Soil physical quality: Part III: Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and general conclusions about S-theory

The index of soil physical quality, S, which was proposed in Part I and which was applied to the problems of tillage in Part II is applied in Part III to the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of soil. S is equal to the slope of the soil water retention curve at its inflection point. This curve must be plotted as the logarithm (to base e) of the water potential against the gravimetric water content (kg kg⁻¹). It is suggested that S is a measure of the micro-structural porosity of the soil. It is shown through an approximate theory, through simulations and through experimental results that the value of S at the inflection point is related to the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of soil at the inflection point. It is proposed that the inflection point can be used as a “matching point” in studies of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. Pedo-transfer functions are used to explore the predicted effects of soil texture class and bulk density on the values of the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity at the inflection point. The conclusions from this series of three papers are summarized and as a result, it is recommended that S be used as an index of soil physical quality that enables different soils and the effects of different management treatments and conditions to be compared directly. The use of S for prediction of a range of soil physical properties is summarized and is called S-theory.     

Soil physical quality: Part II. Friability, tillage, tilth and hard-setting

The index of soil physical quality, S, which was introduced in Part I is applied to problems of agricultural soil mechanics, especially soil tillage and hard-setting. S is equal to the slope of the water retention curve at its inflection point. The retention curve must be plotted as the logarithm (to base e) of the water potential against the gravimetric water content (kg kg⁻¹). The use of S is illustrated with examples of soils with different friabilities, tillage at different water contents and the aggregate size distribution resulting from tillage. It is shown that friability, and hence the ease of working of the soil, is linearly and positively correlated with S. It is also shown in a short theoretical study that S can be used in a simple equation for estimation of the hard-setting behaviour of soil on drying. In combination with pedo-transfer functions, this enables the hard-setting behaviours of soils of different textures to be predicted and shows how hard-setting may be expected to increase with soil compaction. However, the predictions of hard-setting should be considered as speculative until they have been tested experimentally.     

Prediction of the soil structures produced by tillage

Data are presented for the amount of clods >50 mm produced when five different soils were tilled at a range of different, naturally occurring water contents. The optimum water content for soil tillage is defined as that at which the amount of clods produced is minimum. The amount clods produced at this optimum water content is shown to be linearly and negatively correlated with the value of Dexter's index S of soil physical quality. This results in a rational model for soil tillage that enables predictions to be made for all different soils and conditions. Pedo-transfer functions can be used to estimate the input parameters for the model for cases, for which measured values are not available. It is concluded that for soils with good physical condition (i.e. S > 0.035), no clods >50 mm are produced during tillage.     

祁连山三种主要乔木林细根生物量比较

采用根钻法采集细根,分析了祁连山中段寺大隆林区3种主要乔木植被青海云杉纯林、杨树纯林和祁连圆柏纯林的细根生物量、土壤含水量、土壤容重和土壤养分状况,并在3种森林群落之间进行了比较研究,旨在为该区提高森林生产力和根系碳汇的后续研究提供理论依据。结果表明:研究区内3种乔木植被总细根生物量和活细根生物量之间呈极显著正相关,而细根生物量和土壤水分与土壤容重均呈显著负相关,土壤养分和土壤含水量对细根生物量有着积极的促进作用。3种植被类型的细根生物量都集中分布在20—40 cm土层,而且杨树林分依次是青海云杉林分的154倍、祁连圆柏纯林的308倍;3种植被类型的土壤容重依次为S_d杨 > S_d柏 > S_d杉,且两两之间差异显著;0—10 cm土壤含水量差异显著,青海云杉纯林远高于其他两种乔木植被;另外,3种植被类型土壤中含有的碳、氮含量差异也比较显著。     

Prediction of wetting front stability in dry field soils using soil and precipitation data

