Assessment of the usefulness of particle size distribution measured by laser diffraction for soil water retention modelling

Particle size distribution (PSD) is a major soil characteristic, which is essential and commonly used for the development of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) to estimate the water retention of soils. The laser diffraction method (LDM) became a popular alternative to the standard sieve‐hydrometer method (SHM) of PSD measurement. Unfortunately, PSDs determined with LDM and SHM methods differ sometimes substantially. Moreover, it is claimed that the laser diffraction method underestimates finer fractions in favor of coarser fractions. Several authors have tried to elaborate on methods to recalculate LDM PSD into its SHM counterparts, but no universal methodology has been developed to this date. In this paper, we use PSD determined by LDM directly for PTF development and compare it with the classical PTF approach based on PSD measured by SHM. Four different PTF models based on LDM particle size distribution data were developed, with different PSD characteristics taken as the models' input variables. The possibility of using alternative PSD characteristics, such as deciles, area moment mean and volume moment mean, for PTF development was examined. The accuracy of PTF models constructed on the basis of LDM‐measured PSD was comparable with that of the developed models using texture data obtained from SHM, giving approximately the same RMSE and R² values. Our study shows that LDM‐measured particle size distribution may be directly used for PTF developments without any recalculations to their sieve‐hydrometer counterparts.     

用激光法和吸管法测定东北黑土区侵蚀泥沙颗粒组成的差异分析

吸管法是测定颗粒组成的经典方法,激光法作为一种新兴的方法,近年被广泛应用于土壤和河流泥沙颗粒组成的分析中,并逐步应用到侵蚀泥沙粒径分析.为获取激光法与吸管法测定侵蚀泥沙特性指标和不同粒径的差异以及二者之间的转换关系,对18个黑土区侵蚀泥沙样品颗粒组成进行了测定和分析.采用中值粒径D50和平均质量直径MWD进行侵蚀泥沙样品特性分析,激光法比吸管法测定结果明显偏低;但2种方法测定D50和MWD具有很好的线性转换关系(R＞0.9,P ＜0.001).激光法测定的砂粒和黏粒质量分数低于吸管法测定值,测定粉粒质量分数明显高于吸管法测定值.测得砂粒、粉粒和黏粒含量在2种方法间,均具有很好的线性转换关系(R＞0.8,P ＜0.001).进一步细分泥沙颗粒为大于中砂、细砂、极细砂、粗粉和细粉这5个粒级时,2种方法间除极细砂(R=0.764,P＜0.001)外,其余粒级均具有很好的线性转换关系(R＞0.8,P＜0.001).     

Methodological aspects of determining soil particle‐size distribution using the laser diffraction method

This paper presents the influence of selected methodological aspects on the results of particle‐size distribution (PSD) as measured by the laser diffraction method (LDM). The investigations were carried out using the Mastersizer 2000 with Hydro MU attachment (Malvern Ltd., UK). It was found that for the investigated soils: (1) optimal speed of pump and stirrer was 2500 rpm, (2) optimal measurement time was ≈ 1 min, (3) there are two, practically equivalent methods for soil‐sample dispersion: chemical (with the use of a solution of sodium hexametaphosphate) or physical (by means of ultrasound application for 4 min at a maximum power of 35W), (4) one must not use the chemical and physical dispersing methods simultaneously, because this can lead to aggregation (not dispersion) of soil particles, (5) the Fraunhofer theory (physical models) can be used to convert scattered‐light data to PSD. In the case of the Mie theory, the best results were obtained for a refractive index (RI) in the range of 1.5–1.6 and an absorption index (AI) of 1.0. It was also found that most of the discussed parameters depend on design of the measuring device and on the type and volume of the investigated suspensions. It is necessary, therefore, to explain how the data was obtained every time and to specify the details in the methodological part of the paper.     

