Effects of land use and clay content on soil structure as measured by Fracture Surface Analysis

Soil clods were collected from the A horizons of six soils (3 Aqualfs and 3 Uderts) in the vicinity of Bayreuth in northern Bavaria. The soils had a range of clay contents and came from arable, meadow (pasture) and forest areas. The soils ranged in workability from easily workable to difficult to work. The clods, still moist as collected, were fractured into two parts by tensile stress and one part of each clod was embedded in polyester resin. The embedded clod parts were then sectioned to show profiles of the fracture surfaces. The profiles were digitized by a television scanner. Statistical measures of the roughness of the fracture surfaces were computed. Fracture surface roughness was strongly influenced by land use and soil clay content. Soil workability was related to fracture surface roughness and hence also to land use and soil clay content. Ease of soil working was mainly associated with the presence of soil structural features larger than 10 mm.     

Roughness of soil fracture surfaces as a measure of soil microstructure

The examination of soil fracture surfaces that are created under tensile stress may reveal a great deal about the internal structural condition of the soil. A simple technique for quantifying the roughness of soil fracture surfaces from a measurement of their topography in cross-section is described. The technique involves calculating the standard deviation of the differences between the measured elevations of soil fracture surfaces and their corresponding running-mean values. The standard deviation, σ_R, is used as a measure of the fracture surface roughness. Advantages of this technique over others are discussed. Two methods for measuring the topography of soil fracture surfaces are presented: a bisection (single transect) method, and a laser scanning (multiple transects) method. The laser scanning method is to be preferred because it requires no sample preparation and enables greater and more rapid replication. Also, fracture surfaces created by applying direct tension in the hands produced values of σ_R that were statistically indistinguishable from those created using indirect tension in a loading frame. This result makes the technique of fracture surface analysis usable for both laboratory as well as field investigations of soil structure. An example of the technique is presented to illustrate the role that air-filled pores play in the brittle fracture of unsaturated soil (air-filled pores are closer together in drier soils and further apart in wetter soils.) A strong positive linear correlation was found between the gravimetric water content, w and σ_R of natural soil clods, which supports the contention that brittle fracture of unsaturated soils under tensile stress occurs at least partly because of the propagation of air-filled pores.     

Effect of sodicity and salinity on disaggregation and tensile strength of an Alfisol under different cropping systems

The influence of electrolyte concentration (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) on the tensile strength and aggregate stability via flocculation and dispersion behaviour of an Alfisol varying in organic carbon content due to different cropping systems was assessed using a split-split plot experiment involving eight soils, three levels of EC and seven levels of SAR.

Generally, at a given SAR value, mean weight diameter (MWD) increased with organic matter status of the soil in the following order: virgin pasture>wheat>wheat-fallow. As MWD decreased, the amount of dispersible clay increased at a given SAR indicating that more surfaces exposed due to slaking of aggregates led to more clay dispersion. Statistical analysis of changes in tensile strength with various factors showed that an increase in organic matter decreased the magnitude of changes in strength induced by sodicity because organic matter tends to increase aggregate stability (higher MWD). While individual soils had significant relationships between the tensile strength of the aggregates and the amount of spontaneously dispersible clay, this relationship was poor when the results of all soils were pooled together. The amounts of dispersible clay from dry aggregates were higher than from wet aggregates and dispersive breakdown of the aggregates of sodic soils occured irrespective of the mode of wetting. The most important factor in determining the soil strength was the amount of clay dispersed during wet-sieving analysis followed by MWD.     

Effect of soil aggregate size on infiltration and erosion characteristics

Detachment of soil particles by the processes of splash from rainfall and shallow flow from surface runoff is influenced by soil cohesion, soil aggregate properties, and characteristics of this flow. We have evaluated relationships between rates of detachment, aggregate size, and tensile strength of the soil. Soil and water losses were determined in the laboratory from sieved air‐dry samples on three aggregate size ranges of two clay loam soils differing in particle‐size distribution and organic matter. Tensile strength was measured for each aggregate size range. The results showed that as clod size increased, detachment rates increased and interaggregate tensile strength decreased. Wash erosion increased as initial clod size increased despite a decrease in runoff. Final rates of loss by splash were greater from the largest clods than from the smaller clods. Finally, splashed material was larger in size than material washed off. The fact that the size of the splashed material was larger than washed‐off material shows that material in the wash suffered more impact by raindrops and thus was more likely to be fragmented.     

