粘土土壤孔隙大小分布及其与土壤有机质的相关性

Soil pore size distribution(PSD) directly influences soil physical,chemical,and biological properties,and further knowledge of soil PSD is very helpful for understanding soil functions and processes.In this study,PSD of three clayey soils collected from the topsoil(0-20 cm) of Vertisols in Northern China was analyzed using the N_2 adsorption(NA) and mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP) methods.The effect of soil organic matter(SOM) on the PSD of clayey soils was also evaluated.The differential curves of pore volume of clayey soils by the NA method exhibited that the pores with diameter 0.01 μm accounted for more than 50%in the pore size range of 0.001 to 0.1 μm.The differential pore curves of clayey soils by the MIP method exhibited three distinct peaks in pore size range of 60 to 100,0.3 to 0.4 and 0.009 to 0.012 μm,respectively.In the three clayey soils,the ultramicropores(5-0.1μm) were determined to be the main pore class(on average 35.5%),followed by macropores( 75 μm,31.4%),cryptopores(0.1-0.007μm,16.0%),micropores(30-5 μm,9.7%) and mesopores(75-30 μm,7.3%).The SOM greatly affected the pore structure and PSD of aggregates in clayey soils.In particular,SOM removal reduced the volume and porosity of 5-100 μm pores while increased those of 5 μm pores in the 5-2 and 2-0.25 mm aggregates of clayey soils.The increase in the volume and porosity of 5 μm pores may be attributed to the disaggregation and partial emptying of small pores caused by the destruction of SOM.     

喷灌和畦灌对冬小麦农田表层土壤结构的影响

A two-year experiment was carried out on the effect of sprinkler irrigation on the topsoil structure in a winter wheat field. A border-irrigated field was used as the control group. The total soil porosity, pore size distribution, pore shape distribution, soil cracks and soil compaction were measured. The sprinkler irrigation brought significant changes to the total soil porosity, capillary porosity, air-filled porosity and pore shape of topsoil layers in comparison with the border irrigation. The total porosity and air-filled porosity of the topsoil in the sprinkler irrigation were higher than those in the border irrigation. The changes in the air-filled and elongated pores were the main reasons for the changes in total porosity. The porosities of round and irregular pores in topsoil under sprinkler irrigation were lower than those under border irrigation. Sprinkler irrigation produced smaller soil cracks than border irrigation did, so sprinkler irrigation may restrain the development of macropore flow in comparison with border irrigation. The topsoil was looser under sprinkler irrigation than under border irrigation. According to the conditions of topsoil structure, it is preferable for crops to grow under sprinkler irrigation than under border irrigation.     

生物炭碳固定于稳定性土壤团聚体中：土壤黏土矿物及其它土壤性质的作用

Aggregation and structure play key roles in water-holding capacity and stability of soils.In this study,the incorporation of carbon(C) from switchgrass biochar into stable aggregate size fractions was assessed in an Aridisol(from Colorado,USA) dominated by 2:1 clays and an Alfisol(from Virginia,USA) containing weathered mixed 1:1 and 2:1 mineralogy,to evaluate the effect of biochar addition on soil characteristics.The biochar was applied at 4 levels,0,25,50,and 100 g kg~(-1),to the soils grown with wheat in a growth chamber experiment.The changes in soil strength and water-holding capacity using water release curves were measured.In the Colorado soil,the proportion of soil occurring in large aggregates decreased,with concomitant increases in small size fractions.No changes in aggregate size fractions occurred in the Virginia soil.In the Colorado soil,C content increased from 3.3 to 16.8 g kg~(-1),whereas in the53 μm fraction C content increased from 5.7 to 22.6 g kg~(-1) with 100 g kg~(-1)biochar addition.In the Virginia soil,C content within aggregate size fractions increased for each size fraction,except the2 000 μm fraction.The greatest increase(from 6.2 to 22.0 g kg~(-1)) occurred in the 53–250 μm fraction.The results indicated that C was incorporated into larger aggregates in the Virginia soil,but remained largely unassociated to soil particles in the Colorado soil.Biochar addition had no significant effect on water-holding capacity or strength measurements.Adding biochar to more weathered soils with high native soil organic content may result in greater stabilization of incorporated C and result in less loss because of erosion and transport,compared with the soils dominated by 2:1 clays and low native soil organic content.     