基于激光衍射的土壤粒径测定法的评价与校正

为比较与评价激光法与吸管法测定土壤粒径分布的准确性,该文采用激光法与吸管法测定了23组来自中国13个不同省份或自治区土壤样本的粒径分布,将激光法与传统吸管法的测定结果进行比较,并在此基础上对激光法测定参数进行了修正。结果表明:1)与吸管法相比,激光衍射法低估土壤样品中的黏粒含量,其相对误差为36.33%;高估粉粒含量,其相对误差为36.51%;2)对吸管法与激光衍射法的实测结果进行线性关系分析表明,其中黏粒与粉粒的线性关系较好,决定系数分别为0.91,0.90;3)经过模型转换后,基于激光衍射法的土壤粒径分布结果的相对误差明显降低:黏、粉的相对误差分别降低至16.25%、12.83%,说明激光衍射法可以用于大规模不同类型的土壤粒径分析。该研究可为土壤系统化和规范化的对比研究以及建立基于激光衍射技术的土壤质地划分标准提供依据。     

江子河小流域不同植被类型土壤粒径的多重分形特征

为探讨植被类型对土壤粒径分布非均匀性和土壤结构异质性的影响,运用激光粒度分析方法和分形理论,研究桐柏大别山区江子河小流域5种植被类型的土壤颗粒组成及其多重分形特征。结果表明:1)土壤颗粒单分形参数D、多重分形参数Δα、Rf、[α(-1)]-f[α(0)]和f[α(1)]/f[α(0)]均与土壤黏粒体积分数显著正相关,即土壤中细颗粒物质体积分数越高,土壤颗粒分布的非均匀性和奇异性越大;2)不同植物群落土壤颗粒分形维数D和多重分形参数表现为杂木林和针阔混交林(马尾松+栓皮栎)>茶园>竹林和水稻田,即森林(防护林)植被可以增加土壤中黏粒和粉粒等细粒物质体积分数、改善土壤质地的均匀性和增强土壤颗粒结构的异质性。     

激光粒度仪与沉降一吸管法测定褐土颗粒组成的比较

土壤颗粒组成是土壤的基本物理属性之一,沉降—吸管法是传统土壤颗粒分析的主要方法,激光粒度仪法是近年来新兴的粒度分析方法。为了研究二者的差异,选取了23个黏粒含量差异较大的褐土样品,采用上述两种方法对土样进行了分析。结果表明:激光粒度仪检测<0.002mm颗粒含量低于吸管法,但二者有较好的相关性,决定系数为0.97;在检测<0.02mm颗粒含量时两者比较接近,并且相关性很好,决定系数为0.99;检测<0.05mm颗粒含量时两者也比较接近,决定系数为0.91。激光粒度仪检测结果通过转换模型修正后,可以较好地反映褐土土壤颗粒组成情况。     

土壤颗粒分布体积分形维数与数量分形维数之间的关系

土壤的体积颗粒分布(PSD)可用于同时确定数量分形维数(DN)和体积分形维数(DV)。以往的试验和理论研究均未直接比较DV和DN的关系。为建立DV和DN的关系并分析其参数的敏感程度,在中国各地取了12种不同质地土壤,利用激光粒度仪进行了测定。提出了含3个参数Rupper(颗粒半径的上限),Ri(第i个半径)和Rlower(半径下限)的DV-DN理论关系,该关系可说明为什么DN可能大于3。在未调整的幂定律范围内(PLR),DV的幂定律半径为38.6～85.8μm,DN的幂定律半径为53.2～358μm,估算的DV值(2.18～2.69)比DN值(2.38～3.19)小。调整后的PLR比未调整的窄。在调整的PLRs范围内,估算的DV值变化范围为2.11～2.56,而DN变化范围为2.28～3.02。调整和未调整PLRs得出的DV和DN的差异说明,Rupper,Rlower,Ri和Rlower/Rupper均可能影响DV与DN关系,有必要进行参数的敏感性分析。进行敏感性分析可基于敏感系数(C)来鉴别DV-DN关系中各参数改变所引起的DV和DN相对变化,从而找出对该关系影响最大的参数。就不同情况下计算的C值而言,Rupper是影响DN值的最重要参数,小的Rupper值可能导致估算DN的准确度降低。PLR范围越大,DN的估算越准确。根据DV估算DN的相对误差的绝对值在12%范围内,说明得出的DV-DN理论关系是正确的。     

激光衍射法与吸管法对东北黑土区土壤粒径分布测定的差异性研究

目前激光衍射法(laser diffraction method,LD)逐步被用于土壤颗粒粒径分布(particle size distri-bution,PSD)的分析,为了对比LD法和吸管法测定东北黑土区土壤PSD的差异性,采用LD法和吸管法分别对东北黑土区宾州河流域36个土壤剖面不同层次178个土壤样品的PSD值进行了测定与分析.结果表明,同吸管法相比,LD法低估了土壤的黏粒含量,平均低估幅度19.69%,而高估了土壤的粉粒和砂粒含量,平均高估幅度分别为14.66%和5.13%.LD法所得PSD结果依据美国土壤质地分类制判定的土壤质地,相对于吸管法总体由粉黏质偏向粉砂质方向.建立了LD法与吸管法测定PSD结果的转换模型,将LD法测定的PSD结果利用转换模型校正后,其测定的各土壤粒级同吸管法相比,准确度达96.97%～98.71%,判定土壤质地的准确率也达83.15%.     

