Impact Of Soil Texture Research Articles

Using the Soil Texture Triangle to Evaluate the Effect of Soil Texture on Water Flow: A Review

Abstract: Water flow through soil is a critical process that affects many aspects of soil health and environmental sustainability. Soil texture, which is the relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles in soil, plays a significant role in regulating water flow through soils. The soil texture triangle is a widely used tool for classifying soil texture based on the proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles. This review paper aims to evaluate the effect of soil texture on water flow through soils using the soil texture triangle. The paper presents an overview of the soil texture triangle and its applications in soil texture classification, followed by a discussion of the relationship between soil texture and water flow. The paper reviews existing literature on the impact of soil texture on water flow and summarizes the key findings. The review highlights the importance of soil texture in regulating water flow through soils and discusses the implications for soil management and environmental sustainability. The paper concludes by identifying areas for future research to improve our understanding of the relationship between soil texture and water flow.

Effects of microplastics on the water characteristic curve of soils with different textures

Microplastic (MP) pollution in the soil severely damages the soil structure and affects the soil water-holding property, thereby affecting the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC). After polyethylene MP (PE-MP) addition at three concentrations (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) under three particle sizes (150 μm, 550 μm, and 950 μm) and two soil textures (sandy soil and loamy soil), SWCCs were measured and fitted with the van Genuchten model. The soil pore structure characteristics were obtained based on CT scanning combined with soil pore three-dimensional reconstruction to quantitatively analyze the relationships between MP properties and soil structure and the SWCC. Low concentrations (0.5%) of PE-MPs did not significantly affect the soil water content, while the accumulation of PE-MPs at a high concentration (2%) strongly affected the soil water-holding property, with small PE-MPs (150 μm) exerting significantly positive effects on the water-holding capacity of loamy soil and 950-μm MPs reducing the soil water content more strongly in sandy soil. The contributions of MP properties and soil textures to the SWCCs differed, and the impact of soil texture on the SWCCs was significantly higher than those of MP concentrations and particle sizes. Differences in MP occurrence characteristics and soil textures also led to variations in the fitted hydraulic parameters of the SWCCs. The addition of 2% 150-μm PE-MPs to loamy soil increased the soil porosity and surface area, while the addition of a higher concentration of large PE-MPs (2%, 950 μm) to sandy soil reduced soil porosity and circularity. This is related to the addition of a large number of small MPs, which may adsorb and bind many smaller soil particles to form larger, water-stable agglomerated structures, while the addition of high concentrations of large MPs in sandy soils may be related to the destruction of the original capillary pore structure of sandy soils and the weakening of soil capillarity. This study provides a theoretical basis for agroecological risk assessments.

Impact of soil texture and salt type on salt precipitation and evaporation under different hydraulic conditions

AbstractSalt precipitation and evaporation in porous media is an important research topic. However, several aspects remain controversial; notably, whether efflorescence inhibits evaporation in wet soil, the influence of soil texture on salt crust formation and the effect of sulphate precipitation on evaporation under changing hydraulic conditions. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of salt type (NaCl and Na2SO4) and soil texture (sandy soil, sandy loam and silt loam) on salt precipitation and evaporation under different hydraulic conditions (with and without fixed groundwater). Our results demonstrated that a NaCl salt crust strongly inhibited evaporation, even from wet soil (with groundwater), owing to its denser salt structure, which inhibited fluid flow. Moreover, the salt crust pattern differed based on soil texture. Relatively thin, flat and uniform salt crusts were developed in finer soils (silt loam), with greater evaporation resistance, whereas thick and rough salt crusts were developed in coarser soil (sandy soil), with less evaporation resistance. Na2SO4 was precipitated as subflorescence in drying soil, whereas wet soils exhibited a mixed salt precipitation pattern including both efflorescence and subflorescence. Notably, evaporation was primarily inhibited by efflorescence, rather than subflorescence. Our research provides novel insights into the dynamics of salt precipitation and evaporation in natural soils.

