Linking Microstructure and Hydraulic Behavior in Cocopeat–Based Substrates Using Pore-Scale Flow Simulation and Micro-CT

Kai Yao, Tianxiao Li, Qiang Fu, Jing Wang, Weikang Li, Xuan Zhang and Jing Li ()
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Kai Yao: College of Water Conservancy, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
Tianxiao Li: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Qiang Fu: College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Jing Wang: College of Water Conservancy, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
Weikang Li: College of Water Conservancy, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
Xuan Zhang: College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
Jing Li: College of Water Conservancy, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-24

Abstract: The pore structure of cocopeat-based substrates critically influences their hydraulic properties, directly affecting water use efficiency in soilless cultivation systems. Previous macroscopic modeling approaches infer pore structures indirectly from water retention curves and rely on empirical parameterization of pore geometry and connectivity, overlooking microscale features that directly control fluid pathways and permeability. To address this gap, this study employed micro-CT imaging to reconstruct the three-dimensional pore structures of coarse cocopeat and a fine cocopeat–perlite mixture. Nine regions of interest (ROIs), representing three typical pore types in each substrate, were selected for quantitative pore structure analysis and pore-scale saturated flow simulations. Results show that over 90% of pore diameters in both substrates fall within the 0–400 μm range, and variations in cocopeat particle size and perlite addition significantly affect average pore diameter, porosity, fractal dimension, and tortuosity, thereby influencing permeability and local flow distribution. This study provides new insights into the microscale mechanisms governing water movement in cocopeat-based substrates and reveals key structural factors regulating hydraulic behavior in soilless cultivation systems.

Keywords: soilless substrate; X-ray; 3D pore structure; velocity distribution; permeability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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