Anisotropy of pore functions in structured Stagnic Luvisols in the Weichselian moraine region in N Germany

DOI Web Site Web Site 2 Citations

Bibliographic Information

Published
2006-03-28
Rights Information
  • http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
DOI
  • 10.1002/jpln.200521844
Publisher
Wiley

Search this article

Description

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>In order to determine if soil hydraulic properties present a direction‐dependent behavior, undisturbed samples were collected at different horizons and orientations (vertical, diagonal [45°], and horizontal) in structured soils in the Weichselian moraine region in northern Germany. The water‐retention curve (WRC), the saturated hydraulic conductivity (k<jats:sub>f</jats:sub>), and the air permeability (k<jats:sub>a</jats:sub>) were measured. The air‐filled porosity (ϵ<jats:sub>a</jats:sub>) was determined, and pore‐continuity indices (k<jats:sub>a</jats:sub>/ϵ<jats:sub>a</jats:sub>, k<jats:sub>a</jats:sub>/ϵ<jats:sub>a</jats:sub><jats:sup>2</jats:sup>, N) and blocked porosities (ϵ<jats:sub>b</jats:sub>) were derived from the relationship between k<jats:sub>a</jats:sub> and ϵ<jats:sub>a</jats:sub>.</jats:p><jats:p>The development of soil structures with defined forms and dimensions (<jats:italic>e.g.</jats:italic>, platy by soil compaction or prismatic up to subangular‐blocky by swelling–shrinkage processes) and the presence of biopores can induce a direction‐dependent behavior of pore functions. Although the pore volume as a scalar is isotropic, the saturated hydraulic conductivity and air permeability (as a function of air‐filled porosity) can be anisotropic. This behavior was observed in pore‐continuity indices showing that the identification of soil structure can be used as a first parameter to estimate if hydraulic properties present a direction‐dependent behavior at the scale of the soil horizon.</jats:p>

Journal

Citations (2)*help

See more

Report a problem

Back to top