Impact of soil texture on conidia movement and residual effect of entomopathogenic fungi applied through irrigation to control fruit-fly pupae in mango orchards

While most measures to control Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) target larvae and adult insects, entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have shown promising results against pupae in the soil. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of soil texture on conidial transportation, residual effect, and C. capitata mortality caused by two virulent strains of EPF. The strains were applied to soil columns previously packed with a sandy or a clayey Ultisol using simulated drip irrigation. There were no statistical differences in conidial transportation through soil layers between the sandy and the clayey Ultisol. >90% of conidia were retained in first 40 mm. However, Beauveria bassiana BbLCB289 applied in the sandy soil showed higher pupae and adult mortality. Premixing EPF conidia with siloxane 0.05% v/v increased the percolation of conidial suspensions of BbLCB289 in the sandy soil, but no effect was observed on Metarhizium anisopliae MaLCB255. However, it did not interfere with insect mortality but showed an increase in post-emergence mortality in insects from columns treated with MaLCB255. Seemingly, conidial morphology of the Metarhizium strain interacted with soil pore reducing its percolation rate. Overall, the results showed that the residual effect was only slightly affected by strain and soil texture, and ranged between 27 and 34 days. Finally, field application of experimental and commercial EPF strains in a sandy Ultisol resulted in insect mortality between 52 and 68%

Comparison of precision and conventional irrigation management of cotton and impact of soil texture

Soil textural variability diminishes the effectiveness of conventional irrigation management. Variable rate irrigation (VRI) can address soil variability; however, users need guidance to prepare prescriptions for optimal water application. A study was conducted at Portageville, MO, USA, in 2016 and 2017 with the objective to compare yield and irrigation water use efficiency among three water-management treatments for cotton: rainfed, irrigated based on the USDA-ARS Irrigation Scheduling Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (ISSCADA) system, and irrigated based on a water balance method. Sand content in the top 533 mm soil layer was estimated from apparent electrical conductivity (ECa). Yield values measured near an ECa observation were averaged to create a data set containing sand content and associated yield. Although the trend was for the rainfed treatment to have the lowest yield in both years, the yield differences among all treatments were not significant when sand content was not considered. A strong effect of sand content on cotton yield was observed in both seasons, although the slopes differed among the water management treatments in 2016. The ISSCADA system tended to have a higher irrigation water use efficiency in both seasons, but the difference was not significant in 2016 when total irrigation applications were low. The study is continuing at Portageville and other locations and the ISSCADA system is constantly being improved to better meet the needs of agricultural producers.

Impact of soil salinity, texture and measurement frequency on the relations between soil moisture and 20 MHz–3 GHz dielectric permittivity spectrum for soils of medium texture

Dielectric sensors are a popular choice for soil moisture determination. However, the output of many of these devices, especially those operating at frequencies in the MHz range, can be significantly affected by the influence of soil salinity and texture. The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of salinity, texture and measurement frequency on dielectric permittivity – soil moisture calibration curves for ten soils of medium texture in the frequency range from 20 MHz to 3 GHz based on the complex dielectric permittivity spectra measured with the use of a coaxial transmission line cell connected to a vector-network-analyzer. The use of laboratory-measured spectra ensures that at all frequencies dielectric permittivity is measured at the same conditions with no influence of factors such as different sensitivity zone or various installation conditions, as in the case of comparing individual sensors operating at various frequencies. The obtained relations were comparable to the calibration curves of several capacitance/impedance sensors operating at corresponding frequencies. Calibration curves for apparent permittivity, which were obtained with the use of simulations in the time domain based on the measured spectra, were also determined for the tested soils. Even though the tested soils did not include soils with high clay content, the impact of soil texture on the calibration curves was observed. Results confirmed that the influence of soil salinity and texture on dielectric permittivity was the most significant in the lower part of the frequency spectrum, while the smallest impact of these factors was observed at frequencies of several hundred MHz and above.

The Impact of Soil Texture on Path Loss Modelling of an FM Signal Using Diffraction Technique

A novel solution to predict path loss of an FM signal using diffraction technique is proposed. Diffraction technique and soil texture impact are used to improve the Friis free-space model to predict the received signal strength and propagation path loss of an FM signal between a transmitter site and receiver site, while studying the impact of soil texture to the FM signal in the case of surface wave propagation. Measurement of signal strengths with an interval of 5KM along two different routes (1 and 2) were taken with a Digital Field Strength Meter (DW-400), in some selected open/rural environments of Kogi State. A solid-state transmitter (BE 20S), with broadcast frequency of 101.5MHz at antenna height of 120m was considered as the transmitting point source. Bluetooth signal strength meter software was used to visualize this impact of soil texture, where different types of soil were considered within the coverage area of the FM radio station, with the application of a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) technology. Measurements taken along the two different routes were compared against predictions made by the modified model of Friis Free Space. The model showed quite large mean path loss prediction errors, and places with poor signal strength for Prime FM Radio Nigeria were revealed. The result shows that an FM signal induces current in the ground over which it passes and it is attenuated as a result of absorption of energy by the soil, depending on the soil type.