依据传统土壤数据应用数字土壤制图法对香港山地地区土壤建立土纲信息

Based on legacy soil data from a soil survey conducted recently in the traditional manner in Hong Kong of China, a digital soil mapping method was applied to produce soil order information for mountain areas of Hong Kong. Two modeling methods (decision tree analysis and linear discriminant analysis) were used, and their applications were compared. Much more eflort was put on selecting soil covariates for modeling. First, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the variance of terrain attributes between soil orders. Then, a stepwise procedure was used to select soil covariates for linear discriminant analysis, and a backward removing procedure was developed to select soil covariates for tree modeling. At the same time, ANOVA results, as well as our knowledge and experience on soil mapping, were also taken into account for selecting soil covariates for tree modeling. Two linear discriminant models and four tree models were established finally, and their prediction performances were validated using a multiple jackknifing approach. Results showed that the discriminant model built on ANOVA results performed best, followed by the discriminant model built by stepwise, the tree model built by the backward removing procedure, the tree model built according to knowledge and experience on soil mapping, and the tree model built automatically. The results highlighted the importance of selecting soil covariates in modeling for soil mapping, and suggested the usefulness of methods used in this study for selecting soil covariates. The best discriminant model was finally selected to map soil orders for this area, and validation results showed that thus produced soil order map had a high accuracy.     

Soil particle size range correction for improved calibration relationship between the laser-diffraction method and sieve-pipette method

Particle size fraction(clay, silt, and sand) is an important characteristic that influences several soil functions. The laser-diffraction method(LDM) provides a fast and cost-effective measurement of particle size distribution, but the results usually differ from those obtained by the traditional sieve-pipette method(SPM). This difference can persist even when calibration is applied between the two methods. This partly relates to the different size ranges of particles measured by the two methods as a result of different operational principles, i.e., particle sedimentation according to Stokes’ Law vs. Mie theory for laser beam scattering. The objective of this study was to identify particle size ranges of LDM equivalent to those measured by SPM and evaluate whether new calibration models based on size range correction can be used to improve LDM-estimated particle size fractions, using 51 soil samples with various texture collected from five soil orders in New Zealand. Particle size distribution was determined using both LDM and SPM. Compared with SPM, original data from LDM underestimated the clay fraction(< 2 μm), overestimated the silt fraction(2–53 μm), but provided a good estimation of the sand fraction(53–2 000 μm).Results from three statistical indices, including Pearson’s correlation coefficient, slope, and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient, showed that the size ranges of < 2 and 2–53 μm defined by SPM corresponded with the < 5 and 5–53 μm size ranges by LDM, respectively. Compared with the traditional calibration(based on the same particle size ranges), new calibration models(based on the corrected size ranges of these two methods) improved the estimation of clay and silt contents by LDM. Compared with soil-specific models(i.e., different models were developed for different soils), a universal model may be more parsimonious for estimating particle size fractions if the samples to be assessed represent multiple soil orders.     