Assessment of soil erosion indicators for maize-based agro-ecosystems in Kenya

Measuring soil loss is costly, must cover a range of field situations, is not standardized, and is season dependent. In addition, use of sparse soil loss data (from other studies) compromises the integrity of many erosion models. Easily assessable soil erosion indicators to monitor the cumulative effect of erosion between tillage/weeding and harvesting called eroding clods, flow surfaces, pre-rills, and rills were surveyed directly after the 1995 rainy season in the Taita Taveta district of Kenya, to assessed the utility of each indicator. Their incidences were modeled using CPA. In the area, 70 maize plots in 11 map units, having considerable variation in altitude, land cover, rainfall, and geomorphology, were surveyed. Soil loss was considered variable between plots due to differences in surface soil, land cover, infrastructure (trash lines, grass strips, and Fanya-juu), crop management, slope, and map unit. The eroding clods indicator proved of little significance because the initial clods cover was unknown; the indicator probably relates better to soil erodibility then to soil loss. Flow surfaces, formed during erosive showers, were less present on fields with a higher ground and canopy cover, if the area of eroding clods was high, and if the topsoil had no loam which reduces chances of sealing; no impact of infrastructure, tillage, and weeding were detected. Fewer pre-rills were present where the fraction of groundcover was high, where Pigeon Peas were not grown (they cause micro-relief and concentrated flows), where weeding ended late (time effect), where more flow surfaces occurred, where Fanya-juu was constructed (less steep slopes), where the top-soil contained little sand (less sediment entrainment), and where maize was intercropped with vegetables (positive canopy cover effects). The model was not map unit specific and had an Adjusted R² of 67%. The log-linear relationship indicates that combined positive conditions exponentially reduce the occurrence of pre-rills. The “pre-rill” indicator related best to management-affected site conditions and seems to reflect best the cumulative effects of soil loss over time. Rills were found at 18 sites located in drier areas on sandy–clay soils. The model suggested more rills if the topsoil contains no silt; this makes the soil susceptible to compaction, peptisation when wet, and rill formation.     

Soil Ca, Al, acidity and penetration resistance with subsoiling, lime and gypsum treatments

Abstract. Crop growth on strongly weathered soils is often limited by soil compaction in addition to aluminium toxicity and/or calcium deficiency. This study examines the effects of subsoiling, lime and gypsum on penetrometer resistance, acidity, aluminium and calcium levels and cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) root growth on soils transitional between Cecil and Appling series (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Hapludults) in the Piedmont region of Georgia, USA. The main plots were subsoiled to depths of 0.35 or 0.80 m or untreated. Dolomitic limestone (0 or 4.03 t per hectare on subplots) and phosphogypsum (0 or 10 t per hectare on sub-subplots) were incorporated into the surface soil (0.15 m). Deep subsoiling (0.80 m depth) decreased penetrometer resistance at 0.3–0.5 m depth and increased yield in two of three years, but there was no response to shallow subsoiling (0.35 m depth). Lime increased yield when surface soil water pH prior to amendment was less than a Cate-Nelson critical value of 4.6. Gypsum moved downward much more rapidly than lime, increasing soil solution calcium ion activity to a depth of 0.8 m within 5 months of application. There were differences in clay content between replicate plots and calcium movement was faster where the clay content was less. Yield responses to gypsum in 1986 were attributed to increased root growth below 0.2 m resulting from the increased calcium ion activity. Yield response to gypsum in limed sub-subplots was significant only in 1986.     

土壤侵蚀作用对黄土高原黏化层鉴定和淋溶土分类的影响

黏化层是淋溶土的首要诊断标准.一般情况下,黏化层是在长期相对稳定的湿润淋溶条件下形成的.但黏化过程很可能因为气候变化和土壤侵蚀作用而被打断.本文以山西土系调查16个淋溶土剖面为研究对象,通过对各剖面黏化层与上覆下伏层、各剖面间的基本特征及其理化性状分析,探索土壤侵蚀作用对黄土高原黏化层鉴定和淋溶土分类的影响.结果 表明...     

