Article
Soil Science
Jocenei A. T. de Oliveira, Fabio A. M. Cassaro, Luiz F. Pires
Summary: This study used X-ray micro-tomography images and a computational algorithm based on mercury intrusion porosimetry to evaluate the impact of different agricultural management systems (CT, MT, NT) on soil structure. The results showed significant changes in pore size distribution under CT and MT, with CT and NT being the main drivers of changes in soil porosity. The computational algorithm proved valuable for quantifying pore size distribution and modifications induced by different management systems.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Claudia Voigt, Alina Schramm, Jana Hubalkova, Nora Brachhold, Herbert Giesche, Christos G. Aneziris
Summary: Carbon-bonded alumina samples with different compositions and mixing and shaping procedures were tested for their densities, porosities, and pore entryway diameter distributions. Most samples showed no release of mercury during pressure reduction, but a constant cumulative volume. Samples without carbon binder and uninitiated carbon binder showed an extrusion of mercury causing a hysteresis curve.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Dessie T. Tibebu, Stavros Avramidis
Summary: Understanding the fractal dimension of wood pores is essential for studying its macroscopic properties. This research used the pore size distribution to explore the fractal dimension of softwoods and hardwoods. The results revealed significant differences in pore size distribution and fractal dimension values for different pore sizes.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jing Qian, Jingjing Gao, Zhengbin He, Songlin Yi
Summary: The study evaluated the density and pore structure characteristics of self-shrinking Ailanthus altissima substrate obtained by ultrasonic-assisted treatment, revealing changes in the wood density and pore structure after treatment. Samples treated with 1% and 4% NaOH showed higher density but lower porosity compared to water-immersion samples, with an increase in the relative content of macropores.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Neil Taylor, Wanli Justin Ma, Adam Kristopeit, Sheng-ching Wang, Andrew L. Zydney
Summary: Sterile filtration is commonly used in processing recombinant proteins to remove microorganisms, but applying this technology to larger biotherapeutics like Live-Attenuated Vaccines (LAV) poses challenges. This study evaluated the fouling behavior of eight different sterile filters using fluorescently-labeled latex spheres as model particles, finding a correlation between particle diameter, pore size, and transmission rates. The results provide insights into the selection of appropriate sterile filters for processing vaccines and viruses larger than 100 nm.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jiashun Shi, Qing Chun, Yunsheng Zhang, Dafu Wang, Zhiyong Liu, Hui Jin, Cheng Liu, Guojian Liu, Rusheng Qian
Summary: Permeability is a fundamental property of cement-based materials and can be predicted by examining the material's pore size distribution. The random hierarchical bundle model is a promising approach for estimating permeability, but the original model neglected the slippage effect during gas penetration. In this study, a modified model that considers this effect was proposed, and the permeability of cement-based materials can be directly predicted using the pore size distribution obtained via mercury intrusion porosimetry. The results showed that this modified model accurately predicts permeability for various mortars and concretes, and can also predict permeability for different gases and porous media.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Shujun Li, Gaofeng Chen, Zhenhai Xu, Xu Luo, Jianming Gao
Summary: This study investigates the particle size effect of recycled clay brick powder (RCBP) on the pore structure of blended cement pastes. The results show that reducing the particle size of RCBP effectively improves the pore structure.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Shunsei Tanaka, Yuya Sakai
Summary: Intrusion curves under mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) often underestimate pore sizes below the actual pore-size distribution (APSD), resulting in difficulties in interpreting the dominant pore structure in various concrete performances. This study proposes a method to accurately estimate the APSD from a MIP intrusion curve by considering the ink-bottle effect. By incorporating a model for calculating the volume of the ink-bottle pores into the inverse analysis system, the APSD can be obtained through a three-dimensional intrusion simulation. The APSD estimation results of the proposed method are in good agreement with those of existing methods.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Xi Yang, Xiaona Pang, Xinge Liu, Shumin Yang, Xianjun Li
Summary: The native pore structure and characteristic of bamboo were investigated using mercury intrusion porosimetry, nitrogen adsorption, and scanning electron microscopic image analysis. It was found that bamboo exhibits a wide range of porosity, which is quadratic polynomially related to the radial position. The surface porosity of parenchyma tissue is higher compared to vascular bundles. Various samples show similar pore size distributions but varying volumes and surface areas. The outer part of bamboo has a more compact structure compared to the middle and inner samples.
WOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tuo Lu, Ya-ming Tang, Hong-yu Ren, Yong-bo Tie
Summary: This study investigated the pore structure and permeability of loess using various techniques, including routine tests, MIP analysis, and SEM image analysis. The results showed that different fractal models had different goodness of fit and fractal dimensions, with the Zhang-Li model performing the best. A new method for detecting segmentation diameter based on the pore structure was proposed, which divided the pore structure into three regions. A new parameter lambda was also introduced to correct the effective porosity and permeability prediction. The corrected prediction equation based on the pore-size distribution function showed the highest goodness of fit.
BULLETIN OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Jin-Wen Yang, Yu-Jun Cui, Nadia Mokni, Emmanuel Ormea
Summary: The pore size distribution of MX80 bentonite pellets was determined under various suctions using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and micro-computed tomography (mu CT). The study found that the results of MIP and mu CT overlapped at suctions greater than or equal to 57 MPa, indicating their reliability. However, at lower suctions, the two techniques showed differences in pore size distribution.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jing Cao, Fangyi Liu, Siyang Huang, Cheng Kong, Huafeng Sun, Yue Gao, Fuhua Liu, Jianyun Li, Guoshou Liu
Summary: This study investigates the impact of soil containing humic acid (HA) on the strength of cement-soil through unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests and microscopic experiments. The results indicate that the addition of HA decreases the strength of cement-soil and alters the failure mode to plastic failure.
ADVANCES IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yury Villagran-Zaccardi, Natalia Alderete, Philip van den Heede, Nele De Belie
Summary: Eco-friendly concrete mixtures efficiently use constituents for durable structures; ternary mixes have a good balance of environmental impact, cost, and performance; pore structure analysis is valuable for predicting durability, with no significant effects of GGBFS and limestone powder observed.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Chong Wang, Shuangyang Li, Qian Chen, Hao Zhang, Xiaoyu Liu, Xiaochuan Ren
Summary: This study conducted large sample tests on nano-particle modified geomaterials, revealing significant variability in micropore parameters. By comparing different probability distributions, it was found that normal, lognormal, and gamma distributions fit the data well, with normal distribution being the most suitable.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yankun Ma
Summary: This study used SEM and MIP techniques to analyze the pore structure of natural coal and investigated the influence of coalification degree on the pores using multiscale fractal analysis. The results showed that the pores in coal can be classified into different scales as seepage pores, transition pores, and mesopores, and the size and volume of the pores have a direct impact on the multiscale fractal dimensions.
Article
Soil Science
Aline M. Huf dos Reis, Andre C. Auler, Robson A. Armindo, Miguel Cooper, Luiz F. Pires
Summary: Integrating crop-livestock systems has been an efficient alternative for food production contributing to environmental sustainability and soil conservation. This study characterized some micromorphological properties of a Humic Rhodic Hapludox in integrated production systems, finding that the smallest porosities were in the top-layer regardless of management systems and ryegrass usages, while larger complex shaped pores in the sub-layer contributed most to the imagery porosity.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Jocenei A. T. de Oliveira, Fabio A. M. Cassaro, Luiz F. Pires
Summary: This study used X-ray micro-tomography images and a computational algorithm based on mercury intrusion porosimetry to evaluate the impact of different agricultural management systems (CT, MT, NT) on soil structure. The results showed significant changes in pore size distribution under CT and MT, with CT and NT being the main drivers of changes in soil porosity. The computational algorithm proved valuable for quantifying pore size distribution and modifications induced by different management systems.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Talita R. Ferreira, Luiz F. Pires, Klaus Reichardt
Summary: This paper provides an overview of the application of 4D XCT in soil science, focusing on fluid flow, water distribution, and soil-root interactions. The future prospects of the XCT beamline at the new Brazilian synchrotron facility are also discussed, highlighting the potential for increased spatial and temporal resolutions, multiscale analysis, high energy, and phase contrast imaging in soil science research.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
L. Tech, L. F. Pires, A. M. Brinatti, S. C. Saab, V. Correchel, R. S. Momoli
Summary: This study investigated the radiation interaction parameters and weathering degree of a Cambisol soil using XRF techniques. Results indicated that Fe2O3 had a significant influence on certain parameters, while Z(eff) and N-el showed no correlation. The preserved structure of the Cambisol soil in a conservation unit makes it a suitable reference for similar soils in the region.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mario A. Camargo, Fabio A. M. Cassaro, Luiz F. Pires
Summary: Relating the morphological parameters of porous media to their water retention characteristics is crucial for developing predictive water retention models. This study utilized three-dimensional image analysis to evaluate the effects of connectivity, tortuosity, accessible porosity, and pore size distribution on water retention. The results showed that pores with higher connectivity and sinuosity were associated with greater variation in water retention within the tension region. Additionally, the fiLMe method proved to be faster and more versatile than the morphological opening method in assessing the porous media characteristics. The 3D reconstructions allowed for a quantitative analysis of water retention properties.