土壤微生物对不同粒径、不同表面和孔隙性质生物炭的响应

Biochars are known for their heterogeneity, especially in pore and surface structure associated with pyrolysis processes and sources of feedstocks. The surface area of biochar is likely to be an important determinant of the extent of soil microbial attachment, whereas the porous structure of biochar is expected to provide protection for soil microorganisms. Potential interactions between biochars from different sources and with different particle sizes were investigated in relation to soil microbial properties in a short-term incubation study. Three particle size(sieved) fractions(0.5–1.0, 1.0–2.0 and 2.0–4.0 mm) from three woody biochars produced from jarrah wood,jarrah and wandoo wood and Australian wattle branches, respectively, were incubated in soil at 25?C for 56 d. Observation by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and characterisation of pore and surface area showed that all three woody biochars provided potential habitats for soil microorganisms due to their high porosity and surface areas. The biochars were structurally heterogeneous,varying in porosity and surface structure both within and between the biochar sources. After the 56-d incubation, hyphal colonisation was observed on biochar surfaces and in larger biochar pores. Soil clumping occurred on biochar particles, cementing and covering exposed biochar pores. This may have altered surface area and pore availability for microbial colonisation. Transient changes in soil microbial biomass, without a consistent trend, were observed among biochars during the 56-d incubation.     

基于小白菜Cd吸收推算土壤Cd安全阈值

Cadmium(Cd), a common toxic heavy metal in soil, has relatively high bioavailability, which seriously threatens agricultural products. In this study, 8 different soils with contrasting soil properties were collected from different regions in China to investigate the Cd transfer coefficient from soil to Chinese cabbage(Brassica chinensis L.) and the threshold levels of Cd in soils for production of Chinese cabbage according to the food safety standard for Cd. Exogenous Cd(0–4 mg kg~(-1)) was added to the soils and equilibrated for 2 weeks before Chinese cabbage was grown under greenhouse conditions. The influence of soil properties on the relationship between soil and cabbage Cd concentrations was investigated. The results showed that Cd concentration in the edible part of Chinese cabbage increased linearly with soil Cd concentration in 5 soils, but showed a curvilinear pattern with a plateau at the highest dose of exogenous Cd in the other 3 soils. The Cd transfer coefficient from soil to plant varied significantly among the different soils and decreased with increasing soil p H from 4.7 to 7.5. However, further increase in soil pH to 8.0 resulted in a significant decrease in the Cd transfer coefficient. According to the measured Cd transfer coefficient and by reference to the National Food Safety Standards of China, the safety threshold of Cd concentration in soil was predicted to be between 0.12 and 1.7 mg kg~(-1) for the tested soils. The predicted threshold values were higher than the current soil quality standard for Cd in 5 soils, but lower than the standard in the other 3 soils. Regression analysis showed a significant positive relationship between the predicted soil Cd safety threshold value and soil p H in combination with soil organic matter or clay content.     

Pore shrinkage capacity of Shajiang black soils (Vertisols) on the North China Plain and its influencing factors

Different pore sizes present different pore shrinkage capacities in a nonrigid soil. However, the shrinkage capacities of different pore sizes and their influencing factors are not clear. We aimed to quantify the shrinkage capacities of different pore sizes (large pores, > 50 μm; medium pores, 0.2–50 μm; fine pores, < 0.2 μm) and determine how soil properties impact soil shrinkage capacity at the regional scale. Two sampling transects from west to east (360 km long, 35 samples) and from north to south (190 km long, 29 samples) were selected to investigate soil shrinkage capacity and physicochemical properties of at 0–20 cm depth in the Vertisol (locally known as Shajiang black soil) region of the North China Plain. The results showed that soil total shrinkage capacity, indicated by the coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE), had a mean value of 0.041–0.051 in the west-east and north-south transects. Large pores had higher pore shrinkage index (PSI) values (0.103–0.109) than medium (0.077–0.096) and fine (0.087–0.091) pores. The PSI of fine pores showed a fluctuating increasing trend from northwest to southeast, and the fine pore shrinkage capacity determined the COLE (r² = 0.789, P < 0.001). The PSI of large pores had a significant relationship with soil bulk density (r = 0.281, P < 0.05) and organic carbon (r = -0.311, P < 0.05), whereas those of medium and fine pores were correlated with soil clay content (r = 0.381 and 0.687, respectively, P < 0.001). In addition, the PSI of fine pores was also correlated with montmorillonite content (r = 0.387, P < 0.01). It can be concluded that the PSI of large pores is related to anthropogenically influenced soil properties with low stability, whereas those of medium and fine pores are related to pedogenic properties. The high variability in anthropogenic and pedogenic factors explains the spatial pattern of Vertisol shrinkage capacity on the North China Plain.     