Characterization of soil surface properties following disturbance of a clay soil in southern Manitoba

This research demonstrated the use of a laser profiling system (LPS) and digital imagery as useful tools in measuring soil micro-topography and crop residue cover following a soil disturbance event. The soil micro-topography was characterized in terms of surface roughness using two geostatistical approaches; semivariance analysis and the mean absolute-elevation-difference method. Univariate statistical analysis was also used. All three procedures used to describe surface roughness were successful in detecting changes in surface roughness due to soil disturbance and the addition of corn residue. There was a definite advantage in using the geostatistical approaches to characterize surface roughness as the indices they provide give insight into the characteristics of the surface roughness. Crop residue cover was measured using digital images and image analysis software to contrast the soil and the crop residues.The series of field experiments examined the roles of both soil disturbance and corn residue and their interactions on surface roughness, crop residue cover, exposed surface area, and near-surface porosity. Soil disturbance and the addition of corn residue were both found to be significant factors affecting the surface roughness, crop residue cover, exposed surface area, and near-surface porosity. Due to the interaction and added effects of crop residue, it was also demonstrated that the calculated surface area may not be a measure of exposed soil area, but rather it is a combination of soil and residue surface areas. Similarly, the roughness of a surface does not only reflect the soil clods produced during tillage but that of the residue itself. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the information gathered by the LPS and digital imagery can be used to evaluate surface characteristics arising from different tillage practices.     

Compaction of virgin soil by mechanized agriculture in a semiarid environment

Soil compaction was assessed in terms of soil strength as measured with a penetrometer. Penetrometer resistance was measured on virgin soil and on the same soil after one and after five passes of a 7,610 kg tractor. Also, comparative studies were made of strength profiles of soils in arable fields and in adjacent areas of virgin soil. The strength of virgin soil was increased by wheel traffic and agricultural operations in all cases. The increase in soil strength was significant down to 0.3 m, which is considerably greater than the normal depth of tillage in the area (0.05 m). Reduction in the coefficient of variation of penetrometer strengths after the passage of wheels was taken as evidence for associated losses of soil structure. Virgin soils provide important reference sites for assessing the impact of agriculture in an area.     

土壤和润湿研究中的分形现象

分形几何学的理论与方法已被用于土壤表面不规则性、旋耕土块轮廓及表面裂纹形状和分布、土壤值的空间分布及固体表面润湿性的研究中,利用分形维数定量探讨它们的规律性。本文综合评述了土壤表面、土块轮廓与裂纹、土壤值及润湿研究中的分形特性。     

Simultaneous measurement of soil water and soil hardness using a modified time domain reflectometry probe and a conventional cone penetrometer

Soil strength and water content are important indices for assessing soil resistance to root growth and soil compaction both of which affect other soil properties. Therefore, simultaneous measurement of soil penetration resistance (PR) and soil water content can aid agricultural land management. We measured PR with a conventional cone penetrometer, followed immediately by determining water content using a modified TDR probe inserted into the penetrometer hole. From the results of a field feasibility test, soil water content was measured satisfactorily and correlated well with data obtained by the gravimetric method, except for those data from near the surface owing to soil disturbance when the cone penetrometer was extracted after the PR measurements. Field results demonstrate that PR and soil water content have three‐dimensional variability, with a markedly different distribution pattern between cultivated and subsoil layers at the field scale. Overall, the variability in the PR and soil water data is similar to that reported in previous studies. We conclude that our method produces results helpful to field management of soil and water because it is based on a simple and easy technique for the simultaneous measurement of soil water content and PR.     

Shirnkage and water retention characteristic in a fine-textured mollisol compacted under different axle loads

In areas where heavy vehicles are used, the subsoils often become very compacted. Freezing-thawing and wetting-drying have not been effective at reducing compaction. In this study, the type of soil shrinkage related to compaction was investigated to explain these amelioration failures. In conjunction with a shrinkage curve, the water retention characteristic was also measured because both can be related to compaction. Shrinkage and bulk density of undisturbed clods (about 200 cm³), as well as water retention of undisturbed cores, were measured to evaluate long-term compaction effects in two sets (better and poor tile drainage) of two axle-load treatments (9- and 18-Mg axle loads) relative to their control. Wet clods were sampled from the Ap (0 to 25 cm) and subsoil (30 to 45 cm) horizons of a Normania clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Udic Haplustoll) in the spring of 1991 without fragmentation after the soil had a full winter to swell following moldboard plowing in the fall. Clods were further saturated, coated with a film, then allowed to air-dry. Mass and volume were determined periodically for eight months to measure shrinkage. Maximum volume reduction (m³m⁻³) of clods in the Ap layer (0.232) during shrinkage was significantly greater than in the subsoil layer (0.152), but compaction effects were not significant in either layer. Dry bulk density of subsoil clods (1.77 Mg m⁻³) was significantly greater than in the Ap layer (1.68 Mg m⁻³), but no statistical differences were observed among compaction treatments. Maximum shirnkage was always <1 and averaged 0.61 in the subsoil compared to averaged 0.80 in the Ap layer, which indicates nearly all structural and residual shirnkage after immediate air entry during gravity drainage. The water retention characteristic of the original compacted and control treatments were still significantly different in the better drained subsoil but not in the more poorly drained subsoil, which showed that the 9-Mg axle load overall since 1987 has compacted the subsoil nearly as much under wet soil conditions as the 18-Mg axle load initially. These soil structural measurements explain the failure of natural forces to reduce bulk density of the compacted subsoil.     

