Pedosphere 24(2): 285--290, 2014
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2014 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Effect of freeze-thaw on water stability of aggregates in a black soil of Northeast China |
LI Gui-Yuan and FAN Hao-Ming |
| College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866 (China) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Soil aggregate stability, an important index of the physical characteristics of a soil, can provide a good indication of a soil’s erodibility, and deserves special consideration in regions with cold climate. The objective of this study was to study the effect of freeze-thaw on soil water-stable aggregates in the black soil region of Northeast China. Samples of a typical black soil in the region were collected to measure water-stable aggregates after freeze-thaw under different conditions (i.e., initial moisture contents, freeze-thaw cycles and freezing temperatures) by wet-sieving into eight particle size groups (> 10, 10--6, 6--5, 5--3, 3--2, 2--1, 1--0.5, and 0.5--0.25 mm). Freeze-thaw had the most effect on aggregate stability when the samples had an initial moisture content of 400 g kg-1. The water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups (> 5, 5--3, 3--2, and 2--1 mm) reached a peak stability value, but those of the two smaller particle size groups (1--0.5 and 0.5--0.25 mm) reached a minimum value when the moisture content was 400 g kg-1. Water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups decreased while those of the two smaller particle size groups increased with the increase of freeze-thaw cycles. As temperatures fell, the water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups decreased while those of the two smaller particle size groups increased. |
| Key Words: freezing temperature, moisture content, particle size, water-stable aggregates |
| Citation: Li, G. Y. and Fan, H. M. 2014. Effect of freeze-thaw on water stability of aggregates in a black soil of Northeast China. Pedosphere. 24(2): 285-290. |
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