A need exists for information regarding the stability of wetting fronts in field soils because they increase the vulnerability for groundwater contamination. In this study, we develop a simple approach for the evaluation of wetting front stability in dry soils. We show that the stability of wetting fronts in the top layer of a soil depends both on the type of soil and the intensity of the precipitation. Our approach distinguishes stability criteria for wetting events that are different for a high, intermediate, and low infiltration rate. At high infiltration rates, wetting fronts are stable if the infiltration rate exceeds or equals the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil. The stability criterion for low infiltration rates (less than approximately 0.2 cm/h for sand soils) is based on two characteristics times[ a gravitational time and an infiltration time. The gravitational time, t_grav, indicates when gravity and capillarity each contribute equally to the process of infiltration. The infiltration time, t_infil, is the duration of the infiltration event. Experimental and literature data show that in well-sorted laboratory sands, wetting fronts are stable when t_infil < 0.002 t_grav. This expression can also be expressed as Wi < 0.002 S² with W the total amount of precipitation, i its intensity, and S the sorptivity at a slightly positive soil-water pressure. For intermediate infiltration rates, wetting fronts remain stable as long as W is smaller than the amount of water needed to wet a distribution layer near the surface. The application of the stability criteria is demonstrated with a case study from the Sevilleta dunes near Socorro, NM.     

Complexed organic matter controls soil physical properties

It is shown that, for mineral soils, it is not the total amount of organic carbon (or organic matter) that controls soil physical behaviour but the amount of complexed organic carbon (COC). We assume that this complex is formed by the association of unit mass (i.e. 1 g) of organic carbon with n grams of clay. Analysis of data from two French and two Polish databases shows that, for these soils, n = 10. A consequence of this is that in soils with small contents of organic carbon (OC), such as arable soils, COC is proportional to OC. However, in soils with large contents of organic carbon, such as pasture soils, COC is proportional to the clay content. This explains why we find that soil bulk density is significantly correlated with OC in French arable soils but with the clay content in French pasture soils. The use of COC instead of OC enables the arable and pasture soils to be considered on the same scale.

Water retention data were fitted to a double-exponential equation which allows both the matrix and structural porosities to be estimated. It is shown that in soils with low contents of organic carbon, the carbon content is positively correlated with the matrix porosity. In contrast, in soils with high contents of organic carbon, the matrix porosity is constant at its maximum value and the structural porosity is not significantly correlated with either the total organic carbon or the non-complexed organic carbon (NCOC). It is suggested that the complexed organic carbon can be considered as being sequestered. The soil clay content can similarly be partitioned between clay that is complexed with organic carbon and clay that is not complexed. It is shown that non-complexed clay is more easily dispersed in water than clay that is complexed with organic carbon. These findings indicate how improved pedo-transfer functions for the prediction of soil physical properties may be produced. Such functions need to use the values of complexed and non-complexed organic carbon and clay which must be determined by algorithms. The values produced by the algorithms may then be used in the improved pedo-transfer functions.     

Least limiting water range indicators of soil quality and corn production, eastern Ontario, Canada

The least limiting water range (LLWR) attempts to incorporate crop-limiting values of soil strength, aeration, and water supply to plant roots into one effective parameter (on the basis of soil water content). The LLWR can be a useful indicator of soil quality and soil physical constraints on crop production. This study focused on assessing dynamic cultivation zone LLWR parameters between different cropping/tillage/trafficked clay loam plots at Winchester, Ont., to identify potential management impact on surficial soil physical conditions for contrasting growing seasons. This study also evaluated dynamic cultivation layer LLWR variables as indicators of corn (Zea mays L.) plant establishment and corn yield. The results suggest that no-till soils had lower average air-filled porosities (AFP) and O₂ concentrations than respectively managed tilled plots for both years of study. Potential trafficking effects on aeration properties were most evident in no-till relative to till; preferentially trafficked no-tilled plots had lower AFP and O₂ concentrations than respective non-preferentially trafficked no-till plots for both years of study. Corn establishment and yield variability were principally explained by cumulative differences between daily AFP and aeration threshold values, and the cumulative number of days daily AFP was below an AFP aeration threshold for specific corn growth stage periods. Lower AFP was linked to lower yields and plant establishments. Soil strength, as measured by cone penetration resistance, was important over certain sites, but not as important globally as AFP in predicting crop properties. Overall, conventional tilled soils that were not preferentially trafficked had most favorable aeration properties, and subsequently, greatest corn populations and yields. No-till soils were at greater risk of aeration limiting conditions, especially those in continuous corn and preferentially trafficked.     