Comparison between spatial and non-spatial regression models for investigating tree–soil relationships in a polycyclic tree plantation of Northern Italy and implications for management

Although there is greater awareness of spatial variability of factors affecting plant growth, regression methods with residuals independently and identically distributed, are still used. Thus, we compared spatial and non-spatial regression models in evaluating the relationships between tree growth of different species and clones and environmental factors in a polycyclic tree plantation of Italy (about 20-ha size). Soil samples were collected at 106 georeferenced locations and analyzed for the main soil parameters; trunk diameter was measured for 2513 trees and used as a proxy of plant growth; geostatistical procedures were applied to soil data so as to map soil characteristics. Poplar and alder cover indices and altitude as a proxy of groundwater depth were estimated at each tree location. The study provides evidence that considering spatial correlation can: (i) reduce the possibility of falsely declaring significant effects (Type I errors), and (ii) perform more precise predictions. Overall the model choice influenced the identification of significant regressors and the trunk diameter predictions, leading to implications on management decisions, quantitative estimation of wood productions and species comparisons. The spatial model showed which specific factors had a significant impact on plant growth and for which of them spatial variability might be worth investigating: the impact of soil texture on tree growth was evident, with difference among the investigated species and clones; soil organic carbon content affected poplar tree growth but not that of the valuable species; alder cover promotes development of trees; unlike the poplar trees, the trunk growth of the valuable species was limited by carbonate content.

Plant species diversity affects infiltration capacity in an experimental grassland through changes in soil properties

Soil hydraulic properties drive water distribution and availability in soil. There exists limited knowledge of how plant species diversity might influence soil hydraulic properties. We quantified the change in infiltration capacity affected by soil structural variables (soil bulk density, porosity and organic carbon content) along a gradient of soil texture, plant species richness (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 60) and functional group composition (grasses, legumes, small herbs, tall herbs). We conducted two infiltration measurement campaigns (May and October 2012) using a hood infiltrometer. Plant species richness significantly increased infiltration capacity in the studied grasslands. Both soil porosity (or inversely bulk density) and organic carbon played an important role in mediating the plant species richness effect. Soil texture did not correlate with infiltration capacity. In spring 2012, earthworm biomass increased infiltration capacity, but this effect could not be attributed to changes in soil structural variables. We experimentally identified important ecological drivers of infiltration capacity, suggesting complex interactions between plant species richness, earthworms, and soil structural variables, while showing little impact of soil texture. Changes in plant species richness may thus have significant effects on soil hydraulic properties with potential consequences for surface run-off and soil erosion.

Impact of soil texture and water availability on the hydraulic control of plant and grape-berry development

Aims All components of the soil-plant-atmosphere (sp-a) continuum are known to control berry quality in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) via ecophysiological interactions between water uptake by roots and water loss by leaves. The scope of the present work was to explore how the main hydraulic components of grapevine influence fruit quality through changes in liquidand gas-phase hydraulic conductance. Methods To reach our objectives, determinations of shoot growth, berry size and sugar content, leaf gas exchange, predawn leaf water potential (as a proxy of soil water potential), midday stem water potential and leaf water potential were performed in conjunction with anatomical measurements of shoot xylem. All measurements were conducted in two different cultivars (Cabernet franc and Merlot) and on three different soil types (clayey, gravelly, and sandy).

The impact of soil texture on the selection of nesting sites by the Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedinidae: Alcedo cristata Pallas 1764)

The first granulometrical analysis of soil samples from nesting banks of the Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata is reported. In total 56 samples from the Kinshasa area were analysed. Three standardised particle size fractions were determined in all groups of samples (percentage of sand, clay and silt). Mean particle percentage of soil samples from banks occupied by Malachite Kingfishers averaged 10.8±6.1 of silt, 11.6 ± 6.5 of clay and 81.4 ± 11.4 of sand. A significant difference was found in the proportion of clay between banks with and without kingfisher nests. The results of the present study hence suggest that, as has been documented in other burrowing bird species, soil texture determines the selection of nesting sites in the Malachite Kingfisher. Our results indicate that even a slight difference in the proportion of clay can substantially affect the suitability of banks for the establishment of nests. In fact, burrowing birds must find suitable soils whose structure allows for a good compromise between stability and hardness to dig out, which poses an energy challenge just before the breeding season.

