Soil-structure Effects Research Articles

Particulate organic matter as a functional soil component for persistent soil organic carbon

The largest terrestrial organic carbon pool, carbon in soils, is regulated by an intricate connection between plant carbon inputs, microbial activity, and the soil matrix. This is manifested by how microorganisms, the key players in transforming plant-derived carbon into soil organic carbon, are controlled by the physical arrangement of organic and inorganic soil particles. Here we conduct an incubation of isotopically labelled litter to study effects of soil structure on the fate of litter-derived organic matter. While microbial activity and fungal growth is enhanced in the coarser-textured soil, we show that occlusion of organic matter into aggregates and formation of organo-mineral associations occur concurrently on fresh litter surfaces regardless of soil structure. These two mechanisms—the two most prominent processes contributing to the persistence of organic matter—occur directly at plant–soil interfaces, where surfaces of litter constitute a nucleus in the build-up of soil carbon persistence. We extend the notion of plant litter, i.e., particulate organic matter, from solely an easily available and labile carbon substrate, to a functional component at which persistence of soil carbon is directly determined.

English

Land degradation affecting the livelihoods of people living in dryland areas, particularly the Sub-Saharan Africa countries like Ethiopia. Degraded land rehabilitation in dryland is a challenging task due to moisture limitation. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of soil and water conservation structures on growth of planted tree and rehabilitation of indigenous plant species in West Guji Zone, Dugda Dawa District. Four multipurpose tree species (MPTs) namely Faidherbia albida, Melia azedarach, Moringa stenopetala, and Sesbania sesban were planted in four soil and moisture conservation structures (soil level bund, half-moon, trench and normal pit). Data of survival rate, height and diameter growth of planted tree species and, diversity and species richness of indigenous plant species were collected. The survival rate of all planted MPTs species were declining along the study years; however, the survival rate was better under soil level bund and half-moon. Under control treatments, all planted MPTs died at the end of the study period. The height and stem diameter of F. albida, M. azedarach and M. stenopetala were best in soil level bund and half-moon and followed by the trench. Whereas, the growth performance of Sesbania sesban was not significantly different among the three moisture conservation structures. Furthermore, soil moisture conservation structures significantly increased the indigenous plant species regeneration after the intervention. The mean indigenous plant species diversity and richness were significantly highest in half-moon and soil level bund followed by trench and, lowest in Control (normal pit). Thus, the results a potential for alternative forest and soil restoration in arid areas. Key words: Rehabilitation, Land degradation, survival rate,Trees growth, Indigenous plant species diversity, Moisture conservation structures. 

Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Structures on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties: The Case of Ejersa Lafo District, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Land degradation in the form of soil erosion and fertility depletion is the major environmental problem in Ethiopia. However, to curb this problem, soil and water conservation (SWC) structures are commonly practiced in many rural parts of Ethiopia. This study was conducted to assess the effects of SWC structures on selected soil physicochemical properties in Ejersa Lafo district. For this study, two kebeles (peasant associations) were selected purposively from the district based on the severity of soil erosion and information on SWC practices. The research design employed in this study was systematic, randomized, complete block design. A total of 12 composite soil samples were collected from the depth of 0 to 20 cm at two subwatersheds, namely, Jamjam laga batu and Koriso Odo guba with SWC and without SWC structures at three landscape positions. All the soil samples were analyzed following the standard and recommended procedures. The effect of independent variables (SWC practices and landscape positions) on the dependent variables (soil properties) was statistically tested using the SPSS computer program 21. In this study, most of the selected soil physicochemical properties were affected by watershed management intervention (SWC) structures. Soil moisture content (SMC), clay, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total N (TN), available (AP), available K (AK), and organic carbon (OC) were higher in the subwatershed treated with SWC structures (conserved), whereas bulk density, silt, and sand were higher in the subwatershed without SWC structures (nonconserved). Most of the selected soil chemical properties were significantly varied (p<0.05) between conserved and nonconserved farm land except EC. All the selected soil physicochemical properties did not show any significant variation (p<0.05) at landscape positions except sandy soil. The physicochemical soil properties of selected parameters were in good conditions in the conserved areas with higher N and OM and lower BD, indicating fertility of the soil compared with the nonconserved land. The implementation of SWC structures improved some of the physicochemical properties of soil, such as SMC, clay particle, pH, EC, total N, AP, AK, and OC in the study area. Furthermore, efforts are required to enhance community adoption towards soil and water conservation. Additionally, further research has to be carried out on socioeconomic aspects and impacts of the intervention on crop productivity for better understanding of the sustainable use of the land.