激光法与湿筛－吸管法测定土壤颗粒组成的转换及质地确定

湿筛-吸管法是测定土壤颗粒组成(PSD)的传统方法,而激光法则是新兴的土壤颗粒测定方法,为了明确二者测定数据间的转换关系,应用两种方法分别测定了中国6个主要土纲的265个土壤样品。结果表明,激光法测定的土壤黏粒含量明显地小于湿筛-吸管法测定的数据,激光法测定的土壤粉粒含量明显地大于湿筛-吸管法测定的数据,而对于土壤砂粒含量的测定结果二者互有高低。两种方法测定的黏粒、粉粒和砂粒间均分别具有很好的相关性,甚至按照美国的7级分类标准,每个粒度级别在两种方法间均具有很好的相关性。按照激光法和吸管法测定数据间的转换关系式得出了用激光法测定数据的砂土、壤土和黏土质地划分界限,从而能够应用激光法测定的数据直接进行质地划分,这对于推动激光法在土壤学中的进一步应用和推动土壤科学的发展均具有重要意义。     

根据土壤粒径分形估计紫色土水分特征曲线

选择不同质地紫色土,分别根据土壤颗粒的数量和重量分布计算土壤粒径分形维数,并与Tyler和Wheatcraft土壤水分特征曲线模型的拟合分形维数进行比较分析。结果表明,三种途径获得的分形维数与土壤质地密切相关,均表现出土壤黏粒含量越高,质地越细,分形维数越高。土壤粒径数量分布分形维数(2.98～3.26)和土壤粒径重量分布分形维数(2.73～2.81)存在较大的差异,但二者间却存在显著的线性关系。土壤粒径分形维数与土壤水分特征曲线模型拟合分形维数(2.72～2.84)均存在显著的线性关系,尤其是土壤粒径重量分布分形维数与土壤水分特征曲线模型拟合分形维数数值十分接近。通过建立的土壤水分特征曲线模型分形维数与土壤粒径分布分形维数关系式,结合Tyler和Wheatcraft模型进行土壤水分特征曲线预测,预测值与实测值具有良好的一致性,因而根据土壤粒径分形预测紫色土水分特征曲线是可行的。     

Dispersing sandy soil for the measurement of particle size distributions using optical laser diffraction

Despite the speed and accuracy of particle size distribution measurement by optical laser diffraction instruments, the dispersion of the sample, especially of soil aggregates, remains time-consuming. The Malvern Instruments obscuration measurement was used to calculate the dispersion ratio as an indicator of soil disaggregation. It enabled rapid and direct comparison between measurements made using different amounts of soil, dispersed using different fluids and dispersion methods. The dispersion ratio was necessary to select the most suitable media and method of dispersion for the soil samples and was useful for identifying grain breakage and flocculation. A standard for size distribution measurements involved a soil sample suspended in tap water and dispersed using ultrasonic action for 3 min. Reproducibility of grain size distribution measurements on the Malvern laser sizer showed that variation caused by resampling was greater than variation in the optical measurement provided that the measurement sweeps for the instrument were appropriately set. Blending size distributions for material measured using two different focal lenses was problematic. It is suggested that the laser light source Coulter LS-100 may be a more suitable instrument when many sample measurements are required.     

The oxidation of soil organic matter by KBrO for particle size determination

Abstract

The oxidation of soil humus by alkaline KBrO solution at boiling temperature has been shown to be successful even with samples as carbonaceous underwater soils. With these soils treatment with H₂O₂ produces a cohesive foam which prevents further oxidation.     

