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Aggregation and fractal dimension of aggregates formed in sand dunes stabilized by P istachio PAM and P istachio PVA c mulches
Author(s) -
Saiedi N.,
Besalatpour A. A.,
Shirani H.,
Abbaszadeh Dehaji P.,
Esfandiarpour I.,
Faramarzi M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 1351-0754
DOI - 10.1111/ejss.12458
Subject(s) - zoology , aggregate (composite) , fractal dimension , soil water , chemistry , soil respiration , aeolian processes , soil science , environmental science , mathematics , fractal , biology , materials science , geology , composite material , geomorphology , mathematical analysis
Wind erosion is a serious environmental problem that has received increased attention by attracting the interest of academics, policy makers and the public. In this study, the effects of combined mulches (denoted as P istachio PAM and P istachio PVAc , used for stabilizing the sand dunes in the D avaran plain in southeastern I ran) on aggregate formation and stability indices were investigated by the theory of fractal geometry. In addition, the temporal changes in soil organic carbon ( SOC ) content and microbial respiration rate ( MRR ) in the soils treated with the mulches were compared with the control samples during a 5‐month experiment. The results showed significant ( P < 0.01) increases in the SOC content and MRR following the application (1.5 l m −2 ) of P istachio PVAc and P istachio PAM mulches. The rate of release of CO 2 was measured in the soils treated with the mulches studied. The largest rate of CO 2 release from the three samples taken in weeks 2, 5 and 19 from the beginning of the experiment wasabout 23.0 µg‐ CO 2 day −1 g −1 soil. The smallest and largest mean weight diameters ( MWD ) of the aggregates formed were observed in the control (0.06 mm) and the P istachio PVAc (1.38 mm) treatments, respectively. The use of mulches had significant ( P < 0.01) effects on the fractal dimension of aggregates. The more stable and coarser aggregates formed in the presence of P istachio PVAc had the smallest fractal dimension. The largest negative correlation between the properties investigated and the fractal dimension was for SOC and MWD . Therefore, it appears that the theory of fractal dimensions is useful for explaining the temporal variation of aggregate stability in soil stabilized by combined mulches. Highlights Effects of combined mulches on aggregate formation were investigated with fractal geometry theory ( FGT ). The more stable and coarser aggregates formed in the presence of P istachio PVA mulch had the smallest fractal dimension. Mulches increased soil organic carbon and microbial respiration significantly ( P < 0.01). The FGT might be useful for explaining the temporal variation in aggregate stability of stabilized sand dunes.