过室内模拟试验,对2种保水剂4个粒径(0.25~0.5mm,0.5~1mm,1~2mm,2~3mm)的吸、失水特性进行测定分析,同时研究2种保水剂4个粒径分别与砂壤土、壤砂土、砂粘壤土混合后吸、失水的变化特性。结果表明:①2种保水剂的4个粒径段中1~2mm粒径的保水剂吸水量和累积蒸发量最大,不同粒径保水剂随着吸水次数的增多吸水量逐渐降低,且粒径越小下降幅度越大;②保水剂与土壤混合后吸水量减小,初次吸水时土壤含水量与保水剂粒径成反比,随着吸水次数的增多3种质地土壤在保水剂作用下土壤含水量大小顺序分别为壤砂土-砂粘壤土-砂壤土(1~2次)、砂粘壤土-壤砂土-砂壤土(3~5次)、砂粘壤土-砂壤土-壤砂土(6~8次);③2种不同粒径保水剂的施用增加了3种质地土壤的累积蒸发量,壤砂土、砂壤土中0.5~1mm粒径的保水剂累积蒸发量最大,砂粘壤土中1~2mm粒径的保水剂累积蒸发量最大,0.25~0.5mm粒径保水剂在3种土壤中累积蒸发量最小。     

中国土壤空间分布的分形与分维

基于分形理论,对中国土壤空间分布的分形性质进行了定量研究,所得结论为:(1)中国土壤空间分形结构特征客观存在,南方水稻土、黄刚土等53类土壤斑块的周长-面积关系客观存在;(2)中国各土壤类型中,寒漠土分维最大,为1.952,灰漠土分维最小,为1.158;寒漠土斑块镶嵌结构最复杂,灰漠土斑块镶嵌结构最简单;(3)随着我国土壤类型从华南→东北→西北的变化,土壤类型空间分布的分维总体增大;在青藏高原区,各土壤分维出现垂直与水平的复合分布,随着地势自东南向西北的逐渐升高,土壤分维总体变大;(4)中国各土壤类型中,寒漠土稳定性指数值最大,为0.452 4,其斑块镶嵌结构稳定性最高,灰褐土斑块镶嵌结构稳定性最低,稳定性指数值为0.001 3;(5)随着我国土壤类型由南向东北的变化,各土壤类型斑块镶嵌结构的稳定性指数总体变小;在青藏高原区,由东南向西北,各土壤类型斑块镶嵌结构的稳定性指数总体变大;(6)就中国土壤类型的空间分布而言,中国土壤类型斑块空间分布的几何属性对其分维大小可能有直接的影响。     

内蒙古农牧交错区农耕地土壤风蚀规律的风洞试验研究

该研究采用室内风洞试验,在不同风速、坡度及土壤含水量条件下,对两种不同质地土壤的风蚀规律进行了研究.研究结果表明,土壤风蚀量随风速的增加而增加,并存在临界风速,当风速大于此临界值时风蚀量急剧增加,但土壤的质地不同,其风蚀量增大的幅度亦不相同;同时两种土壤的风蚀量存在临界坡度,当吹蚀坡度超过此临界值时风蚀量随着坡度的变化又增加变为减少,壤土的临界坡度为20°,砂壤土10°.增加土壤含水量可以显著降低土壤的风蚀量,对于扰动土,壤土和砂壤土均存在一个5%的临界土壤含水量,当土壤含水量大于临界值时,两者的风蚀量随着含水量的增加而减少的程度明显增强,且壤土的风蚀量总体上高于砂壤土.对于未扰动土,壤土和砂壤土的风蚀量随土壤含水量的降低而增加的趋势均不明显,特别是对于壤土,当土壤含水量相同时扰动土的风蚀量明显大于来扰动土的风蚀量,说明减少表层土壤的扰动可以显著抑制土壤风蚀的强度.     

