| Title: |
X-ray computed tomography: Validation of the effect of pore size and its connectivity on saturated hydraulic conductivity. |
| Authors: |
Mady, Ahmed Y.; Shein, Evgeny V.; Abrosimov, Konstantin N.; Skvortsova, Elena. B. |
| Source: |
Soil & Environment; May2021, Vol. 40 Issue 1, p01-08, 8p |
| Subject Terms: |
COMPUTED tomography; HYDRAULIC conductivity; PORE size distribution; POROSITY; SILT loam |
| Abstract: |
Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) is widely utilized in soil hydrology. Ks not only can be proportional to total porosity, but also depends on soil porous system properties such as pore size distribution, and pore connectivity. Recently, X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) is inherent in describing size, shape, connectivity, geometry, and distribution of pore space. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of pore connectivity including open and closed porosity on Ks values using X-CT. Moreover, the influence of pore size distribut ion including macroporosity and mesoporosity on Ks was validated. Ks was measured based on a constant head technique. Furthermore, the visual images of pore space structure were scanned using X-CT. Also, the percentages of open and closed porosity, as well as macroporosity and mesoporosity were calculated using CT-analysis and CT-vox programs. The results indicated that the values of Ks were sharply decreased at subsurface layers at soil depth (40-45) cm. This is attributed to increasing the percentage of closed porosity and decreasing the percentages of macroporosity and mesoporosity. The influence of mesoporosity is strongly larger than macroporosity on Ks values. There exists a positive strong correlation coefficient between mesoporosity and Ks values (r= +0.84). Moreover, the relationship between Ks values and mesoporosity can be represented by an exponential equation. The influence of closed porosity is clearer than open porosity on the values of Ks. The influence of pore connectivity may be approaching the effect of pore size distribution on Ks values for agro-soddy podzolic soil (silt loam and silty clay loam). The values of saturated hydraulic conductivity were harmonious with the calculations of pore connectivity and pore size distribution by X-CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
Complementary Index |