Physical environment near the surface of plowed and no-tilled soils

Mechanical tillage is a dynamic soil process that influences the physical environment near the surface, thus affecting biological processes in the soil. Water content, bulk density, air permeability, hydraulic conductivity and organic carbon were compared for moldboard plowed and non-tilled conditions at five locations from east-central U.S.A. to the Great Plains. Soils were Blount, Maury, Nicollet, Webster and Crete-Butler cropped to continuous corn (Zea mays L.), and Alliance and Duroc cropped to wheat/fallow (Triticum aestivum L.). Major differences in soil physical characteristics between tillage practices were largely confined to the top 75 mm of soil. The volumetric water and organic carbon (C) contents of the 0–150-mm layer at time of sampling ranged from 8 to 66% and 12 to 75% higher, respectively, in no-tilled than in plowed soils. Bulk density was greater and total porosity in the surface layer was as much as 10% less for no-tilled than for plowed treatments. Because of generally higher water contents and/or lower porosity, the water-filled pore space (WFPS) in the 0–150-mm layer of no-tilled soils was 6–28% higher than that of plowed soils. Air permeability in the surface layer of no-tilled soil was less than for plowed, but there were no differences due to tillage in the 75–150-mm depth. Physical soil characteristics influence the soil water regime, and thereby affect rate of biological reactions in the soil. At many points in the soil drying cycle, water added to a no-tilled soil usually creates a less aerobic environment compared to adding the same amount of water to plowed counterpart.     

三峡库区植物篱系统土壤颗粒分形特征及其与土壤理化性质的关系

在对长江三峡库区坡耕地植物篱系统调查样地土壤样品颗粒分析的基础上,对植物篱系统内土壤颗粒分布及土壤分形维数与土壤物理性质和土壤养分含量的关系进行了研究,结果表明:（1）乔木类、草本类和灌木类植物篱带间坡耕地土壤砂粒含量比其对应的植物篱带内土壤沙砾平均含量分别高10.4%,13.7%和9.2%;而黏粒含量在植物篱带内富集,其平均含量比植物篱带间坡耕地土壤黏粒含量分别高14.3%,19.5%和10.7%;（2）土壤分形维数与土壤黏粒和土壤粉粒含量具有显著（P < 0.01）的正相关关系,而与土壤砂粒含量显著负相关。（3）土壤分形维数与土壤孔隙度、含水量和土壤饱和导水率极显著正相关,而土壤容重与分形维数呈显著负相关关系。土壤分形维数与土壤有机质、土壤全氮、土壤有效氮、土壤全钾、土壤有效钾、土壤全磷含量和阳离子交换量显著相关,而土壤有效磷含量和土壤分形维数相关性不显著。     

Prescribed burning effects on soil physical properties and soil water repellency in a steep chaparral watershed, southern California, USA

Chaparral watersheds associated with Mediterranean-type climate are distributed over five regions of the world. Because brushland soils are often shallow with low water holding capacities, and are on slopes prone to erosion, disturbances such as fire can adversely affect their physical properties. Fire can also increase the spatial coverage of soil water repellency, reducing infiltration, and, in turn, increasing overland flow and subsequent erosion. We studied the impacts of fire on soil properties by collecting data before and after a prescribed burn conducted during Spring 2001 on the San Dimas Experimental Forest, southern California. The fire removed the litter layer and destroyed the weak surface soil structure; leaving a thin band of ash and char on top of, and mixed in with, an unstable, granular soil of loose consistency. Median litter thickness and clay content were significantly decreased after fire while soil bulk density increased. At 7 d post-fire, soil surface repellency in the watershed was significantly higher than prior to the burn. At 76 d post-fire, surface soil water repellency was returning to near pre-fire values. At the 2 and 4 cm depths, 7 d post-fire soil repellency was also significantly higher than pre-fire, however, conditions at 76 d post-fire were similar to pre-fire values. Variability in soil water repellency between replicates within a given 15 × 15 cm site was as large as the variability seen between sites over the 1.28 ha watershed. The increase in post-fire persistence of water repellency was largest beneath ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifolius) as compared to a small increase beneath chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). However, pre-fire persistence was higher under chamise than for ceanothus. Post-fire changes to soil properties may increase the watershed hydrologic response, however the mosaic distribution of water repellency may lead to a less severe increase in hydrologic response than might be expected for a spatially more homogenous increase in repellency.     

