Assessment of the responses of soil pore properties to combined soil structure amendments using X-ray computed tomography.

ABSTRACT: Soil amendments, such as straw mulch, organic fertilizers and superabsorbent polymer (SAP), are extensively applied to improve soil structure and porosity, and we reported the functional consequences of the individual application of these amendments in our previous study. However, whether combined amendments are more effective than their individual applications for improving soil pore structure is unknown. Here, we conducted X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning on undisturbed soil columns to investigate the efficiency of two-amendment application, including straw mulch and organic manure, SAP and organic manure, or SAP and straw mulch, for improving soil pore properties and pore distribution. The X-ray CT technique allows us to accurately determine the number, morphology, and location o

SUBMITTER: Yang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5766547 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature