Analysis of Soil Structure Turnover with Garnet Particles and X-Ray Microtomography
Fig 7
Conceptual scheme for the quantification of soil structure turnover rates.
(a) A two-dimensional packing of aggregates is covered with garnet particles. (b) The aggregates are first compressed by soil compaction. Subsequently, soil structure turnover is initiated through new root channel formation, micro-crack formation and the partial refilling of pores with earthworm casts, where (c) and (d) represent two consecutive moments in time. (e) The distribution of contact distances between pores and particles or between pores and bulk soil (inset). (f) The mean contact distance of particles is initially much smaller than the mean contact distance for bulk soil. Soil compaction does not lead to a trajectory towards the 1:1 line (randomized position of particles), whereas structure turnover does.