岷江上游干旱河谷土壤粒径分布分形维数特征

具有分形特征是土壤的客观属性之一,为了探讨分形维数与土壤性质之间的关系与影响因素。运用土壤体积粒径分布分维模型计算了岷江上游干旱河谷不同土地利用方式下土壤表层(0～20cm)161个样品的分形维数,分析了分形维数的空间变化特点及其与粒度组成、有机质和土壤养分之间的相关性。土壤粒径分布分形维数可以作为表征土壤结构和性质的重要指标。结果表明:不同土地利用方式下土壤的粒径分布具有不同的分形特征,分形维数在2.5011～2.7825之间,粉壤土>壤土>砂壤土,耕地大于灌林地。土壤颗粒体积分形维数与黏粒(<0.002mm)和粉粒(0.002～0.05mm)的体积百分含量以及土壤全钾含量呈极显著正相关关系,与砂粒(>0.05mm)的体积百分含量呈极显著负相关关系,而与土壤有机质,全氮,全磷,速效磷和速效钾含量的相关性未达到显著水平。研究结果可以为研究区植被恢复和土地利用开发提供一定的依据。     

Nitrogen availability to grain sorghum from organic and inorganic sources on sandy and clayey soil surfaces in a greenhouse pot study

In a greenhouse pot study, we examined the availability of N to grain sorghum from organic and inorganic N sources. The treatments were¹⁵N-labeled clover residues, wheat residues, and fertilizer placed on a sandy clay loam and loamy sand soil surface for an 8-week period. Soil aggregates formed under each soil texture were measured after 8 weeks for each treatment. Significantly greater ¹⁵N was taken up and recovered by grain sorghum in sandy clay loam pots compared with loamy sand pots. Greater ¹⁵N recovery was consistently observed with the inorganic source than the organic sources regardless of soil texture or time. Microbial biomass C and N were significantly greater for sandy clay loam soil compared with the loamy sand. Microbial biomass ¹⁵N was also significantly greater in the sandy clay loam treatment compared to the loamy sand. The fertilizer treatment initially had the greatest pool of microbial biomass ¹⁵N but decreased with time. The crop residue treatments generally had less microbial biomass ¹⁵N with time. The crop residues and soil texture had a significant effect on the water-stable aggregates formed after 8 weeks of treatments. Significantly greater water-stable aggregates were formed in the sandy clay loam than the loamy sand. Approximately 20% greater water-stable aggregates were formed under the crop residue treatments compared to the fertilizer only treatment. Soil texture seemed to be one of the most important factors affecting the availability of N from organic or inorganic N sources in these soils.Contribution from the MissouriAgricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No.12131     

A study of some tillage practices for sustainable crop production in India

Soil tilth has been defined in terms of a ‘Physical Index’ based on the product of the ratings of eight physical properties — soil depth, bulk density, available water storage capacity, cumulative infiltration or apparent hydraulic conductivity, aggregation or organic matter, non-capillary pore space, water table depth and slope. The Physical Index and a tillage guide were used to identify the tillage requirements of different soils varying in texture from loamy sand to clay in the semi-arid tropics. The physical index was 0.389 for a loamy sand, 0.518 for a black clay loam and 0.540 for a red sandy loam soil and the cumulative rating indices in summer and winter seasons were 45 and 44 for loamy sand, 52 and 51 for red sandy loam and 54 and 52 for black clay loam soils, respectively. The compaction of the loamy sand by eight passes of a 490 kg tractor-driven roller (0.75 m diameter and 1.00 m length) increased the physical index to 0.658 and chiselling of the red sandy loam and black clay loam increased the physical indices to 0.686 and 0.729, respectively. The grain yields of rainfed pearl millet and guar and irrigated pearl millet, wheat and barley increased significantly over the control (no compaction) yields by compaction.

The chiselling of the soils varying in texture from loamy sand to clay at 50 to 120-cm intervals up to 30–40 cm depth, depending upon the row spacing of seedlines and depth of the high mechanical impedance layer, increased the grain yields of rainfed and irrigated maize on alluvial loamy sand, rainfed maize on alluvial sandy loam and red sandy loam, rainfed sorghum on red sandy loam and black clay loam, irrigated sorghum on black clay loam and rainfed black gram on red sandy loam, pod yield of rainfed groundnut, tuber yield of irrigated tapioca and fresh fruit yield of rainfed tomato on red sandy loam and sugarcane yield on black clay soil, significantly over the yields of no-chiselling systems of tillage such as disc harrow and country plough.     