Bulk density as a soil quality indicator during conversion to no-tillage

Producers often identify compaction as an important problem, so bulk density is usually included in minimum data sets used to evaluate tillage and crop management effects on soil quality. The hypothesis for this study was that bulk density and associated water content would be useful soil quality indicators for evaluating the transitional effects associated with changing tillage and crop management practices on deep-loess soils. The study was conducted on three deep-loess, field-scale watersheds located in western Iowa, USA. The soils are classified as Haplic Phaeozems, Cumulic-Haplic Phaeozems, and Calcaric Regosols. Watersheds 1 and 2 were converted in 1996 from conventional tillage to no-tillage, while watershed 3 was maintained using ridge-tillage and continuous corn (Zea mays L.), a practice implemented in 1972. Watershed 1 was converted to a corn—soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation while watershed 2 was converted to a 6-year rotation that included corn, soybean, corn plus 3 years of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Bulk density and water content were measured at three landscape positions (summit, side-slope, and toe-slope), in 20 mm increments to a depth of 300 mm, five times between September 1996 and May 2000. Organic C and total N were also measured to a depth of 160 mm during the initial sampling. Neither bulk density nor water content showed any significant differences between the two watersheds being converted to no-tillage or between them and the ridge-till watershed. There also were no significant differences among landscape positions. Bulk densities and water contents showed some differences when adjacent sampling dates were compared, but there was no overall or consistent trend. Our results show that bulk density is not a useful soil quality indicator for these soils within the bulk density range encountered (0.8–1.6 Mg m³). Our results also confirm that producers do not necessarily have to worry about increased compaction when using ridge-tillage or changing from conventional to no-tillage practices on these or similar deep-loess soils.     

Mulch effects on rainfall interception, soil physical characteristics and temperature under Zea mays L.

Application of organic amendment to the soil surface is widely used in order to ameliorate topsoil physical conditions, especially with respect to temperature, evaporation and water content. Water intercepted by mulch and crop canopy involves loss through evaporation that never replenishes the soil water. In this study, hydrological and temperature conditions beneath mulches of manufactured materials, organic waste, wheat straw (Tritium aestivum L.) and soybean straw (Glycine max L. Merrill) applied at different thickness were investigated in glasshouse and field conditions in southern England. Interception loss by a maize (Zea mays L.) canopy and mulch modified the soil water balance by adversely affecting soil water content beneath thicker application. Mulching had a beneficial effect on soil water and temperature regimes. These findings are important for identifying mulching practices for dryland agriculture and under scenarios of climatic change that predict lower rainfall and higher temperatures in summer.     

Compression of agricultural soils from Quebec

Static uniaxial compression tests were performed on 26 agricultural soils from Quebec. Compression lines (bulk density vs. applied load) were obtained at different water contents for each soil previously sieved to 6 mm. For soils with clay contents less than 35%, the compression index (slope of the compression line) was best correlated with the mineral fraction of the soil (r = 0.75^** with clay and r =−0.78^** with sand). For clay-rich soils, the compression index was best correlated with organic carbon content (r = −0.75^**). The bulk density under standard compression conditions (100 kPa load and 50% water saturation) was related to both clay (r = −0.80^**) and organic carbon (r = −0.77^**). This parameter was also highly correlated with the soil lower plastic limit (r = −0.95^**) which corroborates the observation that the consistency limits can be good predictors of other mechanical properties which are more difficult to determine. Results suggested that both the mineral and the organic fractions have much influence on the compressive behaviour of Quebec agricultural soils.     

Soil physical quality of a Brazilian Oxisol under two tillage systems using the least limiting water range approach

Plant growth is directly affected by soil water, soil aeration, and soil resistance to root penetration. The least limiting water range (LLWR) is defined as the range in soil water content within which limitations to plant growth associated with water potential, aeration and soil resistance to root penetration are minimal. The LLWR has not been evaluated in tropical soils. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the LLWR in a Brazilian clay Oxisol (Typic Hapludox) cropped with maize (Zea mays L. cv. Cargil 701) under no-tillage and conventional tillage. Ninety-six undisturbed soil samples were obtained from maize rows and between rows and used to determine the water retention curve, the soil resistance curve and bulk density. The results demonstrated that LLWR was higher in conventional tillage than in no-tillage and was negatively correlated with bulk density for values above 1.02 g cm⁻³. The range of LLWR variation was 0–0.1184 cm³ cm⁻³ in both systems, with mean values of 0.0785 cm³ cm⁻³ for no-tillage and 0.0964 cm³ cm⁻³ for conventional tillage. Soil resistance to root penetration determined the lower limit of LLWR in 89% of the samples in no-tillage and in 46% of the samples in conventional tillage. Additional evaluations of LLWR are needed under different texture and management conditions in tropical soils.     

