Characterization of the Pore Network of a Cohesive Oxisol Through Morphological and Pore Complexity Analyses

Jocenei A. T. de Oliveira (), Thaís N. Pessoa, José V. Gaspareto, Adolfo N. D. Posadas, André L. F. Lourenço, Paulo L. Libardi and Luiz F. Pires
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Jocenei A. T. de Oliveira: Laboratory of Physics Applied to Soils and Environmental Sciences, Department of Physics, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa CP 84030-900, Paraná, Brazil
Thaís N. Pessoa: Department of Soil Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, São Paulo CP 13418-900, Sao Paulo, Brazil
José V. Gaspareto: Laboratory of Physics Applied to Soils and Environmental Sciences, Department of Physics, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa CP 84030-900, Paraná, Brazil
Adolfo N. D. Posadas: AgriEntech Ltda., São Carlos CP 13560-460, São Paulo, Brazil
André L. F. Lourenço: AgriEntech Ltda., São Carlos CP 13560-460, São Paulo, Brazil
Paulo L. Libardi: Department of Soil Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, São Paulo CP 13418-900, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Luiz F. Pires: Laboratory of Physics Applied to Soils and Environmental Sciences, Department of Physics, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa CP 84030-900, Paraná, Brazil

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: Cohesive Oxisols are a type of soil common in the Coastal Plateau in Brazil. These soils represent a challenge for agriculture and their study is fundamental to better land use. There have been a few studies on the porous system of cohesive soils on the micrometer scale. Our study aimed to provide a detailed analysis of the pore complexity of the cohesive horizon of a Brazilian Oxisol using 3D images (volumetric data reconstructed by 2D CT slices) and to correlate these parameters with soil physical–hydric attributes. For this purpose, images with two different resolutions were analyzed from multifractal, lacunarity, and entropy analyses. Additionally, a characterization of hydraulic properties was carried out based on a soil water retention curve (SWRC). No differences were observed between the resolutions for the different physical parameters analyzed. The lacunarity analysis showed a greater homogeneity of the pore system with pores grouped in clusters. The multifractal analysis showed fractal characteristics for the cohesive horizon, suggesting a more homogeneous pore distribution. The main results obtained from the SWRC showed a low available water content due to the predominance of ultramicropores. Overall, the results show a less complex pore system, indicating the presence of pores of small sizes, affecting the water retention and conduction through the soil.

Keywords: 3D image analysis; X-ray microtomography; Shannon entropy; lacunarity; pore architecture; cohesive horizon; soil pore system (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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