Data transformations between soil texture schemes

Various soil texture schemes are in current use. These differ in the size ranges of their particle fractions. There is a need to establish simple methods to correlate these conventional schemes. Therefore I have defined closed-form exponential and power law functions to fit models to cumulative particle-size distribution data. I have tested the functions for their suitability (i) to represent cumulative particle-size distribution curves and (ii) to transfer data between distributions that differ in the size ranges of the particle fractions. I found that closed-form exponential functions adequately represent the cumulative particle-size distributions of fine-textured soils (clay, silty clay, silty clay loam, clay loam, silt loam and loam texture), whilst closed-form power functions better describe the cumulative particle-size distributions of coarse-textured soils (sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, sandy clay and sandy clay loam texture). The functions defined are found to be suitable to transfer data between different texture schemes. The use of this approach is illustrated by examples of data transformations between three widely used soil texture schemes: ISSS, Katschinski's and USDA.     

土壤颗粒的分形特征及其应用

本文应用土壤颗粒的质量分布原理来描述土壤颗粒的分形特征。通过对10种土壤颗粒的机械组成进行分析,分别计算出它们的分形维数（D=2.489～2.896）,并分析了其与土壤质地之间的关系。同时对土壤颗粒分形维数与所对应土壤的幂函数型水分特征曲线的拟合分形维数进行比较分析,建立了二者之间的相关关系。结果表明:分形维数的大小反映了土壤质地中粘粒、粉粒和砂粒含量的变化,随粘粒含量的增多分形维数增大,随砂粒含量的增多分形维数减小;同时土壤颗粒分形维数与所对应的水分特征曲线的拟合分形维数呈现出良好的一致性,因而对所研究的土壤而言,可应用土壤颗粒的质量分形维数结合幂函数模型来估算土壤水分特性曲线。     

Straw incorporation and soil organic matter in macro-aggregates and particle size separates

Two field experiments in which straw has been removed or incorporated for 17 yr (loamy sand) and 10 yr (sandy clay loam) were sampled to examine the effect of straw on the C and N contents in whole soil samples, macro-aggregate fractions and primary particle-size separates. The particle size composition of the aggregate fractions was determined. Aggregates were isolated by dry sieving. Straw incorporation increased the number of 1–20 mm aggregates in the loamy sand but no effect was noted in the sandy clay loam. Straw had no effect on the particle size composition of the various aggregate fractions. After correction for loose sand that accumulated in the aggregate fractions during dry sieving, macro-aggregates appeared to be enriched in clay and silt compared with whole soil samples. Because of the possible detachment of sand particles from the exterior surface of aggregates during sieving operations, it was inferred that the particle size composition of macro-aggregates is similar to that of the bulk soil. The organic matter contents of the aggregate fractions were closely correlated with their clay + silt contents. Differences in the organic matter content of clay isolated from whole soil samples and aggregate fractions were generally small. This was also true for the silt-size separates. In both soils, straw incorporation increased the organic matter content of nearly all clay and silt separates; for silt this was generally twice that observed for clay. The amounts of soil C, derived from straw, left in the loamy sand and sandy clay loam at the time of sampling were 4.4 and 4.5 t ha^?1, corresponding to 12 and 21% of the straw C added. The C/N ratios of the straw-derived soil organic matter were 11 and 12 for the loamy sand and sandy clay loam, respectively.     

土壤紧实度对伴矿景天生长及镉锌吸收性的影响研究

采集黏土、壤黏土和砂质壤土,分别设置无压实、低紧实度及高紧实度3种处理,通过盆栽试验研究了土壤紧实度对Cd、Zn超积累植物伴矿景天生长和Cd、Zn吸收性的影响。结果表明,与无压实处理比较,砂质壤土、壤黏土和黏土中伴矿景天地上部生物量在低紧实度下显著下降66.8%~83.5%、59.9%~60.4%和57.9%~71.4%;高紧实度处理却显著提高了伴矿景天的根系活力(142%~241%)。高紧实度处理显著降低了壤黏土上伴矿景天地上部Cd和Zn含量,但低紧实度对砂质壤土和黏土上伴矿景天地上部Cd和Zn含量无显著影响。与无压实处理比较,低紧实度显著降低了砂质壤土、壤黏土和黏土上伴矿景天的Cd吸取量,分别下降50.4%~73.8%、61.4%~74.9%和43.4%~63.3%,Zn吸取量下降48.7%~79.5%、73.6%~79.0%和46.1%~63.5%;土壤紧实度对壤黏土上伴矿景天的镉锌吸取效率影响最明显。     

