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Image analysis and three‐dimensional modelling of pores in soil aggregates
Author(s) -
GLASBEY C. A.,
HORGAN G. W.,
DARBYSHIRE J. F.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1991.tb00424.x
Subject(s) - cube (algebra) , matrix (chemical analysis) , aggregate (composite) , characterisation of pore space in soil , materials science , porosity , binary image , mineralogy , image (mathematics) , geometry , composite material , mathematics , geology , image processing , computer science , artificial intelligence
SUMMARY Three cross‐sections of soil aggregates (2–5 mm diameter) were digitized at 5 μm resolution from montages (× 100) of scanning electron micrographs to produce binary images representing the soil pores and soil matrix. A three‐dimensional random Boolean process was chosen as a model of the soil pores and matrix. The soil matrix was simulated by randomly positioned, overlapping spheres with radii drawn from an exponential distribution. Simulation of a 1 mm cube of one soil aggregate showed that all but 0.1 % of the pore space was connected to the exterior, although only 50% appeared to be connected to the exterior in a cross‐sectional image. Pore spaces able to accommodate different sizes of microorganisms were also investigated. For example, a protozoan with a cross‐sectional diameter of 20 μm could be accommodated in 17% of the pores in a 1 mm 3 soil cube, although only 11 % of the pores would be accessible to those protozoa on the exterior of the cube.