Seismic assessment of linked-column frame structural system considering soil-structure effects

The Linked Column Frame (LCF) structural system is comprised of moment-resisting frames as the primary gravity load-carrying system and a combination of closely-spaced dual columns interconnected with link beams acting together with the moment-resisting frames as the lateral load resisting system. In this system, the link beams are designed to provide ductility and deform plastically. As the damages are concentrated to the links thus, the LCF rapidly returns to occupancy design performance while retaining architectural privileges of the non-braced steel frames. In this study, 3, 6, and 9-story frames equipped with LCF and resting on soil type II and IV are subjected to seven near and far-field earthquake records. These structures are designed based on the plan of SAC buildings using SAP2000, and then, nonlinear time-history analyses were carried. The results indicate that maximum roof drift of the structures on stiff soil (type II) has been insignificantly affected under both near and far-field earthquakes. In soft soils (type IV), drifts values increase by 6.85%, subject to both far and near-field earthquakes. Moreover, in contrast to the stiff soil, roof acceleration has decreased more when the structure is on soft soil, nearly 6.12%. The result of maximum inter-story drift ratios of the structures founded on soil type II illustrates that under an average of near-field earthquakes, drift ratios of 3 and 6-story structures have increased by 3.2%. On the other hand, the 9-story structure has encountered a decrease of 5.17%. Under an average of near-field earthquakes in soil type IV, a drift ratio of 3 and 6 and 9-story structures has grown to 5.11 and 11.2%, respectively, compared to the fixed-base models. In far-field earthquakes, drift values of 3 and 6-story LCF were reduced by 6.2%, and the 9-story structure has experienced an increase of 8.79%.

A framework for quantifying hydrologic effects of soil structure across scales

Earth system models use soil information to parameterize hard-to-measure soil hydraulic properties based on pedotransfer functions. However, current parameterizations rely on sample-scale information which often does not account for biologically-promoted soil structure and heterogeneities in natural landscapes, which may significantly alter infiltration-runoff and other exchange processes at larger scales. Here we propose a systematic framework to incorporate soil structure corrections into pedotransfer functions, informed by remote-sensing vegetation metrics and local soil texture, and use numerical simulations to investigate their effects on spatially distributed and areal averaged infiltration-runoff partitioning. We demonstrate that small scale soil structure features prominently alter the hydrologic response emerging at larger scales and that upscaled parameterizations must consider spatial correlations between vegetation and soil texture. The proposed framework allows the incorporation of hydrological effects of soil structure with appropriate scale considerations into contemporary pedotransfer functions used for land surface parameterization.

Yağışların tarım alanlarında sebep olduğu göllenmelerin Sentinel-1 uydu görüntüleri ile analizi

In this study, the rainfall that was effective between 24.12.2019 - 08.01.2020 in Adana was analyzed together with the daily total precipitation data from 18 Automatic Meteorological Observation Stations located within and around the study area. The study area consists of the central districts of Adana province; Seyhan, Çukurova, Sarıçam and Yüreğir and the district of Karataş. The pondings in the districts mentioned due to these precipitations were analyzed using Sentinel-1 satellite images. Three different images were used as a satellite image in the study; before the precipitation (09.12.2019), during the precipitation (02.01.2020) and at the end of the precipitation (08.01.2020). In addition, the change of soil moisture in the region with precipitation was also examined. Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) was used as a soil moisture data source. In the study; the effects of altitude, slope, soil structure, soil moisture and precipitation on pondings were investigated. Precipitation increased soil moisture up to 2 times, and therefore it is thought that it helped pondings due to the decrease of leakage capacity of the soil. According to the analyses, in regions where ponding is intense; it has been mostly determined that the hydrological soil group is “D” and the slope is below 1%.