On the fractal dimensions of some transient soil properties

Spatial variation of soil properties can be studied by use of the concept of fractals, and the overall roughness of a surface characterized by its fractal dimension. Soil surface strength was recorded by both cone penetrometer and field shear vane, along a series of transects, at 10 cm spacings. In the natural state, such data gave fractal dimensions very close to 2, implying an almost totally random data set, and only the deliberate action of cultivations introduced an order of persistence. Microtopography, measured by a profile meter at 1 cm intervals, had fractal dimensions of 1.7 on two separate sites. Problems are identified specifically in the choice of a suitable model for fitting the semi-variogram, and in the collection of an efficient data set.     

Improved prediction of water-retention properties of clayey soils by pedological stratification

The water-retention properties of clayey soils have been studied at ?0.3 × 10⁵ and ?15 × 10⁵ Pa matric potentials using three sets of clayey horizons differing in their pedological origin. Measurements were made on small clods collected in winter when swelling is at a maximum. The results are discussed in relation to variations in the clay content and clay fabric. The bulk volume, which appears to be closely related to both clay content and clay fabric, allows the variations in water retained to be explained better than with clay content alone. With clayey horizons originating from a single soil family, differences in water retained can be explained by variations in clay content alone because clay fabric does not change greatly. These results demonstrate the significance of pedological stratification in estimating the water-retention properties when a single soil characteristic, such as clay content, is used.     

MACRO- AND MICROMORPHOMETRIC INVESTIGATION ON SOIL-DEXTRAN INTERACTIONS

The effect of three microbial dextrans of defined molecular weight, on shrinkage and porosity inside clods has been studied on two Italian clay soils, a Fluvisol and a Vertisol. Shrinkage was determined on dried soil samples using an electro-optical apparatus. The same apparatus was also used to measure porosity and pore size distribution inside the clods. For this purpose large thin sections were prepared from cracked soil samples after shrinkage measurements. Dextrans influenced shrinkage and the size distribution of clods and cracks in the two soils. The major effect was found in the Fluvisol where the arrangement of cracks was changed visibly. The dextrans caused a marked increase in total porosity in the Fluvisol but had only a small effect in the Vertisol. In both soils the pore size distribution was changed resulting in a greater number of larger pores in the dextran treated samples.     

Impact of rainfall and topography on the distribution of clays and major cations in granitic catenas of southern Africa

Soil catenas integrate and amplify gravity transfer and differentiation processes of eluviation and illuviation in soil profiles. We quantified differences in these redistribution processes along granitic catenas across an arid to sub-humid climate gradient in Kruger National Park, South Africa. We measured soil properties in nine catenas sampled from three areas receiving annual rainfall of 470 mm (arid zone), 550 mm (semi-arid zone) and 730 mm (sub-humid zone). As rainfall increased, kaolinite replaced smectite as the dominant clay mineral in all landscape positions across the catenas. Toeslopes showed the strongest evidence of this transition with an excess of smectite in the arid catenas but complete prevalence of kaolinite in toeslopes of sub-humid catenas. The concentration and distribution of clay along the catenas were dependent on landscape position as well — soil profiles at and near the crests were clay depleted (as low as 1%) while those at the toeslopes had much more clay (up to 60%). Clay redistribution along catenas was sensitive to climate with the least amount of redistribution occurring in the dry sites and the most occurring in the wet sites. As a consequence, the sub-humid catenas had clay accumulation only in a small part of the toeslopes while the bulk of their length was represented by highly leached soils. In contrast, arid zone catenas showed little clay redistribution and semi-arid sites displayed the greatest within-catena clay redistribution and preservation. Clay movement and storage conditioned other soil properties such as CEC, base cation distribution, base saturation and pH.     