Distribution of charred plant fragments in particle size fractions of Japanese volcanic ash soils

Abstract

To gain a better understanding of the distribution of charred plant fragment C (CPFC) and its contribution to organic C (OC) in the particle size fractions of Japanese volcanic ash soils, each of four soil samples was divided into six particle size fractions, namely three sand-sized aggregate (20–53, 53–212 and 212–2,000 µm) fractions, one silt-sized aggregate (2–20 µm) fraction, and two clay-sized aggregate (< 0.2 and 0.2–2 µm) fractions. Furthermore, after HCl–HF treatment of these aggregate fractions, sub-fractions of less than specific gravity (s.g.) 1.6 g cm^?3 (< 1.6 fraction) were isolated using s.g. 1.6 g cm^?3 sodium polytungstate solution. Microscopic observation indicated that the charred plant fragments, which are black or blackish brown, were the main components in the < 1.6 fractions. Therefore, the OC in this fraction was designated as CPFC. In all the soils studied, the quantitative distribution of the CPFC of the silt-sized aggregate fractions to total CPFC of whole soils, ranging from 59 to 84%, was greatest among the aggregate fractions. The sum of the distribution (%) values of the CPFC in the three sand-sized aggregate fractions varied from 6.9 to 33%, while that in the two clay-sized aggregate fractions ranged from 1.1 to 9.4%. Similar to the CPFC, in all soils, the quantitative distribution of the OC in the aggregate fractions was greater in the silt-sized aggregate fractions (52–76%) than in the other aggregate fractions (0.1–20%). In all soils, the quantitative contribution of total CPFC to total OC of whole soils ranged from 10 to 28%. The CPFC/OC values in the aggregate fractions were 21% or more in 10 samples from a total of 24 fractions, with a maximum value of 34%. On the basis of the findings obtained in the present study, it is assumed that in Japanese volcanic ash soils the silt-sized fraction is an important reservoir of CPFC and OC, and CPFC merits attention as one of the constituents of OC in particle size fractions.     

Runoff,erosion and sediment particle size from smooth and rough soil surfaces under steady rainfall-runoff conditions

The responses of runoff and erosion to soil surface roughness (SSR) have been extensively studied in the past decades; however, most of these studies were conducted at the early stage of rainfall, whereas few studies were specifically conducted during steady runoff conditions. In this study, runoff, soil losses and sediment particle sizes from smooth and rough surfaces were measured after surface runoff stabilisation to improve the understanding of the relationship between SSR and soil erosion. A cascade of two independent soil boxes in which the runoff samples from upslope and downslope boxes can be collected independently or together was used to perform the experiments. The upslope box supplied runoff to the downslope study box. Three rainfall intensities of 50, 75 and 100 mm/h were applied. The results suggest that SSR has a significant effect on soil erosion when runoff reaches a steady state. Although the difference in the runoff rate was small between the rough and smooth surfaces, the sediment rate and concentration of particles were significantly lower for the rough surface than for the smooth surface. Through analysing the particle size distribution (PSD) of sediment, we found that selective sediment delivery is an important reason for the soil erosion reduction by SSR. The rainfall intensity decreased the difference in the sediment rates between the smooth and rough surfaces. The extra inflow increased the runoff rates, sediment rates and concentration rates for both the smooth and rough surfaces; however, the increasing degrees of the runoff rate, sediment rate and concentration rate had significant differences between the rough and smooth surfaces. A stepwise multiple regression showed that significant linear relationships existed between one or more PSDs of 20–50, 50–100, 100–250 and 1000–2000 µm and the sediment rate.     

机械压实对复垦土壤粒径分布多重分形特征的影响

在高潜水位矿区复垦施工现场,运用多重分形理论研究不同碾压次数下复垦土壤粒径分布特征,以阐明机械压实对复垦土壤粒径分布非均匀性和异质性的影响。结果表明:机械碾压在46.8%~99.9%程度上解释0~20和20~40 cm土层土壤粒径分布特征的变化,随着碾压次数增加,复垦土壤颗粒呈细粒化趋势,容量维D(0)随之减小,表征粒径分布范围减小;奇异谱对称性Δf随之增加,表征粒径分布不对称性增加;信息维D(1)、信息维/容量维D(1)/D(0)、关联维D(2)和奇异谱谱宽Δα随之波动变化,表征粒径分布集中程度、局部密集程度和均匀性波动变化。研究发现D(1)和D(1)/D(0),D(2)和Δα相关系数分别0.767(P0.01)和-0.488(P0.05),在表征复垦土壤粒径分布集中程度和均匀性上具有相似作用,多重分形参数可多角度描述机械碾压过程中土壤粒径分布的细微差别,其中D(0)、Δα和Δf能够灵敏反映复垦土壤紧实度变化,这为深入研究复垦土壤压实问题提供一种精确分析方法。     