Soil-structure interaction effects on the seismic collapse capacity of steel moment-resisting frame buildings

FEMA P695 proposes quantification of soil-structure effects as a field of research to adjust the collapse margin ratio. The Winkler foundation with elastic and inelastic stiffness is used to address interaction effects. Three-, nine- and 20-story steel moment-resisting frame buildings are selected, and the collapse margin ratio of the buildings for site classes C and D are evaluated. The nonlinear soil behavior leads mostly to an increase in seismic collapse probability compared to linear soil behavior and fixed-base conditions. Finally, simplified adjustment equations are proposed for estimating the collapse margin ratio of structures considering the soil-structure interaction effects.

Fine root trait-function relationships affected by mycorrhizal type and climate

Root respiration is a critical function of root carbon cycling and accounts for a major component of the global carbon budget. However, the insufficient understanding of the global scaling relationships between root traits and respiration rate (Rr) impedes the accurate prediction of carbon effluxes from roots. Here, we analyzed a dataset of 138 species to unravel and quantify the effects of mycorrhizal type, climate, soil, and phylogenetic structure of species on fine root trait-function relationships. Four commonly measured traits were included: root nitrogen content (RNC), specific root length (SRL), root diameter, and root tissue density. We found that mycorrhizal type and climate affected the relationships between fine root traits and Rr. Specifically, the slopes of SRL-Rr and RNC-Rr relationships for ectomycorrhizal (EM) plants were significantly greater than those for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants, irrespective of the phylogenetic conservatism or plant growth forms. This finding suggested that EM plants consumed more carbon than AM plants for constructing root tissue structures. In a warmer environment, the SRL-Rr relationship was stronger while the RNC-Rr relationship was weaker, possibly because Rr was limited by enzyme activity at low temperature and by substrate supply at high temperature. Our results highlighted the importance of mycorrhizas in influencing the root trait-function relationships. Thus, incorporating mycorrhizal types into trait-based terrestrial biosphere models may help to more accurately predict the future carbon-climate change feedback.

Numerical Implementation of a Stress-Anisotropy Model for Bearing Capacity Analysis of Circular Footings in Clays Prone to Destructuration

Research indicates the presence of in situ structure of soil skeleton in several natural deposits of clay. However, the effect of such in situ structure and its evolution during loading are rarely accounted for in solution of boundary value problems in geomechanics. This paper explores the effects of inherent soil structure and its degradation on bearing capacity of circular footings in structured clays. An advanced constitutive model that accounts for stress-induced anisotropy, soil structure, and their evolutions with loading is implemented within a finite element analysis (FEA) framework. FEA results demonstrate a significant increase in the bearing capacity of structured clay as compared to that in reconstituted clay. Nonetheless, such an enhancement in limit bearing capacity is subdued by destructuration of soil below the footing. A bearing capacity factor accounting for soil destructuration is proposed for inclusion in the limit bearing capacity calculation of circular footings on structured clay. Successful numerical predictions of results from an instrumented field load test on a footing resting on structured clay further substantiates the importance of considering soil destructuration in bearing capacity analysis.

Coupled analysis of full flow penetration problems in soft sensitive clays

This study describes the development and implementation of a numerical procedure for the analysis of coupled geotechnical problems involving finite deformations, changing boundary conditions, multiphase porous media and softening behaviour. The numerical scheme is first validated through a benchmark problem concerning the laying of an on-bottom offshore pipeline, and then some further highlights of the effects of soil softening are presented. The scheme is then specifically employed to study the penetration process of a full flow cyclic T-bar test in soft sensitive clay. An advanced soil constitutive model has been implemented to capture the effects of soil structure and its progressive de-structuring as well as soil fabric anisotropy. Accordingly, the changing soil resistance due to the combined effects of soil softening, remoulding and reconsolidation is illustrated, by considering a T-bar undergoing large amplitude cyclic sequences interspersed with consolidation periods. The results from the numerical simulations reveal the effects of soil softening on the soil deformation pattern, the evolution of shear bands, the generation of excess pore pressures and the process of soil reconsolidation.

