Linking pore network structure derived by microfocus X-ray CT to mass transport parameters in differently compacted loamy soils
Arjun Baniya
A , Ken Kawamoto A F , Shoichiro Hamamoto B , Toshihiro Sakaki C , Takeshi Saito A , Karin Müller D , Per Moldrup E and Toshiko Komatsu A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan.
B Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1, Yayoi, Bunkyoku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
C Department of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 615-8246, Japan.
D The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (PFR), Production Footprints, Bisley Road, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand.
E Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark.
F Corresponding author. Email: kawamoto@mail.saitama-u.ac.jp
Soil Research 57(6) 642-656 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR18186
Submitted: 1 July 2018 Accepted: 29 May 2019 Published: 17 July 2019
Abstract
Mass transport in soil occurs through the soil pore network, which is highly influenced by pore structural parameters such as pore-size distribution, porosity, pore tortuosity, and coordination number. In this study, we visualised the networks of meso- and macro-pores (typical pore radius r ≥ 10 μm) using microfocus X-ray computed tomography (MFXCT) and evaluated pore structural parameters of two loamy soils from Japan and New Zealand packed at different degrees of compaction. The effect of compaction on pore structural parameters and relationships between pore structural parameters and measured mass transport parameters were examined. Results showed a clear influence of compaction on pore structural parameters, with the MFXCT-derived mean pore radii and pore tortuosities decreasing and the mean pore coordination number increasing with increasing dry bulk density. Especially, pores with r > 80 µm became finer or were not well formed due to compaction. The MFXCT-derived pore structural parameters were not well correlated with the equivalent pore radii from measured water retention curves. However, volumetric surface areas and pore-network connectivity-tortuosity factors derived from MFXCT allowed a fair prediction of several important mass transport parameters such as saturated hydraulic conductivities, soil-gas diffusion coefficients, and soil-air permeabilities. Further studies are needed to link micro-pores with radii smaller than the X-ray CT resolution to meso- and macro-pores visualised by X-ray CT to improve the prediction of mass transport parameters in soil.
Additional keywords: air permeability, hydraulic conductivity, microfocus X-ray computed tomography (MFXCT), pore network, soil gas diffusion coefficient.
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