Effects of vegetation restoration on soil aggregate microstructure quantified with synchrotron-based micro-computed tomography

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  • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
  • Kiel University
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17-23
Number of pages7
JournalSoil and Tillage Research
Volume124
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2012
Externally publishedYes

Abstract

Vegetation restoration is expected to improve soil microstructure and therefore enhance soil stability and reduce soil erosion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term vegetation restoration on the modification of aggregate microstructure with synchrotron-based high resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (SR-μCT). Triplicate aggregates (5-mm diameter) from (a) severely eroded bare land (BL) and (b) two decades of vegetation restoration land (RL) from Ultisol, Southern China, were collected and scanned with 9μm voxel-resolution at SSRF (Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility). ImageJ software and multifractal theory were used to analyze and quantify aggregate pore structure. Aggregate water stability, mechanical stability, and basic soil properties were also evaluated. Results showed that aggregate water stability and SOM content significantly increased in the RL treatment, while aggregate mechanical stability showed an inverse trend. The microstructure of aggregates had evolved from a very dense massive microstructure to a more porous hierarchical microstructure after two decades of vegetation restoration. Porosity, macro-porosity, fraction of elongated pores, and specific surface area were significantly higher in the RL aggregates as compared to the BL aggregates. Multifractal scaling was observed for the pore structure of the studied aggregates. Generalized dimensions (D q) were significantly higher in the RL treatment as compared to BL treatment, indicating improved pore system after vegetation restoration. This improved microstructure of RL aggregates was attributed to the increased SOM that prompted soil aggregation. This study showed the positive effects of vegetation restoration on soil microstructure and water stability, which was beneficial to the reduction of soil erosion and to the improvement of soil quality in this region.

Keywords

    Micro-computed tomography, Microstructure, Multifractal, Soil aggregate, Vegetation restoration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

Effects of vegetation restoration on soil aggregate microstructure quantified with synchrotron-based micro-computed tomography. / Zhou, H.; Peng, X.; Peth, S. et al.
In: Soil and Tillage Research, Vol. 124, 08.2012, p. 17-23.

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@article{0c478372203b457d9e2c8911c1b42ab2,
title = "Effects of vegetation restoration on soil aggregate microstructure quantified with synchrotron-based micro-computed tomography",
abstract = "Vegetation restoration is expected to improve soil microstructure and therefore enhance soil stability and reduce soil erosion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term vegetation restoration on the modification of aggregate microstructure with synchrotron-based high resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (SR-μCT). Triplicate aggregates (5-mm diameter) from (a) severely eroded bare land (BL) and (b) two decades of vegetation restoration land (RL) from Ultisol, Southern China, were collected and scanned with 9μm voxel-resolution at SSRF (Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility). ImageJ software and multifractal theory were used to analyze and quantify aggregate pore structure. Aggregate water stability, mechanical stability, and basic soil properties were also evaluated. Results showed that aggregate water stability and SOM content significantly increased in the RL treatment, while aggregate mechanical stability showed an inverse trend. The microstructure of aggregates had evolved from a very dense massive microstructure to a more porous hierarchical microstructure after two decades of vegetation restoration. Porosity, macro-porosity, fraction of elongated pores, and specific surface area were significantly higher in the RL aggregates as compared to the BL aggregates. Multifractal scaling was observed for the pore structure of the studied aggregates. Generalized dimensions (D q) were significantly higher in the RL treatment as compared to BL treatment, indicating improved pore system after vegetation restoration. This improved microstructure of RL aggregates was attributed to the increased SOM that prompted soil aggregation. This study showed the positive effects of vegetation restoration on soil microstructure and water stability, which was beneficial to the reduction of soil erosion and to the improvement of soil quality in this region.",
keywords = "Micro-computed tomography, Microstructure, Multifractal, Soil aggregate, Vegetation restoration",
author = "H. Zhou and X. Peng and S. Peth and Xiao, {T. Q.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 41101200 and 41171180 ), the National Key Technology R&D Program of China ( 2011BAD31B04 ), and the “100 Talents Program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences . The authors thank SSRF (Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation facility) for supporting the use of the radiation source. ",
year = "2012",
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doi = "10.1016/j.still.2012.04.006",
language = "English",
volume = "124",
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journal = "Soil and Tillage Research",
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TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of vegetation restoration on soil aggregate microstructure quantified with synchrotron-based micro-computed tomography

AU - Zhou, H.