The Design of Payload Lunar Regolith Penetrating Radar on Chang'E-5 Lander

Sampling return in Chang'E-5 (CE-5) mission is the third phase of three strategic steps of China's lunar program. The three strategic steps are orbiting, landing, and returning. The sampling and drilling device is mounted on the Lander. One task of the CE-5 Lunar Regolith Penetrating Radar (LRPR) is to provide information support for the drilling and sampling device. This article introduces the scientific objectives of CE-5 LRPR and the difference with Chang'E-3 lunar penetrating radar. The system design, working principle, imaging, and calibration methods of LRPR are the highlight. Considering that the Lander is stationary, and its bottom is about 90 cm from the lunar surface, an antenna array is adopted to probe the subsurface structure and the regolith thickness for supporting the drilling. The design uses a pre-amplifier circuit to increase the dynamic range of the whole system, which enhances the detection effect of shallow lunar soil structure. For verifying the probing ability of LRPR, the marble slabs, metal balls, and stones are buried in the volcanic ash pool in advance for detection and verification. The pre-stack Kirchhoff depth migration imaging method is adopted to identify the burial depth and thickness of the target. The verification results meet the task requirements.

A hillslope version of the revised Morgan, Morgan and Finney water erosion model

The revised Morgan, Morgan and Finney (rMMF) water erosion model calculates annual surface runoff and soil loss from field-sized areas. The original version of the rMMF is neither suited to calculate water erosion along irregular hillslopes, nor capable to allow infiltration of once generated surface runoff at places where the runoff speed slows down, and infiltration could occur under natural conditions. The aim of this article is to describe a new hillslope version of the rMMF model that allows infiltration of surface runoff, and to show examples of soil erosion modelling along real and hypothetical hillslopes. The new hillslope version (hMMF) splits the entire hillslope into a number of sections that have individual properties, such as slope angle, slope length, soil properties and vegetation characteristics. The surface runoff along the slope is calculated by summing the volume of surface runoff generated in a particular section with the surface runoff coming from the immediate upslope section. The related sediment transport is calculated for each section using the calculated detachment for the section, the sediment coming from the upslope section and the transport capacity. A new variable is introduced to account for infiltration of surface runoff and allows simulating the effects of soil and water conservation structures on water erosion. The model was tested using measured data from plots in Africa, Asia, the US and Europe, as well as for a surveyed hillslope in Tunisia (Barbara watershed). Overall, the performance of the hMMF was reasonable for surface runoff and poor for soil loss when recommended input variable values are used. Calibration of the model resulted in a good performance, which shows the capability of the hMMF model to reproduce measured surface runoff and erosion amounts. In addition, realistic water erosion patterns on hillslopes with soil and water conservation can be simulated.

Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Structures on Crop Yield, Lemo District, Southern Ethiopia

Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Structures on Crop Yield, Lemo District, Southern Ethiopia

An elastic-viscous-plastic structured UH model

On the basis of the structured unified hardening model (structured UH model) considering soil structured collapse, the time effect is take into account, and an elastic-viscous-plastic structured UH model is extended. In the presented model, the moving normal compression line (MNCL) is extended to a moving instant normal compression line (MINCL) for simulating both soil structure effect and time effect. Then the instance plastic strains irrespective of time effect are calculated by referring the MINCL, and the plastic strains due to time effect are calculated by referring the traditional instant normal compression line. Comparisons between test data and model simulation indicate that the presented elastic-viscous-plastic structured UH model is qualified to simulate the combined actions of soil structure and time effects both in compression and in shearing.

Effect of microstructure on water retention behavior of lateritic clay over a wide suction range

To investigate the effects of soil structrue and dry density on water retention behavior of lateritic clay over a wide suction range, the axial translation technique (ATT), filter paper technique (FPT) and vapour equilibrium technique (VET) were combined to obtain soil-water retention curves (SWRCs) of specimens with different structures and dry densities. Measured SWRCs indicate that the air-entry value (AEV) and descent gradient in terms of saturation degree versus suction relationship are smallest for undisturbed specimens, and are largest for pre-consolidated specimens. The SWRCs obtained from compacted specimens with different dry densities illustrate that the AEV and descent gradient of saturation degree versus suction relationship increase with increasing the dry density. However, the effects of soil structure and dry density on the water retention behavior can be negligible at high suctions, which are verified by the curves of gravimetric water content (w) verusus suction (s) coincided after a limiting suction for specimens with different structures and dry densities. In addition, the water retention behavior can be well illustrated by pore size distributions (PSDs), obtained from mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The AEVs depend on the diameters that corresponding to dramatically increase in differential intruded void ratio. And the descent gradients in the saturation degree versus suction relationship depend on their distinct PSD ranges and incremental peaks in the dominant pore sizes. Furthermore, the consistences of the AEVs and limiting suctions, deduced from the PSDs and SWRCs, demonstrate that the water retention behavior is highly dependent on the PSDs, and the SWRC features can be captured well by the PSDs.

