Effects of Freeze-Thaw and Soil Structure on Nitrous Oxide Produced in a Clay Soil

A fine-grained nonplastic till was compacted in the laboratory in three types of rigid wall permeameters, having a volume of 0.4, 1.5, and 25 dm3, respectively, and, was thereafter exposed to a maximum of 18 freezing and thawing cycles. The permeabilities in the vertical direction of saturated samples were measured in unfrozen soil as well as in thawed soil. The results show that the permeabilities changed after freezing and thawing. The magnitude of the changes in this study were in the range 0.02-10 times after freeze/thaw compared with the unfrozen soil. Soil exhibited volume changes subsequent to freeze/thaw. The volume typically decreased for an initially loose soil and increased for a dense soil. Independent of whether the initial soil structure was loose or dense, a constant "residual" void ratio, eres, was obtained after 1-3 cycles. For the soil investigated, the residual void ratio ranged from 0.31 to 0.40.Key words: till, fine-grained, non plastic, permeability, freeze/thaw, residual void ratio.

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Nitrous oxide emissions following seasonal freeze-thaw events from arable soils in Northeast China

Journal of Integrative Agriculture ◽

10.1016/s2095-3119(17)61738-6 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 231-246 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Zhe CHEN ◽

Shi-qi YANG ◽

Ai-ping ZHANG ◽

Xin JING ◽

Wei-min SONG ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Northeast China ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Arable Soils ◽

Freeze Thaw

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The potential source of nitrous oxide in the pristine riparian marsh during freeze-thaw cycles, case study in Northeast China

Ecological Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.05.004 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 ◽

pp. 18-25

Author(s):

Liquan Song ◽

Yunlong Yao ◽

Lin Lin ◽

Weifeng Gao ◽

Tijiu Cai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Northeast China ◽

Freeze Thaw ◽

Potential Source

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Effect of grazing exclusion on nitrous oxide emissions during freeze-thaw cycles in a typical steppe of Inner Mongolia

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/j.agee.2020.107217 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 307 ◽

pp. 107217

Author(s):

Jinbo Li ◽

Ying Zhao ◽

Afeng Zhang ◽

Bing Song ◽

Robert Lee Hill

Keyword(s):

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Inner Mongolia ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Freeze Thaw ◽

Grazing Exclusion ◽

Typical Steppe

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Role of Soil Structure and Matric Suction in Collapse of a Compacted Clay Soil

Geotechnical Testing Journal ◽

10.1520/gtj11107j ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 9058 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

L David Suits ◽

TC Sheahan ◽

SM Rao ◽

K Revanasiddappa

Keyword(s):

Soil Structure ◽

Clay Soil ◽

Matric Suction ◽

Compacted Clay

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Effect of soil structure disturbance on erosion and phosphorus losses from Finnish clay soil

Soil and Tillage Research ◽

10.1016/j.still.2008.09.007 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 103 (1) ◽

pp. 84-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Paula Muukkonen ◽

Helinä Hartikainen ◽

Laura Alakukku

Keyword(s):

Soil Structure ◽

Clay Soil ◽

Phosphorus Losses

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The effects of marble dust and fly ash on clay soil

Science and Engineering of Composite Materials ◽

10.1515/secm-2012-0100 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 59-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ismail Zorluer ◽

Suleyman Gucek

Keyword(s):

Compressive Strength ◽

Fly Ash ◽

Unconfined Compressive Strength ◽

Soil Stabilization ◽

Clay Soil ◽

Waste Materials ◽

Curing Time ◽

Freeze Thaw ◽

Marble Dust ◽

Increased Strength

AbstractThe use of waste materials as an additive in soil stabilization has been widespread. This is important in terms of recycling of waste materials and reducing environmental pollution. The objective of this study is to investigate the beneficial reuse of marble dust and fly ash in soil stabilization. Tests were performed on clay soil mixtures amended with marble dust and fly ash. Marble dust was used as an activator due to fly ash being inadequate for self-cementing. Unconfined compressive strength (qu), freeze-thaw, swelling, and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests were conducted to investigate the effect of marble dust and fly ash, curing time, and molding water content on geotechnical parameters. Addition of marble dust and fly ash increased unconfined compressive strength, CBR, and freeze-thaw strength, but these additives decreased swelling potential and grain loss after freeze-thaw. Increasing the curing time results in increased strength of mixtures and decreased grain loss. As a result, this study shows that the geotechnical properties of clay soil are improved with the addition of marble dust and fly ash. This is an economical and environmentally friendly solution.

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Impact of freeze-thaw cycles on soil structure and soil hydraulic properties

10.5194/soil-2021-13 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Frederic Leuther ◽

Steffen Schlüter

Keyword(s):

Pore Structure ◽

Soil Structure ◽

Hydraulic Properties ◽

Initial Structure ◽

Soil Hydraulic Properties ◽

Pore Connectivity ◽

Freeze Thaw ◽

Frost Action ◽

Soil Hydraulic ◽

The Impact

Abstract. The ploughing of soils in autumn drastically loosens the soil structure and at the same time reduces its stability against external stresses. A fragmentation of these artificially produced soil clods during winter time is often observed in areas with air temperatures fluctuating around the freezing point. Farmers benefit from the structural transformation by frost action in terms of better seedbed preparation and improved hydraulic connectivity. Previous studies have mainly focused on the effects of freezing and thawing on soil structure stability rather than on the impact on pore structure. From the pore perspective, it is still unclear (i) under which conditions frost action has a measurable effect on soil structure, (ii) what the impact on soil hydraulic properties is, and (iii) how many freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) are necessary to induce soil structure changes. The aim of this study was to analyse the cumulative effects of multiple FTC on soil structure and soil hydraulic properties for two different textures and two different initial structures. A silt clay with a substantial amount of swelling clay minerals and a silty loam with less swell/shrink dynamics were either kept intact in undisturbed soil cores taken from the topsoil from a grassland or repacked with soil clods taken from a ploughed field nearby. FTCs were simulated under controlled conditions and changes in pore structure ≥ 48 µm were regularly recorded using X-ray µCT. After 19 FTCs, the impact on hydraulic properties were measured and the resolution of structural characteristics were enhanced towards narrow macro-pores with subsamples scanned at 10 µm. The impact of FTC on soil structure was dependent on the initial structure, soil texture, and the number of FTCs. Frost action induced a consolidation of repacked soil clods, resulting in a systematic reduction in pore sizes and macro-pore connectivity. In contrast, the macro-pore systems of the undisturbed soils were only slightly affected. Independent of the initial structure, a fragmentation of soil clods and macro-aggregates larger than 0.8 to 1.2 mm increased the connectivity of pores smaller than 0.5 to 0.8 mm. The fragmentation increased the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of all treatments by a factor of 3 in a pF range of 2.0 to 2.5, while water retention was only slightly affected for the silt clay soil. Already 2 to 5 FTCs enforced a well-connected meso-pore system in all treatments, but it was steadily improved by further FTCs. This steady improvement in structural quality in terms of meso-pore connectivity is put at risk by milder winters in mid-latitudes due to global warming.

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