沂蒙山区不同母岩发育土壤物理性质

以沂蒙山区小圣堂小流域为研究区,对比分析了酸性岩石和钙质岩石发育土壤的物理性质及其影响因素。结果表明:(1)酸性岩石发育土壤石砾及砂粒含量较高,土壤质地由砂壤质到壤砂质,且随土层深度增加,石砾含量增加。钙质岩石发育土壤粉粒及黏粒含量较高,上下两层的土壤颗粒组成相差不大。受成土母岩影响两种土壤分形维数都很低,且酸性岩石发育土壤的分形维数更低。两种土壤石砾含量均大于10%,为粗骨土。(2)酸性岩石发育土壤的容重较大,总孔隙度和毛管孔隙度较小。两种土壤的容重和毛管孔隙度随土层深度的增加而变大,总孔隙度和非毛管孔隙度则反之。毛管孔隙度大小主要受土壤分形维数的影响。(3)酸性岩石发育土壤的饱和导水率大于钙质岩石发育土壤,酸性岩石发育土壤10—20cm土层的饱和导水率较0—10cm土层大,而钙质岩石发育土壤饱和导水率在不同土层深度呈现不规律的变化。土壤质地是影响沂蒙山区土壤饱和导水率的主导因素,其中,砂粒和粉粒含量的影响尤为明显。     

珠三角滨海小流域土壤水分吸力及特征曲线研究

珠三角地区的中山、珠海等地下覆基岩多是花岗岩,花岗岩风化形成的土壤砾、砂含量高,其土壤水分特征曲线特点鲜明,但相关研究较少。本文以中山大学珠海校区滨海小流域为研究对象,利用马尔文粒径分析仪分析了小流域内的土壤质地,得出小流域内土壤基本属于砂壤土或砂土;在此基础上,根据小流域内实测的土壤含水量、土壤吸力数据,分析了土壤含水量、土壤吸力的变化及其对降雨、蒸发的响应特点。通过对野外实测数据的分析,发现小流域内径流试验场中各个深度土壤水分特征曲线(包括吸水过程和脱水过程)总体上呈"L"型,且含较多细小颗粒土壤的水分特征曲线(脱水过程)在"低含水量、高吸力"区呈现出"反S"型,根据此特点提出用Gauss、Dose res ponse(Bi-dose response)等函数对土壤水分特征曲线进行拟合的方法,并取得了良好的拟合效果。     

The Impact of Agriculture on Soil Texture Due to Wind Erosion

Wind erosion produces textural changes on topsoil of semiarid and arid environments; however, the selection of particles on different textured soils is unclear. Our objectives were to evaluate textural changes induced by wind erosion on cultivated soils of different granulometry and to asses if textural changes produced by wind erosion are linked to aggregation of granulometric particles into different sizes of aggregates formed in contrasting textured soils. Considering this, we studied the particle size distribution (PSD) with full dispersion (PSD_F) of 14 cultivated (CULT) and uncultivated (UNCULT) paired soils and, on selected sites, the PSD with minimum dispersion (PSD_MIN) and the quotient PSD_MIN/F. Results showed that the content of silt plus clay was lower in CULT than in UNCULT in most of the sites. The highest removal of silt was produced in soils with low sand and high silt content; meanwhile, the highest removal of clay was observed in soils with medium sand content. According to PSD_MIN, particles of 250–2,000 μm predominated in the sandy soil, in the loamy soil particles between 50 and 250 μm and in the silty loam soil particles between 2 and 50 μm. For clay sized particles, PSD_MIN/F was lower than 1 in all soils and managements, but this quotient was higher in CULT compared with UNCULT only in the loamy soil. This means a decrease of clay accumulation in aggregates of larger sizes produced by agriculture, which indicates an increase in the risk of removal of these particles by wind in loamy soils. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.