Structural Changes of Compacted Soil Layers in Northeast China due to Freezing-Thawing Processes

Li Wang, Hengfei Wang, Zhengchao Tian, Yili Lu, Weida Gao and Tusheng Ren
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Li Wang: College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Hengfei Wang: College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Zhengchao Tian: College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Yili Lu: College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Weida Gao: College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Tusheng Ren: College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Soil compaction has become a global concern that reduces soil quality and may jeopardize agricultural sustainability. The objective of this study is to evaluate if the freezing–thawing process can alleviate the negative effects of soil compaction during overwinter time in Northeast China. The field experiment was a split plot design including two surface treatments (bare and mulch) and three compaction levels (low, moderate, and high compactions with initial bulk densities of 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 g cm −3 ). Results showed that compared with initial values in the fall, freezing–thawing events increased soil porosity (by 4.28% to 25.68%) and the ratio of large-size pores (by 44.5% to 387.6%) after thawing in the spring. The greatest changes were observed in the high compaction treatment, and mulch-enhanced soil structural transformation. Additionally, the ratio of large-size aggregates (>1 mm) was increased and the fraction of small-size aggregates (<1 mm) was decreased. These changes in soil structural characteristics were attributed mainly to the modification of ice-filled pores space during the overwinter period. We concluded that the freezing–thawing process was an effective natural force for ameliorating soil compaction in Northeast China.

Keywords: freezing and thawing; soil compaction; pore size distribution; aggregate size distribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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