AU - Peng, X.

AU - Peth, S.

AU - Xiao, T. Q.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 41101200 and 41171180 ), the National Key Technology R&D Program of China ( 2011BAD31B04 ), and the “100 Talents Program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences . The authors thank SSRF (Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation facility) for supporting the use of the radiation source.

PY - 2012/8

Y1 - 2012/8

N2 - Vegetation restoration is expected to improve soil microstructure and therefore enhance soil stability and reduce soil erosion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term vegetation restoration on the modification of aggregate microstructure with synchrotron-based high resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (SR-μCT). Triplicate aggregates (5-mm diameter) from (a) severely eroded bare land (BL) and (b) two decades of vegetation restoration land (RL) from Ultisol, Southern China, were collected and scanned with 9μm voxel-resolution at SSRF (Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility). ImageJ software and multifractal theory were used to analyze and quantify aggregate pore structure. Aggregate water stability, mechanical stability, and basic soil properties were also evaluated. Results showed that aggregate water stability and SOM content significantly increased in the RL treatment, while aggregate mechanical stability showed an inverse trend. The microstructure of aggregates had evolved from a very dense massive microstructure to a more porous hierarchical microstructure after two decades of vegetation restoration. Porosity, macro-porosity, fraction of elongated pores, and specific surface area were significantly higher in the RL aggregates as compared to the BL aggregates. Multifractal scaling was observed for the pore structure of the studied aggregates. Generalized dimensions (D q) were significantly higher in the RL treatment as compared to BL treatment, indicating improved pore system after vegetation restoration. This improved microstructure of RL aggregates was attributed to the increased SOM that prompted soil aggregation. This study showed the positive effects of vegetation restoration on soil microstructure and water stability, which was beneficial to the reduction of soil erosion and to the improvement of soil quality in this region.

AB - Vegetation restoration is expected to improve soil microstructure and therefore enhance soil stability and reduce soil erosion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term vegetation restoration on the modification of aggregate microstructure with synchrotron-based high resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (SR-μCT). Triplicate aggregates (5-mm diameter) from (a) severely eroded bare land (BL) and (b) two decades of vegetation restoration land (RL) from Ultisol, Southern China, were collected and scanned with 9μm voxel-resolution at SSRF (Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility). ImageJ software and multifractal theory were used to analyze and quantify aggregate pore structure. Aggregate water stability, mechanical stability, and basic soil properties were also evaluated. Results showed that aggregate water stability and SOM content significantly increased in the RL treatment, while aggregate mechanical stability showed an inverse trend. The microstructure of aggregates had evolved from a very dense massive microstructure to a more porous hierarchical microstructure after two decades of vegetation restoration. Porosity, macro-porosity, fraction of elongated pores, and specific surface area were significantly higher in the RL aggregates as compared to the BL aggregates. Multifractal scaling was observed for the pore structure of the studied aggregates. Generalized dimensions (D q) were significantly higher in the RL treatment as compared to BL treatment, indicating improved pore system after vegetation restoration. This improved microstructure of RL aggregates was attributed to the increased SOM that prompted soil aggregation. This study showed the positive effects of vegetation restoration on soil microstructure and water stability, which was beneficial to the reduction of soil erosion and to the improvement of soil quality in this region.

KW - Micro-computed tomography

KW - Microstructure

KW - Multifractal

KW - Soil aggregate

KW - Vegetation restoration

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U2 - 10.1016/j.still.2012.04.006

DO - 10.1016/j.still.2012.04.006

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84861329521

VL - 124

SP - 17

EP - 23

JO - Soil and Tillage Research

JF - Soil and Tillage Research

SN - 0167-1987

ER -

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