Impact of Soil Texture on the Calibration of TDR for Water Content Measurement

Impact of Soil Texture on the Calibration of TDR for Water Content Measurement

The impact of differences in soil texture within a vineyard on vine vigour, vine earliness and juice composition

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Aims</strong>: The young alluvial soils of the Wairau Plains, Marlborough, New Zealand, are considered to play an important role in determining this unique wine style. The aim of this experiment was to investigate, within a single vineyard, the impact of soil texture on vine vigour, vine earliness and fruit composition.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods and results</strong>: Trunk circumference and pruning weights, were greater as the depth to gravel increased. Soil conductivity measurements, using an electromagnetic sensor (EM38) in conjunction with global positioning related well to vine trunk circumference. Where gravels came to the surface, soil temperatures measured at 30 cm depth were consistently higher by 1 to 2 °C (air temperature was unaffected) and vine phenology was more advanced, when compared to the deep silt soils. At harvest, fruit soluble solids and pH were higher and titratable acidity lower when vines grown on shallow soils, but soil type had no significant effect on fruit yield.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusions and significance of the study</strong>: Vine phenology during the growing season and fruit composition at harvest but not yield, reflect changes in soil texture over quite short distances within vineyards on the Wairau Plains. Within a vineyard, the higher the proportion of gravelly soils, the more advanced the vine phenology and the riper the fruit and wine style will exhibit riper (more tropical) and lower unripe (herbaceous) characteristics on a particular date.</p>

Impact of soil texture on temporal and spatial development of osmotic‐potential gradients between bulk soil and rhizosphere

AbstractSolute transport from the bulk soil to the root surface is, apart from changes in soil moisture and plant nutrient uptake, a prerequisite for changes in soil osmotic potential (Ψo). According to the convection‐diffusion equation, solute transport depends on a number of parameters (soil moisture–release curve, hydraulic conductivity, tortuosity factor) which are functions of soil texture. It was thus hypothesized that soil texture should have an effect on the formation of Ψo gradients between bulk soil and the root surface. The knowledge about such gradients is important to evaluate water availability in the soil‐plant‐atmosphere continuum (SPAC).A linear compartment system with maize grown under controlled conditions in two texture treatments (T1, pure sand; T2, 80% sand, 20% silt) under low and high initial application of salts (S1, S2) was used to measure the development of Ψo gradients between bulk soil and the root surface by microscale soil‐solution sampling and TDR sensors.The differences in soil texture had a strong impact on the formation of Ψo gradients between bulk soil and the root surface at high and low initial salt application rate. At high initial salt application, a maximum osmotic‐potential gradient (ΔΨo) of –340 kPa was observed for the texture treatment T2 compared to ΔΨo of –180 in T1. The steeper gradients in osmotic potential in treatment T2 compared to T1 corresponded to higher cumulative water consumption in this treatment which can partly be explained by higher soil hydraulic conductivity in the range of soil matric potentials covered during the duration of the experiments. Differences between texture treatments in Ψo at the root surface did not result in differences in plant‐water relations measured as gas‐exchange parameters (transpiration rate, water‐use efficiency) and leaf osmotic potential. If soil osmotic and matric potential are regarded as additive in calculating the driving force for water movement from the soil into the root, the observed differences in water flux between treatments cannot be explained.

Impact of Soil Texture on the Distribution of Soil Organic Matter in Physical and Chemical Fractions

Previous research on the protection of soil organic C from decomposition suggests that soil texture affects soil C stocks. However, different pools of soil organic matter (SOM) might be differently related to soil texture. Our objective was to examine how soil texture differentially alters the distribution of organic C within physically and chemically defined pools of unprotected and protected SOM. We collected samples from two soil texture gradients where other variables influencing soil organic C content were held constant. One texture gradient (16–60% clay) was located near Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan, Canada and the other (25–50% clay) near Cygnet, OH. Soils were physically fractionated into coarse‐ and fine‐particulate organic matter (POM), silt‐ and clay‐sized particles within microaggregates, and easily dispersed silt‐ and clay‐sized particles outside of microaggregates. Whole‐soil organic C concentration was positively related to silt plus clay content at both sites. We found no relationship between soil texture and unprotected C (coarse‐ and fine‐POM C). Biochemically protected C (nonhydrolyzable C) increased with increasing clay content in whole‐soil samples, but the proportion of nonhydrolyzable C within silt‐ and clay‐sized fractions was unchanged. As the amount of silt or clay increased, the amount of C stabilized within easily dispersed and microaggregate‐associated silt or clay fractions decreased. Our results suggest that for a given level of C inputs, the relationship between mineral surface area and soil organic matter varies with soil texture for physically and biochemically protected C fractions. Because soil texture acts directly and indirectly on various protection mechanisms, it may not be a universal predictor of whole‐soil C content.