Plasticity in extended phenotypes: how the antlion Myrmeleon crudelis adjusts the pit traps depending on biotic and abiotic conditions

Abstract The physical structures built by animals are considered extended phenotypes that reflect how organisms make decisions and deal with changes in their biotic and abiotic environment. We summarize the results of several studies on Myrmeleon crudelis, a neuropteran larva that digs pit-traps in the soil to capture small arthropods (mostly ants) in the tropical dry forests of Costa Rica. Specifically, we showed how this species responds to varying biotic and abiotic conditions with changes in the design and/or location of its pit traps. Several experiments and field comparisons indicate that: 1) antlions adjust the pit design according to the abundance and type of prey. When prey is scarce, antlions increased trap diameter, an architectural adjustment that enhances the probability of prey encounter. Antlions that experienced high prey abundance, but the prey easily escaped, then increased pit depth, an adjustment that increases the chance of prey retention; 2) soil compaction strongly reduced pit-trap size and abundance; 3) antlions preferred soils with high proportion of fine-particle size to build pits. In fine-grained soil, pit-traps are larger and more efficient to capture prey than traps in coarse-grained soils; and 4) pit-traps may also be affected through indirect effects of soil structure and vegetation cover. Areas with fine-soil presented less plant cover, and plant cover could be beneficial for antlions because it acts as a shelter against direct sunlight and rainfall, or it may represent a cost because it is a source of leaflitter falling in the pits. The works summarized here how trap-building predators can exhibit considerable flexibility in trap construction in response to various biotic and abiotic factors, emphasizing how the study of extended phenotypes can be a useful approach to better understand the flexibility of foraging behaviors.

How to relevantly characterize hydraulic properties of saline and sodic soils for water and solute transport simulations

Proper sets of soil hydraulic parameters are important for modeling water flow and solute transport. Using field saline water and laboratory tap water, this study systematically analyzed and compared laboratory saturated hydraulic conductivity, Kls and soil water retention curve, SWRC of saline soil within three soil multi-layered profiles to find out the adequate initial hydraulic parameter set of a hydrological model. Falling and constant head methods were applied on three undisturbed samples per pedogenic horizon. SWRC were established on the same samples, using both saline and tap water. Results showed the spatial variability of hydraulic properties in vertical and horizontal dimensions when comparing soil profiles' properties. The constant head method with saline water resulted in the highest Kls values followed by the falling head method with saline water, the constant head method with fresh water, and the falling head method with fresh water. The differences in Kls were up to two orders of magnitude when comparing all datasets. Fresh water reduced soil water retention significantly. A significant correlation between the hydraulic properties and some physical and chemical properties suggests that the effects of soil texture, structure, calcium carbonate and gypsum content, and CEC (clay mineralogy) were larger than those of salt content. The change in hydraulic properties and the dependency on the procedure use may be attributed to aggregate breakdown and plugging of macropores, clay heterogeneity and dispersion, calcium carbonate and gypsum dissolution, all damaging soil structure. Simulation runs illustrated that hydraulic properties obtained with saline water resulted in better model performance than when using the conventional procedures with fresh/tap water. A proper set of initial hydraulic parameter values is an important step in model calibration and thus must be characterized correctly. Therefore, to hydraulically characterize saline soil, procedures should be standardized. Moreover, the approach and results of this study may provide a reference for characterization of soil hydraulic properties of saline and sodic soils effectively.