稻米和土壤微量元素的空间变异

Consumption of rice is the main source of micronutrients to human in Asia. A paddy field with unknown anthropogenic contamination in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province, China was selected to characterize the spatial variability and distribution of micronutrients in rice grain and soil. A total of 96 paired soil and rice grain samples were collected at harvest. The micronutrients in the soil samples were extracted by diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA). The mean micronutrient concentrations in rice grain were 3.85 μg Cu g-1, 11.6 μg Fe g-1, 39.7 μg Mn g-1, and 26.0 μg Zn g-1. The mean concentrations were 2.54 μg g-1 for DTPA-Cu, 133.5 μg g-1 for DTPA-Fe, 30.6 μg g-1 for DTPA-Mn, and 0.84 μg g-1 for DTPA-Zn. Semivariograms showed that measured micronutrients in rice grain were moderately dependent, with a range distance of about 110 m. The concentrations of the DTPA-extractable micronutrients all displayed strong spatial dependency, with a range distance of about 60 m. There was some resemblance of spatial structure between soil pH and the grain Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. By analogy, similar spatial variation was observed between soil organic matter (SOM) and DTPA-extractable micronutrients in the soil. Kriging estimated maps of the attributes showed the spatial distributions of the variables in the field, which is beneficial for better understanding the spatial variation of micronutrients and for potentially refining agricultural management practices at a field scale.     

利用方式和土壤肥力对土壤团聚体和养分的影响

The size distribution of water-stable aggregates and the variability of organic C, N and P contents over aggregate size fractions were studied for orchard, upland, paddy, and grassland soils with high, medium, and low fertility levels. The results showed that > 5 mm aggregates in the cultivated upland and paddy soils were 44.0% and 32.0%, respectively, less than those in the un-tilled orchard soil. Organic C and soil N in different size aggregate fractions in orchard soil with high fertility were significantly higher than those of other land uses. However, the contents of soil P in different size aggregates were significantly greater in the paddy soil as compared to the other land uses. Soil organic C, N and P contents were higher in larger aggregates than those in smaller ones. The amount of water-stable aggregates was positively correlated to their contribution to soil organic C, N and P. For orchard and grassland soils, the > 5 mm aggregates made the greatest contribution to soil nutrients, while for upland soil, the 0.25-0.053 mm aggregates contributed the most to soil nutrients. Therefore, the land use with minimum disturbance was beneficial for the formation of a better soil structure. The dominant soil aggregates in different land use types determined the distribution of soil nutrients. Utilization efficiency of soil P could be improved by converting other land uses to the paddy soil.     

Soil macropore characteristics and aggregate stability with poly-γ-glutamic acid amendment under wetting–drying cycles

Soils are typically subjected to multiple wetting–drying (WD) cycles due to irrigation and seasonal climate cycles, which directly impact soil pore structure and soil aggregate stability. Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a polymer used to improve soil water holding capacity and plant growth. However, the impact of γ-PGA on soil pore structure requires further research, particularly under WD cycles. Therefore, we investigated the different amounts of γ-PGA on soil structure, including soil aggregate stability, macropore (>100 μm) structure characteristics and the relationship between macropore characteristics (equivalent pore diameter, pore shape factor, soil porosity, fractal dimension (FD), soil connectivity and the percentage of aggregate content with particle size larger than 0.25 mm) and soil aggregate stability by structural equation modelling (SEM) under WD cycles. A sandy soil and a loam soil were studied, and amended with γ-PGA at three different concentrations: 0 (P0), 0.4% (P4) and 0.8% (P8) (w/w, %). Results showed that γ-PGA amendment increased the mean weight diameter (MWD) and the percentage of aggregate content with particle size larger than 0.25 mm (R_0.25) under WD cycles in both sandy and loam soils, while the MWD between P4 and P8 did not differ significantly. As the number of WD cycles increased, soil porosity (TP) increased due to an increase in pores of 100–500 μm. With γ-PGA added to soil, large microporosity (>1000 μm) increased in sandy soil, but decreased in loam soil. In addition, 8WD cycles also increased the FD (2.6%–4.2%) and pore connectivity (Con) compared with 4WD. Structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that soil pore characteristics accounted for 74% and 98% of the variation in sandy and loam soils, respectively. TP, FD, Con and R_0.25 directly contributed to MWD, according to the SEM. These findings improve our understanding of pore characteristics and aggregate stability, which are key factors influencing soil quality when amended with γ-PGA during the seasonal WD period.     

