Premium
Disturbance impacts on porosity and hydraulic properties of vesicular horizons
Author(s) -
Turk Judith K.,
Graham Robert C.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.1002/saj2.20055
Subject(s) - porosity , infiltrometer , hydraulic conductivity , disturbance (geology) , geology , infiltration (hvac) , silt , soil science , hydrology (agriculture) , mineralogy , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , materials science , soil water , composite material
Abstract Rapid formation of vesicular pores has been observed following disturbance of vesicular (V) horizons. This study investigates the post‐disturbance recovery of V horizons and the impact on hydraulic properties. At nine study sites, infiltration rates were measured using a tension disk infiltrometer, and intact samples were collected for analysis using high‐resolution x‐ray computed tomography (CT). The V horizon material was then removed, crushed, replaced, and left to recover for 1 yr before repeating the infiltration measurement and CT analysis. Some recovery of vesicular and vugh porosity was observed at all of the study sites. However, the V horizons formed in the first year after disturbance were thinner, with smaller pores, and with a reduction in vesicle and vugh porosity from an average of 2.9% before disturbance to 0.4% after disturbance. The saturated hydraulic conductivity of the V horizons was also significantly lowered, from an average of 20 cm d −1 prior to disturbance to 6.6 cm d −1 at 1 yr after disturbance. Vesicle and vugh porosity formed 1 yr after disturbance was positively correlated with predisturbance vesicle and vugh porosity ( R 2 = .57; P = 0.02) and sand percentage ( R 2 = .51; P = .03) and negatively correlated with silt percentage ( R 2 = .51; P = .03). No relationship was observed between post‐disturbance formation of vesicle and vugh porosity and precipitation events during the recovery period, clay percentage, CaCO 3 percentage, or saline‐sodic classification. V horizons show incipient development at 1 yr after disturbance, but porosity and hydraulic properties are significantly altered from their undisturbed state.