Quantifying the relationship between soil organic carbon and soil physical properties using shrinkage modelling

Changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) may strongly affect soil structure and soil physical properties, which in turn may have feedback effects on the soil microbial activity and SOC dynamics. Such interactions are still not quantitatively described and accounted for in SOC dynamics modelling. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that soil shrinkage curve (ShC) analysis allows the establishment of close relationships between soil physical properties and SOC. We sampled a rice-cropped vertisol, a cambisol under conventional tillage and no-tillage and a restored cambisol. Soil samples were analysed for clay and SOC content, bulk volume, hydro-structural stability and plasma and structural pore volumes changes on the full water content range using ShC analysis. Although the soils behaved differently according to their constituents and history, changes in SOC linearly affected most of the soil physical properties, with stronger effects than changes in clay content. The observed effects of increasing SOC, such as increasing hydro-structural stability, specific bulk volume and water retention, agreed well with previously reported results. However, using ShC measurement and modelling allowed the observation of all these different effects simultaneously for small changes in SOC, and in a single measurement. Moreover, the relation between SOC changes and physical properties could be quantified. ShC analysis may, therefore, be used to account for the effect of changes in SOC on soil physical properties.     

Modeling tillage effects on soil physical properties

Tillage refers to the manipulation of soil by an implement powered by humans, animals or machines. Tillage operation generally create two zones: (1) a zone where soil has been fractured and then turned over leading to rough surface conditions; and (2) a zone where soil has been compacted by the weight of the machinery. Thus, modeling tillage effects on soil physical properties involves two separate approaches depending upon the zone under consideration.

Modeling tillage systems offers an opportunity to: (1) synthesize the extensive experimental data in the literature; (2) develop tools for site specific management recommendations; and (3) identify areas of research where additional information is needed. Modeling tillage systems involves modeling the soil physical, chemical and biological properties and processes and then linking them with crop growth models to simulate crop yields or environmental impacts. This paper reviews models for predicting tillage effects on state soil physical properties. Specifically, we reviewed models which predict bulk density, surface microrelief, aerodynamic roughness length, water retention characteristics, hydraulic conductivity function, thermal conductivity, volumetric heat capacity and gas diffusion coefficient. Since most of the existing models for predicting soil physical properties are developed for untilled soils, the paper outlines procedures to adapt these models to fractured and compacted zones in tilled soils. The paper also identifies specific assumptions that need both laboratory and field testing.     

科尔沁沙地南缘不同植被对土壤物理性质改良作用研究

试验选取科尔沁沙地南缘樟子松林地、柠条林地、狗尾草草地、裸沙地（对照）4种典型立地类型为研究对象,通过测定各研究地土壤容重、土壤含水率、最大持水量、毛管持水量、田间持水量及沙粒粒径等物理指标,研究分析不同植被对沙地土壤物理性质的改良作用。研究表明:3种植被都对土壤物理性质都有一定改良作用。（1）柠条和樟子松对沙地土的保水效果较差,1 m深处的土壤含水率仅为2.1%和2.6%,低于裸沙地,而狗尾草草地1 m深处的含水率达到7.4%,为裸沙地1 m深处的1.6倍。（2）通过分析0—30 cm各物理指标平均值,得出3种植被下,土壤容重都小于裸沙地;狗尾草草地毛管持水量和田间持水量都最高,分别为21.7%和18.2%。其次为柠条林地和樟子松林地,裸沙地最小;柠条林地最大持水量最高,为24.6%,其次为狗尾草草地和樟子松林地,裸沙地最小。（3）通过对不同土层深度物理指标分析得出:3种植被对0—10 cm和10—20 cm的土壤容重、最大持水量、田间持水量有显著影响,而对毛管持水量没有显著影响;对20—30 cm的土壤各指标都有显著的影响。（4）三种植被对土壤颗粒分布异质性改良效果的大小顺序依次为狗尾草 > 樟子松 > 柠条,其间接反映了土壤粒径分布范围的均匀程度,其由高到低依次为狗尾草 > 樟子松 > 柠条。综上,与裸沙地相比,种植各植被土壤的物理指标明显好于裸沙地,表明植被能明显改善当地土壤的物理性质。     