用显微CT研究不同植被恢复模式的土壤团聚体微结构特征

为了更好了解不同植被恢复模式对土壤团聚体微结构的影响,该研究采用显微CT技术扫描3~5 mm土壤团聚体,获取了3.25μm分辨率的二维图像,并应用数字图像处理软件对团聚体孔隙结构进行三维重建,定量研究了黄土丘陵区不同植被恢复模式下(自然草地、人工灌木和坡耕地)土壤团聚体微结构特征。结果表明,两种植被恢复模式均显著提高了土壤有机碳含量和团聚体水稳性(P0.05),降低了土壤容重。与坡耕地处理相比,自然草地土壤团聚体总孔隙度、大孔隙度(100μm)、瘦长型孔隙度分别增加了20%、23%和24%,而分形维数和连通性指数欧拉特征值分别降低了2%和75%,且各指标二者间差异均显著(P0.05)。人工灌木土壤团聚体的上述各项孔隙参数均优于自然草地(较坡耕地分别增加了70%、88%和43%以及降低了4%和92%),且除欧拉特征值外,差异均显著(P0.05)。分形维数和连通性对土壤结构变化的响应相当敏感,可作为该地区植被恢复过程中土壤质量评价的指标,研究结果可为黄土高原土壤质量评价提供科学参考。     

Physical and mechanical properties of washed sediment mixed with organic matter

Soil from cleaning and washing of sugar beet during processing is collected and decanted in tanks each year over a period of several months. Instead of spreading it on agricultural land, another option is to reuse the sediment for crop growth. The physical and mechanical properties of the non-structured washed soil (WS) and the efficiency of added organic matter (peat and green waste compost) were evaluated by comparison with an arable silt loam soil (AS). Water retention data were expressed in a double-exponential function which characterized soil structural and matrix pore space. The effects on saturated hydraulic conductivity and pore space morphology from applying loads of 60 and 200 kPa on two initial volumetric water contents (12 and 25%) were investigated using image analysis. WS was a silt loam with no plasticity, and its void ratio and water retention were higher than the AS before compression. However, WS had a very small amount of structural pore space and despite its higher void ratio, its hydraulic conductivity was always lower than AS after compression. Organic matter improved all the WS properties by increasing structural porosity and vertical stress resistance. Organic matter created elongated and tortuous pores and increased K _s values by changing pore size distribution. During compression large pores with a radius >1500 μm disappeared in WS mixtures but were still observed in AS and were maintained by aggregate stability.     

Three-dimensional analysis of a loamy-clay soil using pore and solid chord distributions

Examples of pore and solid chord distributions obtained for ideal porous media are presented, and the distributions of the porous and solid phases of a soil have been studied by pore and solid chord distributions. Serial sections, 100 μm apart, were cut in a soil core, impregnated with resin, and images were obtained of them. The 2D images from 160 sections were used to build a 3D reconstruction of the core. The initial 2D images, the 3D reconstructed medium and 2D computed images from the latter were studied. We found that the solid matrix of the particular soil is homogeneous and isotropic at the scale studied, and it could be characterized with a single 2D image. For pores ranging from 500 μm to 2 mm we also found similar pore chord distributions for the 2D images in the three orthogonal directions and the 3D medium. A single 2D image can be used to study these pores. For larger pores more than one 2D image is required, and we showed that eight 2D images are sufficient to describe these pores.     