农田土壤颗粒尺寸分布分维及颗粒体积分数的空间变异性

盐渍土膜下滴灌过程中的土壤理化性质存在空间变异性,对灌溉管理有一定影响。该文根据3个不同尺度下土壤采样及颗粒尺寸分布（PSD）测定结果,探讨了土壤PSD分维和颗粒体积分数之间的定量关系,分析了各尺度和综合尺度下土壤PSD分维和颗粒体积分数的经典统计特征和地质统计特征,根据颗粒体积分数的半方差函数计算了不同尺度颗粒体积分数的分形维,并做出了等值线图。研究表明,土壤PSD分维与黏粒的体积分数呈正相关关系,黏粒体积分数增大引起PSD分维增加的原因在于细颗粒的比表面积比粗颗粒的大;各尺度土壤PSD分维及颗粒体积分数均无强变异特征;不同尺度下土壤PSD分形维的半方差函数中块金和基台值均非常低;50 m尺度土壤PSD分维和黏粒体积分数的等值线图具有类似的集中度和走势,而砂粒体积分数和粉粒体积分数则具有相反的集中度和走势。该研究说明土壤PSD分维和颗粒体积分数都有一定的尺度依赖性。     

温度和粉碎粒度对不同能量饲料原料热物理特性的影响

为探究常见能量饲料原料在不同温度、不同粉碎粒度下的热物理特性差异,该文以4种谷物(玉米、小麦、大麦和高粱)和4种加工副产品(小麦麸、木薯渣、甜菜渣和米糠)原料为研究对象,分别粉碎过孔径1.5、2.0和2.5 mm筛片,得到3种不同粉碎粒度的粉料,利用差示扫描量热法(differential scanning calorimetry,DSC)和线热源法分别测定了不同粉料在25～100℃范围内的比热和导热率,通过计算得到相应的导温系数,分析了温度、粉碎粒度对原料热特性的影响以及不同原料之间的热特性差异,并建立了热特性参数关于温度的回归预测模型。结果显示:8种原料粉碎过1.5 mm筛孔的粉料比热、导热率和导温系数随温度的升高分别在1.580～2.671 kJ/(kg·K),0.054～0.362 W/(m·K)和6.694×10~(-8)～23.254×10~(-8) m~2/s范围内变化。整体上,原料的热特性均随温度的升高而呈线性或非线性上升趋势。不同粉碎粒度的同一原料,在相同温度下的比热差异均不显著(P0.05);随着粒度的增大,粉料的导热率和导温系数均有逐渐下降的趋势。4种谷物的比热与温度之间呈线性关系;小麦麸、木薯渣和米糠的比热可用温度的三次多项式表示;而甜菜渣的比热与温度呈二次关系。4种谷物和甜菜渣在3种粒度下的导热率均可用温度的三次多项式表示,而小麦麸、木薯渣和米糠的导热率则可用温度的二次多项式表示。小麦麸和米糠的导温系数与温度呈二次关系,其余6种原料的导温系数则可用温度的三次多项式表示。研究结果可为配合颗粒饲料配方变换所需的调质、制粒等热加工过程的工艺参数的调整、优化提供理论依据。     

伏牛山区迎河小流域不同土地利用类型的土壤粒径分布特征

为探讨伏牛山区坡耕地土壤物理性能的退化特征,在河南省鲁山县迎河小流域,利用激光粒度仪和土壤分形模型,比较分析了4种土地利用类型的土壤粒径分布(PSD)及其分形特征.研究结果表明:1)土壤PSD简单分维(Dv)以乔木林地最高(2.658),坡耕地最低(2.489),多重分维(容量维D0、信息维D1、关联维D2)以乔木林地最高(0.941、0.926、0.91),坡耕地最低(0.927、0.899、0.849).不同分形参数均表现为:坡耕地＜灌草坡地和水平梯田＜乔木林地;2)土壤PSD的Dv、D0、D1和D2,与黏粒和粉粒体积分数显著正相关,与砂粒体积分数显著负相关.因此,利用土壤PSD简单分形和多重分形维数,可量化表征土壤质地的粗细程度和非均匀性质的差别;坡耕地土壤质地的粗粒化程度和非均匀性明显大于其他土地利用类型;土壤细粒(黏粒和粉粒)物质流失是坡耕地土壤质地粗粒化和非均匀程度增大的重要原因.     

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.