A review on recent developments in soil water retention theory: interfacial tension and temperature effects

Study of soil physical processes such as water infiltration and redistribution, groundwater recharge, solute transport in the unsaturated zone, compaction and aeration in variably saturated soil hardly is possible without knowledge of the capillary pressure of the soil water as a function of the degree of saturation. Pore space topology, interfacial tension, and temperature probably are the most important physical factors affecting the capillary pressure at a given water content. Despite intensive research in the past decades on the water retention characteristics of soils, our knowledge of their response to varying ambient conditions is far from being complete. Current models of soil water retention as well as of hydraulic conductivity for unsaturated porous media often still use the simplified representation of the pore system as a bundle of cylindrical capillaries. Physical effects, like surface water film adsorption, capillary condensation and surface flow in liquid films, as well as volumetric changes of the pore space are often ignored. Consequently, physical properties of the solid phase surfaces, and their impact on water adsorption and flow, are often not considered. The objective of this contribution is to review various interfacial properties with possible application to the conventional water content — matric potential relation of soils. The ignoring of inter‐facial effects on the water retention of soils is widespread in the literature. The motivation of this paper is therefore to point out some of the more significant deficiencies of our current knowledge on the interaction of solid particle surfaces and the liquid phase in soil. We will first emphasize the impact of the wetting angle on the wetting of dry soil and to present the impact of interfacial tension of the liquid phase in the three‐phase system. At low water content, the transition from capillary‐bound water to adsorbed water and to wetting films is discussed separately, because of its impact on the rewetting process of dry soil. Finally, we discuss the impact of temperature on interfacial tension and water retention of soil as a second important interfacial process affecting directly the water retention of porous media.     

赣南飞播马尾松林林下植被盖度对土壤质量的影响

为了探明林下植被盖度对赣南飞播马尾松林土壤质量的影响,选取3种林下植被盖度（> 70%,30%～70%,< 30%）的林分,对其表层（0—10 cm）土壤理化性质的16个指标进行比较分析,筛选出土壤容重、田间持水量、土壤有机质、速效磷、pH值作为土壤质量评价指标,运用土壤理化综合指数评价不同林下植被盖度下土壤质量水平。结果表明:3种林下植被盖度间,土壤容重、土壤含水量、饱和持水量、毛管持水量、田间持水量、毛管孔隙度、总孔隙度、pH值存在显著差异（P < 0.05）;非毛管孔隙度、有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、速效氮、速效磷、速效钾不存在显著差异（P > 0.05）。不同林下植被盖度的土壤理化综合指数存在极显著差异（P < 0.01）,土壤质量随着林下植被盖度的增加而得到显著提高。     

陕北典型农地表层土壤物理性质季节变化

土壤物理性质是影响土壤水文、侵蚀过程的重要因素。为此系统研究了陕北安塞4种典型农地（玉米、谷子、大豆和土豆）的土壤含水量、容重、水稳性团聚体和粘结力的季节变化特征。结果表明:4种农地表层土壤物理性质随季节变化的趋势大致相同,土壤含水量随降雨量的变化呈现出明显的峰谷。土壤容重和土壤粘结力在农作物生长阶段大体呈上升趋势,翻耕和收获后显著下降。水稳性团聚体则呈现单调递增趋势。在0.05显著性水平下的配对样本T检验显示:土壤含水量除玉米地和谷子地外（P=0.04）,其他农地土壤含水量之间无显著差异（0.29≤P≤0.99）;土壤容重除谷子地和大豆地外（P=0.03）,其他农地之间无显著差异（0.07≤P≤0.86）;土豆地与其他农地的水稳性团聚体之间有显著性差异（0.01≤P≤0.03）;各农地土壤粘结力之间无显著性差异（0.16≤P≤0.53）。土壤含水量的变化趋势与降雨的变化趋势基本一致,农事活动所引起的土壤扰动是土壤容重和粘结力变化的主要原因。研究结果对于分析农地水文、侵蚀过程的季节变化特征具有重要的意义。