Effects of iron-based amendments on soil structure: a lab experiment using soil micromorphology and image analysis of pores

Purpose

Recent trends in soil green and sustainable remediation require an increased attention on environmental effects. The physical consequences of remediation practices on soil structure are very rarely investigated.

Material and methods

A laboratory experiment was carried out by adding iron grit to a sand (S), a silt loam (L), and a clay (C) soil subjected to several wetting-drying cycles. The physical effects of the treatment on soil pore system were identified and quantified combining physical measurements on repacked samples with image analysis of pores on resin-impregnated soil blocks and micromorphological analysis on thin sections.

Results and discussion

A negligible reduction of total porosity (P) resulted in S, and a slight increase was observed in the L and C soils. However, an important impact on soil structure was identified in pore size range >10 μm for the L and C soils, with the formation of new pores related to the differential shrink-swell behavior between soil matrix and added iron grains. Different plasticity of these soils also played a role in planar pore formation.

Conclusions

Effects of the addition of iron grit on soil pore system are strongly dependent on soil physical properties. The performed experiment showed that iron-based amendments can improve soil structure in low-plastic shrink-swell soil increasing porosity in the range of transmission pores (50–500 μm). This study showed the high potential of soil micromorphology and pore image analysis in order to evaluate the environmental impact of soil remediation practices.     

Micromorphometric and micromorphological investigations of a clay loam soil in viticulture under zero and conventional tillage

Porosity, pore size distribution and the orientation pattern of pores were measured on thin sections prepared from undisturbed soil samples by means of electro-optical image-analysis. Total porosity was significantly higher at all sampling times in conventionally tilled plots, but the proportion of pores ranging from 30 to 500 μm, which are considered the most important both in soil-water-plant relationships and in maintaining a good soil structure, was higher in no-tilled plots. Modifications of pore orientation pattern were also observed. Micromorphological observations revealed some differences between the two series of soil samples; the formation of surface soil crusts was strongly reduced in no-tilled plots.     

利用计算机断层扫描技术研究土壤改良措施下土壤孔隙

为探明不同土壤结构改良措施（秸秆覆盖、免耕、有机肥、保水剂）对土壤孔隙特征及分布的影响,采用计算机断层（computed tomography,CT）扫描法定量分析了土壤孔隙的数目、孔隙度及孔隙在土壤剖面上的分布特征。结果表明：不同措施均提高了土壤总孔隙数、大孔隙数及0.13～1.0 mm孔隙数,且其孔隙度也相应提高。同时孔隙成圆率也得到了改善。各处理中以有机肥和免耕处理效果较佳,其次为保水剂和秸秆覆盖,对照最低。此外,不同措施显著提高了土壤的田间持水量和＞0.25 mm 水稳性团聚体含量,降低了土壤容重,且各处理中,仍以有机肥和免耕处理效果最佳,其田间持水量分别较对照提高了15.9%和16.4%,而土壤容重较对照降低了6.8%和8.8%。相关分析表明：田间持水量、容重和＞0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量与土壤总孔隙度和大孔隙度呈显著或极显著正相关;而土壤容重对于总孔隙度和大孔隙度及孔隙成圆率呈显著负相关。     

