Abstract
Due to the widespread use of heavy machinery, improper soil tillage practices, and insufficient soil organic materials input, soil compaction has become a major issue affecting soil function in modern agriculture and the sustainability of the environment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the responses of soil mechanical parameters to soil water content and soil organic matter content (SOM), and to investigate the physical properties of nine disturbed soils in a black soil region in Northeast China. The soil samples were capillary saturated and subjected to 6, 10, 100, 600, and 800 kPa soil water suction (SWS), and pre-compression stress (σp), compression index (Cc), and decompression index (Dc) were measured. SWS and SOM, and their interaction, significantly influenced the mechanical parameters. σp increased with an increase in SWS until 600 kPa, while Dc exhibited an opposite trend with an increase in SWS. Cc had a peak value at SWS of 100 kPa. All mechanical parameter values were higher under high SOM than under low SOM. σp, Cc, and Dc were influenced variably by different soil physicochemical factors. Structural equation modeling results revealed that soil mechanical parameters were directly and indirectly influenced by soil texture and mean weight diameter of aggregates, in addition to SOM and SWS. According to the results of the present study, based on soil mechanical and physical properties, increasing SOM and ensuring suitable soil water content during tillage could be applied as management strategies to minimize further soil compaction and improve soil resilience, and thus promote the sustainable development of agriculture in Northeast China.
Highlights
The black soil in Northeast China is characterized by a dark surface and rich organic matter [1,2]
The soils sampled from the southern sites, such as LCA, LCB, LSY, and LAH, had no significant differences in σp at soil water suction (SWS) conditions of 6 kPa and 10 kPa. σp increased first and decreased under SWS conditions of 100 kPa, 600 kPa, and 800 kPa
The σp increased with an increase in SWS; σp declined decompression index
Summary
The black soil in Northeast China is characterized by a dark surface and rich organic matter [1,2]. Sustainability 2022, 14, 2620 from soil compression curves and resilience curves that typically describe the relationship between void ratio and the logarithm of applied mechanical stress, and represent load-bearing capacity and resilience capacity following compaction [12,13,14,15]. Kuan et al [18] observed that SOM content was correlated strongly with resilience following the elimination of physical stress. Such elastic rebound following stress release was relatively high in two Oxisols and was attributed to high SOM concentrations under a no-till condition [19]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