Analysis of the impacts of hydrology, soil properties, and geotechnics on gully propagation on the Edda-Afikpo Mesas of the Lower Cross River watershed (southeastern Nigeria)

The effects of hydrology, soil structure, and geotechnics on soil loss and gully propagation on the Edda-Afikpo Mesas (southeastern Nigeria) were assessed by field studies, laboratory soil analyses, and GIS modeling.The study was carried out to attribute causality and recommend mitigation measures in the fast degrading settlement. Results of field studies indicate that two areas in the study region were of exceptionally negative pore pressure values (−654.03 kPa and −676.89 kPa, respectively) at ground surface level and significantly negative at 50 m below ground level (−163.53 kPa and −186.39 kPa, respectively); both areas aligned in the northeast-southwest direction. These two areas were further characterized by comparatively higher hydraulic heads (158–206 m), seasonal fluctuations of water level, and rapid drainage enhanced by springs flow. Developed models revealed that a slight water level increase in these areas, combined with high surface infiltration as a result of significant permeability values (ranged between 1.522 × 10−3 cm/s and 1.744 × 10−3 cm/s) would translate into positive pore pressure development and seepage flow due to hydraulic gradient towards the slope toes. Thus, the lower part of the slopes on the mesas experiences higher positive pore pressure build-up and particle uplift. This scenario most likely plays out seasonally and could be responsible for the toe failures that are predominant in the area. Results of laboratory analyses further revealed that the soils have geotechnical properties (significant natural moisture content, low to moderate plasticity, marginally low bulk density, and specific gravity and shear strength) that increased their soil loss and gully propagation potentials, exacerbated by hydrology, soil structure, and human factors. This study, therefore, advocates that the solution to erosion and gully menace in the area, and other places with similar geological, topographic, and climatic situations would require an integrated approach.

Investigating the Effect of Pseudo-Static Components on Bridge Structures under Multiple Support Excitations Using Conditional Simulated Records

Long-span bridges, as vital structures, play an important role in economic development. Previous studies revealed that the seismic responses of such structures, under non-uniform excitations, are different from the same result due to uniform excitations. Furthermore, the results of several earthquake-damaged bridges showed that their seismic behavior was different from that predicted under uniform excitation and, in some cases; the responses were more than predicted results. Therefore, the damaged bridges under non-uniform excitations were re-analyzed and the obtained results were in good agreement with the recorded outcomes. Considering current bridge designing codes it is clear that almost all of them ignored it and just the Euro Code 2008 prepared some recommendations. It is found that the main reason for the differences in results from the uniform and non-uniform excitations is the spatial variation of earthquake ground motions. Based on the papers three phenomena were introduced for spatial variability of ground motion: the wave-passage, the incoherence, and also the site-response effects. The responses of structures under non-uniform excitations obtained from the superposition of dynamic and pseudo-static components. This paper investigated the seismic behavior of a long-span structure under non-uniform movements to evaluate the most undesirable conditions. So, different soils and load combinations considered and soil-structure effects included. The effect of wave-passage, incoherence, and site-response on the structure was measured and the results were compared with the uniform excitation. The results indicate that the variation in soil condition significantly affects the seismic responses under non-uniform excitations. Also, it is found that the results from uniform excitations with considering soil-structure interactions are remarkably increased. Moreover, the outcomes of analysis under-considered load cases and soil conditions showed that ignoring the spatially varying ground motions may lead to a non-conservative design.

Soil pore system evaluated from gas measurements and CT images: A conceptual study using artificial, natural and 3D‐printed soil cores

AbstractCombining digital imaging, physical models and laboratory measurements is a step further towards a better understanding of the complex relationships between the soil pore system and soil functions. Eight natural 100‐cm3 soil cores were sampled in a cultivated Stagnic Luvisol from the topsoil and subsoil, which we assumed had contrasting pore systems. Artificial 100‐cm3 cores were produced from plastic or from autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). Eight vertical holes of each diameter (1.5 and 3 mm) were drilled for the plastic cylinder and for one of the two AAC cylinders. All natural and artificial cores were scanned in an X‐ray CT scanner and printed in 3D. Effective air‐filled porosity, true Darcian air permeability, apparent air permeability at a pressure gradient of 5 hPa and oxygen diffusion were measured on all cores. The active pore system characteristics differed between topsoil (sponge‐like, network of macropores of similar size) and subsoil (dominated by large vertical macropores). Active soil pore characteristics measured on a simplified pore network, that is, from artificial and printed soil cores, supported the fundamental differences in air transport by convection and diffusion observed between top‐ and subsoil. The results confirm the suitability of using the conceptual model that partitions the pore system into arterial, marginal and remote pores to describe effects of soil structure on gas transport. This study showed the high potential of using 3D‐printed soil cores to reconstruct the soil macropore network for a better understanding of soil pore functions.