长期不同量秸秆炭化还田下水稻土孔隙结构特征

  【目的】  生物炭被认为是一种能够提高土壤固碳能力、改善土壤结构和减缓全球气候变化的土壤改良剂。土壤孔隙结构直接影响土壤中水、气、热的运动,因此,研究长期施用生物炭对土壤孔隙结构特征的影响,以期为秸秆炭化还田提供理论依据。  【方法】  研究基于2013年建立的水稻秸秆炭化还田长期定位试验,选取在等氮磷钾条件下不施用生物炭 (C0)、施用低量生物炭 (1.5 t/hm2,C1.5)、高量生物炭 (3.0 t/hm2,C3.0)的 3个处理。利用X射线CT扫描和图像处理技术,分析了土壤孔隙结构参数,包括土壤孔隙度、土壤孔隙大小分布、孔隙连通性指数 (欧拉特征值)、各向异性、分形维数、最紧实层孔隙度和最紧实层平均孔隙直径等参数。  【结果】  C1.5和C3.0处理均能显著增加土壤有机碳含量和土壤总孔隙度,降低土壤容重,平均增加或降低比例分别为15.5%、10.5%和7.4%。C1.5与C3.0处理之间的总孔隙度没有显著差异,但孔隙大小分布存在差异。C1.5处理显著增加了大孔隙中当量孔径为100～500 μm和 > 500 μm的孔隙度,增幅分别为81.6%和275.3%,而C3.0处理显著降低了大孔隙中当量孔径100～500 μm的孔隙度,降幅为32.9%。C3.0处理当量孔径 < 25 μm的孔隙度显著大于C0处理和C1.5处理,增幅分别为13.8%和16.3%。C1.5处理的欧拉特征值最低,分形维数、最紧实层孔隙度和平均孔隙直径最大。各处理土壤孔隙的各向异性没有显著差异。  【结论】  长期施用水稻秸秆生物炭能够显著增加稻田土壤有机碳含量和总孔隙度,降低土壤容重。施用适量生物炭会增加土壤大孔隙度和土壤孔隙的连通性,但是过量施用生物炭可能会降低土壤大孔隙度和土壤孔隙的通气导水能力。炭化秸秆还田量与孔隙结构之间的定量关系还需深入研究。     

Image analysis and three-dimensional modelling of pores in soil aggregates

Three cross-sections of soil aggregates (2–5 mm diameter) were digitized at 5 μm resolution from montages (× 100) of scanning electron micrographs to produce binary images representing the soil pores and soil matrix. A three-dimensional random Boolean process was chosen as a model of the soil pores and matrix. The soil matrix was simulated by randomly positioned, overlapping spheres with radii drawn from an exponential distribution. Simulation of a 1 mm cube of one soil aggregate showed that all but 0.1 % of the pore space was connected to the exterior, although only 50% appeared to be connected to the exterior in a cross-sectional image. Pore spaces able to accommodate different sizes of microorganisms were also investigated. For example, a protozoan with a cross-sectional diameter of 20 μm could be accommodated in 17% of the pores in a 1 mm³ soil cube, although only 11 % of the pores would be accessible to those protozoa on the exterior of the cube.     

The structure of two alluvial soils in Italy after 10 years of conventional and minimum tillage

Micro and macroporosity, pore shape and size distribution, aggregate stability, saturated hydraulic conductivity and crop yield were analysed in alluvial silty loam (Fluventic Eutrochrept) and clay soils (Vertic Eutrochrept) following long-term minimum and conventional tillage. The soil structure attributes were evaluated by characterizing porosity by means of image analysis of soil thin sections prepared from undisturbed soil samples.

The interaggregate microporosity, measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry, increased in the minimally tilled soils, with a particular increase in the storage pores (0.5–50 μm). The amount of elongated transmission pores (50–500 μm) also increased in the minimally tilled soils. The resulting soil structure was more open and more homogeneous, thus allowing better water movement, as confirmed by the greater hydraulic conductivity of the minimally tilled soils. The aggregate stability was less in the conventionally tilled soils and this resulted in a greater tendency to form surface crusts and compacted structure, compared with the minimally tilled soils. The latter tillage practice seemed to maintain, in the long-term, better soil structure conditions and, therefore, maintain favourable conditions for plant growth. In the silt loam, the crop yield did not differ significantly between the two tillage systems, while in the clay soil it decreased in the minimum tilled soil because of problems of seed bed preparation at the higher surface layer water content.