HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Caron, J. Articles by Angers, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Caron, J. Articles by Angers, D. A. Agricola Articles by Caron, J. Articles by Angers, D. A.

Soil Structural Stability during Rapid Wetting: Influence of Land Use on Some Aggregate Properties

Département des Sols, Université Laval, Ste-Foy, QC, Canada G1K 7P4

C. R. Espindola

Universidade de Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil

D. A. Angers

Agriculture et Agroalimenatire Canada, Ste-Foy, Canada

*Corresponding author (jean.caron{at}sls.ulaval.ca).

ABSTRACT

A stable soil structure, resistant to the stresses induced by wetting, is important for maintaining agricultural productivity and reducing erosion. This study was undertaken to assess losses of soil structural stability resulting from long-term, continuous sugarcane (Saccharinum officinarum L.) cultivation (20 yr) in two Brazilian soils (an Oxisol and an Alfisol). When compared with virgin sites, sugarcane cropping decreased the organic C concentration and the wet aggregate stability (WAS) of the soil. The differences for organic C concentration and WAS between land use systems extended to the 1-m depth, in both soils, and were less prononced as depth increased. Cultivation also increased the extent of aggregate slaking relative to virgin sites. This increased sensitivity to structural damage could not be attributed to changes in aggregate cohesion; rather, it was observed that for the Alfisol, the greater slaking and mellowing (slaking without complete fragmentation) could be related to an increase in the rate of water uptake by the aggregate (1.9–3.4 times faster in the cultivated than in the virgin site) for the Alfisol. The pore tortuosity index was also 3.1 to 3.2 times higher in the virgin than in the cultivated site and indicated a pore network less efficient at transporting water within aggregates in the virgin site compared with the cultivated site. This suggests that the lower sensitivity to slaking in the virgin Alfisol was most likely caused by water entry within the aggregates slowed down by a clogged pore network.

Received for publication April 17, 1995.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				O. A. Daraghmeh, J. R. Jensen, and C. T. Petersen Near-Saturated Hydraulic Properties in the Surface Layer of a Sandy Loam Soil under Conventional and Reduced Tillage Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., October 30, 2008; 72(6): 1728 - 1737. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Stiles, B. Bemis, and J. B. Zedler Evaluating Edaphic Conditions Favoring Reed Canary Grass Invasion in a Restored Native Prairie Ecological Rest., January 1, 2008; 26(1): 61 - 70. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Z. Hafida, J. Caron, and D. A. Angers Pore Occlusion by Sugars and Lipids as a Possible Mechanism of Aggregate Stability in Amended Soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., October 29, 2007; 71(6): 1831 - 1839. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. M. Shrestha, B. R. Singh, B. K. Sitaula, R. Lal, and R. M. Bajracharya Soil Aggregate- and Particle-Associated Organic Carbon under Different Land Uses in Nepal Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., June 8, 2007; 71(4): 1194 - 1203. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Zhang, R. Horn, and P. D. Hallett Mechanical Resilience of Degraded Soil Amended with Organic Matter Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 6, 2005; 69(3): 864 - 871. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Zaher, J. Caron, and B. Ouaki Modeling Aggregate Internal Pressure Evolution following Immersion to Quantify Mechanisms of Structural Stability Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2005; 69(1): 1 - 12. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.R. Nemati, J. Caron, and J. Gallichand Stability of Structural Form during Infiltration: Laboratory Measurements on the Effect of De-inking Sludge Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., March 1, 2000; 64(2): 543 - 552. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M.R. Nemati, J. Caron, and J. Gallichand Using Paper De-inking Sludge to Maintain Soil Structural Form: Field Measurements Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2000; 64(1): 275 - 285. [Abstract] [Full Text]