Effects of vegetation cover on the tendency of soil to crust in South Africa

Abstract. Tendency to crust is a potentially useful index for assessing soil degradation and for assisting land use planning in South Africa. In this study, the influence of land use, geology and vegetation cover on the tendency of soil to form a surface crust was investigated in six vegetation types. Crusting at all sites was greater in exposed soils than soils under vegetation, as determined by infiltration rate, water dispersible clay and modulus of rupture. In Renosterveld, crusting was markedly greater in exposed soil than vegetation covered soil (mean infiltration 16 vs 44 mm h⁻¹; dispersible clay 2.6 vs 2.2%; modulus of rupture 121 vs 64 kPa). Greater crusting in exposed soil was attributed to lower soluble salt and labile carbon (C) contents and an associated increase in the dispersion of clay. In Karoo, crusting of exposed, shale-derived soils was greater than that of exposed, dolerite-derived soils (infiltration 40 vs 83 mm h⁻¹; dispersible clay 2 vs 1.2%), and a similar pattern was evident in Tall Grassveld (infiltration 18 vs 36 mm h⁻¹; dispersible clay 1.2 vs 0.9%; modulus of rupture 31 vs 21 kPa). In Upland Grassland, cultivation of maize and rye enhanced crusting. In Thicket, crusting was greater in soils from open, degraded vegetation than intact, densely wooded sites (infiltration 19 vs 51 mm h⁻¹; modulus of rupture 16 vs 34 kPa), probably due to lower content of soil C. In Bushveld, crusting was greater in annually burnt plots than unburnt plots (infiltration 109 vs 163 mm h⁻¹; dispersible clay 0.9 vs 0.6% on granite-derived soils; and infiltration 56 vs 72 mm h⁻¹; dispersible clay 1.5 vs 1.3% on basalt-derived soils). Greater crusting of soil from burnt plots was ascribed to a reduction in soil C and soluble salts as well as a greater exchangeable sodium percentage.     

湖北鄂城“发红”田施磷效果和缺磷原因的研究

据目前了解,发育在湖北省第四纪红色粘土和褐色粘土沉积物上的水稻土,有相当面积的“发红”田,但各地名称不一。如在京山一带称为瘦遨疳田,江陵一带称为红斑瘘,宜都一带称为火坑田,襄阳一带称为地火田,鄂城一带称为澿水田等。从全省肥料试验网施磷的效果来看,可以肯定水稻发红是由于土壤磷素营养缺乏所引起的。     

Two mechanisms for age-hardening of soil

Soil samples from Germany, Israel and USA were moulded at water contents around the lower plastic limit and compacted with uniaxial pressures c . 20-200 kPa. The samples were stored at constant water content. At intervals after moulding, the strengths of sub-samples were measured with a small penetrometer.
The soils showed increases in strength with time. Two types of behaviour were observed and explained by a simplified theory for soil strength. With the German and Israel soils, penetrometer strength increased by the same absolute amount irrespective of compaction pressure. This indicates that new particle-particle bonds were being formed at a rate which was not affected by compaction. With the USA soils, the ratio of penetrometer strength/initial strength increased with time and was independent of compaction pressure. This indicates that existing particle-particle bonds were being reinforced by a cementation mechanism. Evidence is presented which suggests that age-hardening by this second mechanism may be inhibited by soil organic matter.     

Wind erosion roughness index response to observation spacing and measurement distance

The cumulative shelter angle distribution (CSAD) is a physically-based roughness index that can be used to estimate the amount of soil surface impacted by saltating sand grains which produce wind erosion. But little is known of how observation spacing and other measurement factors affect CSAD estimates. This study was designed to determine the effect of observation spacing and range of influence (distances within which calculations are made) on CSAD parameters. Soil surface roughness measurements were made using a laser profile meter on a chiselled sandy clay loam soil after seven levels of simulated precipitation applied at four intensities. In this study, the different rainfall amounts and intensities were used only to create different roughness levels. Calculations were made on replicated plots using five observation spacings ranging from 4 to 48 mm in directions parallel and perpendicular to the tillage direction and ranges of influence of 150, 300, 400 and 600 mm. Calculations of roughness using different observation spacings and range of influence produced significant differences (P≤0.05) in CSAD estimates. Each observation spacing tested was different from all others. Ranges of influence of 300 mm or more produced similar CSAD parameter values. Estimates of the fraction of the soil surface susceptible to wind erosion decreased as the observation spacing decreased. When measured parallel to tillage, 92% of the soil surface was susceptible to abrasion when the observation spacing was 48 mm but 54% of the surface was susceptible when the observation spacing was 6 mm, suggesting roughness elements as small as 6 mm offer protection to the soil surface if they are nonerodible.