Impact of soil texture on air‐water interfacial areas in unsaturated sandy porous media

The gas phase partitioning tracer method was used to measure air‐water interfacial area as a function of water content for eight sandy porous media. The porous media comprised a series of sands with narrow particle size ranges, a sand with a wider particle size distribution, a sandy soil, and a loamy sandy soil. The measurement range was extended to very low water contents in an attempt to determine upper limits for air‐water interfacial areas. The measured values were compared to the normalized surface areas of the porous media. The results of the experiments showed that the magnitude of the air‐water interfacial areas increased with decreasing water saturation and approached that of the normalized surface areas. Generally, air‐water interfacial areas were larger for media with larger specific surface areas. The change in air‐water interfacial area with changing water saturation was less near saturated water contents and greater at smaller values. In addition, the change was greater for the poorly sorted media than the well‐sorted media. An empirical equation was developed to describe the observed relationship between air‐water interfacial area and water saturation. The coefficients of the equation were found to correlate to the porous medium uniformity coefficient. With this equation and associated correlations, only bulk density, specific surface area, and uniformity coefficient are needed to estimate air‐water interfacial area for a given water saturation. The equation was shown to provide a reasonable description of a literature data set.

(Tropical) soil organic matter modelling: problems and prospects

Soil organic matter plays an important role in many physical, chemical and biological processes. However, the quantitative relations between the mineral and organic components of the soil and the relations with the vegetation are poorly understood. In such situations, the use of models is an important research tool to explore the relations between the various components, to increase insight into processes, to examine the consequences of management, and to explore the possibilities for modification. An overview is given of the state-of-the-art in modelling of soil organic matter dynamics, with special emphasis on the processes in tropical regions. Major points identified as insufficiently developed include: Methodology is lacking to quantitatively describe the impact of soil texture and soil structure on the activity of soil biota. Effects of the microfauna on modelled organic matter transformations in the soil appear to be lacking. Techniques for direct measurement of pool sizes and characterisation of the relevant properties of the variety of organic substances would represent a major step towards verification of models and the revision of inherent concepts. The non-nutrient functions of organic matter, such as structural stability, water holding capacity and cation exchange capacity, need far more attention in modelling of soil organic matter.

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/flame ionization detection analysis of three Antarctic soils

The research presented herein used pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to characterize potential parent organic materials for three Antarctic podzols and statistically compare the parent materials to soil organic matter (SOM) depth profiles. Pyrolysis-GC/flame ionization detection (FID) was used to quantify the relative percentage of a suite of biochemical compounds in the various horizons of three soils as well as potential parent organic materials consisting of mosses, algae and penguin guano. Pyrolysis-GC/FID was not used to classify and quantify all compounds in the soil pyrolysate, nor could it be used to describe the full nature of the soil organic material prior to pyrolysis. The method did, however, provide a powerful tool for correlating the various soils with parent organic materials and with each other in order to elucidate SOM transformation and translocation processes. The data suggested a general migration of polysaccharides and probably some amino carbohydrates in the Antarctic podzols and an impact of soil texture on preservation and transformation of the organic matter. Recent vegetation also appeared to affect the SOM in the topsoils to a greater extent than the organic matter derived from the parent materials of penguin guano.

Soil Texture and Moisture Availability Impacts on the Efficacy of Soil-Applied Paclobutrazol

Soil-applied paclobutrazol has been shown to reduce tree growth and pruning costs in trees occupying utility rights-of-way. Uptake and efficacy of soil applied chemicals is often influenced by soil texture and moisture status at the time of application. To test the influence of these conditions on paclobutrazol efficacy, Profile 2SC growth regulator (DowElanco) was applied at three rates (control, 0.3 or 0.6 ml ai/cm stem diameter) to potted sweetgum and white pine seedlings under factorial combinations of soil texture (clay loam or sandy clay loam) and water availability (drought or well-watered). Under well-watered conditions, terminal leader elongation was reduced 53 and 23% by paclobutrazol for sweetgum {Liquidambar styraciflua) and white pine {Pinus strobus), respectively. Sweetgum shoot elongation was responsive to paclobutrazol in the clay loam, but not the sandy clay loam soil. Sweetgum total leaf area and specific leaf area and white pine needle length were reduced by paclobutrazol treatments across water availabilities and soil textures. The results of this study suggest that drought during and following application of paclobutrazol does not reduce efficacy of this chemical. Further research is needed to clarify the impact of soil texture on paclobutrazol efficacy.