BULLETIN OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Luiz F. Pires
Summary: This study evaluated the radiation shielding properties of different soils and found that soils with higher densities had better shielding capabilities. The increase in clay, Fe2O3, Al2O3, and TiO2 content in the soils was associated with higher attenuation coefficients and lower shielding parameters.
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Mario Augusto Camargo, Karuane Schechtel Kodum, Luiz Fernando Pires
Summary: The study focuses on the radiation interaction parameters in complex materials like soils, emphasizing the importance of understanding how the chemical composition affects the radiation interaction. The results suggest a strong dependence of radiation interaction parameters on elemental composition up to 100keV, with factors such as fractional abundance becoming important at higher photon energies. The study highlights the significance of understanding chemical composition in influencing radiation interaction in complex materials for applications in radiation shielding and image analysis.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Talita R. Ferreira, Nathaly L. Archilha, Luiz F. Pires
Summary: This study compares three XCT-based methods for estimating the permeability of soil aggregates and suggests calibrating faster methods against a slower but more reliable reference method using at least one 3D image. APES and PNM were found to be more time consuming than IBP-KC, with PNM being sensitive to thin pore ramifications.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Jocenei A. T. de Oliveira, Luiz F. Pires, Fabio A. M. Cassaro, Jose Gaspareto, Adolfo N. D. Posadas, Sacha J. Mooney
Summary: Researchers have used concepts from the multifractal theory to understand changes in soil systems under different management practices. This study applied three-dimensional multifractal theory, lacunarity, and normalized Shannon entropy to characterize changes in the porous system of a Rhodic Hapludox under different management practices. The results showed differences between management groups, indicating possible soil degradation under conventional and minimum tillage. Linear correlations were found between soil porosity and lacunarities, maximum normalized Shannon entropy, and multifractal spectra. The study highlights the potential and sensitivity of the 3D multifractal approach in characterizing and differentiating complexity in soil management practices.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jocenei A. T. de Oliveira, Fabio A. M. Cassaro, Adolfo N. D. Posadas, Luiz F. Pires
Summary: The study explores how successive wetting and drying cycles can affect the pore network of an Oxisol under different managements. The multifractal approach effectively identified and quantified changes in soil pore architecture caused by these cycles, with lacunarity curves revealing important aspects of modifications. Samples under secondary forest, no tillage, and minimum tillage experienced the most significant changes in pore connectivity and tortuosity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Luiz F. Pires, Talita R. Ferreira, Fabio A. M. Cassaro, Hannah Cooper, Sacha J. Mooney
Summary: In this study, the physical and morphological properties of soils under long-term no tillage (NT) and minimum-tillage (MT) were compared to adjacent secondary forest (SF) soils. The results showed that conservation agriculture can reverse structural damage associated with conventional intensive agriculture, but there are still important differences in pore network complexity and connectivity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lohane Tech, Luiz F. Pires
Summary: This study examined the impact of aggregate size on soil composition and radiation parameters in tropical/subtropical soils, finding significant effects on clayey soils but not on loamy/sandy soils. The major oxides in different aggregate sizes were influenced, impacting the attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number for clayey soils. Despite the influence of aggregate size on soil chemical composition, radiation parameters exhibited differences only in some cases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Luiz Fernando Pires, Luis Valerio Prandel, Sergio da Costa Saab, Andre Mauricio Brinatti
Summary: The use of soil as a fingerprint material in forensic investigations has been explored in this study. The feasibility of methods based on X-ray fluorescence and radiation interaction parameters to differentiate soils was evaluated. The results showed that radiation interaction parameters have great potential for crime scene investigation, providing new parameters for better discrimination of soils. The method presented here is fast, easy to implement, and does not require powerful computers.
REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIA DO SOLO
(2022)
Review
Soil Science
Luiz Fernando Pires, Fabio Augusto Meira Cassaro, Vladia Correchel
Summary: This review highlights the basic research and applications of gamma-ray attenuation, neutron gauges, and Cs-137 fallout techniques for studying soil physical processes and properties, as carried out by Brazilian researchers in past decades. Future studies should focus on improving understanding of photon interaction with soil, selecting appropriate photon energies for investigating different soils, and developing more effective neutron detection systems. Challenges for the future use of Cs-137 fallout technique include the worldwide decrease in Cs-137 activity and the need for advanced detection systems to overcome this issue.
REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIA DO SOLO
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Lin Liu, Yili Lu, Robert Horton, Tusheng Ren
Summary: A new approach is presented in this study to estimate the parameters of the soil water retention curve (SWRC). The new method accurately estimates SWRCs by using measured thermal conductivity-water content curves, soil texture, bulk density, and field capacity water content.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Zhongshan Dai, Yong Zhang, Yujie Wei, Chongfa Cai
Summary: This study investigates the effects of erosion degradation and long-term manure fertilization on soil properties and crop yield in Northeast China. Results show that erosion degradation and manure fertilization have lasting impacts on soil physical structure throughout the soil profile, while their effects on soil nutrient properties are focused in shallow layers. Manure fertilization significantly improves soil functional index (ISI) and maize yield for degraded soils. Erosion degradation has a greater influence on ISI and maize yield than manure fertilization.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xintong Xu, Ruiyu Bi, Mengxin Song, Yubing Dong, Ying Jiao, Bingxue Wang, Zhengqin Xiong
Summary: The substitution of organic fertilizers for inorganic fertilizers has a significant impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) and can help combat soil degradation and climate change in intensive vegetable production.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Moritz Koza, Roger Funk, Julia Poehlitz, Christopher Conrad, Olga Shibistova, Tobias Meinel, Kanat Akshalov, Gerd Schmidt
Summary: Semi-arid regions in Central Asia are experiencing wind erosion due to steppe conversion and unsustainable farming practices. A study conducted in Kazakhstan used a mobile wind tunnel to assess soil erodibility under real conditions. The results showed significant differences in soil erosion based on initial conditions and mechanical stress, emphasizing the importance of proper soil management to prevent severe events.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Tong Li, Guorui Li, Zhiqiang Lu, Deqiang Zhao, Yuze Li, Ziting Wang, Xiaoxia Wen, Yuncheng Liao
Summary: Conservation agriculture with three management principles is effective in mitigating soil erosion and nutrient loss. This study found that no tillage significantly increased soil extracellular enzyme activities, while legume incorporation only had a significant effect on phosphorus-acquiring enzymes. Crop diversity positively influenced the no tillage-induced increase in enzyme activities.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Zahra Khasi, Mohammad Sadegh Askari, Setareh Amanifar, Kamran Moravej
Summary: This research aims to evaluate the applicability of visual soil evaluation methods for agricultural systems in semi-arid regions and assess the relationship between soil physical quality and crop yield. The results indicate that visual evaluation methods can effectively assess soil conditions, and optimal soil structural quality is crucial for sustainable crop production.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Amin Jannatul Ferdous, Xiaolin Wang, Katie Lewis, John Zak
Summary: Conservative agricultural management strategies can enhance crop productivity by altering soil microbiome, and incorporating legumes into cover crops in semi-arid regions can improve the dynamics of rhizobial communities. There is a strong underlying relationship between soil management and bacterial diversity in the soil.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Haiman Wang, Wankui Ni, Haisong Liu, Kangze Yuan
Summary: This study investigates the structural strength of the Loess-Paleosol Sequence (LPS) and finds that the strength tends to increase with burial depth, with the loess layer weaker than the paleosol layer. The microstructure of the LPS also undergoes significant transformations with increased burial depth, transitioning from an overhead structure to a matrix structure. These findings highlight the importance of climate conditions on the structural strength of the LPS.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Ranabir Chakraborty, V. K. Sharma, Debarup Das, D. R. Biswas, P. Mahapatra, D. K. Shahi, M. Barman, K. A. Chobhe, D. Chakraborty
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of long-term nutrient management practices on P fractions and P adsorption-desorption behaviour of an acid soil with a soybean-wheat cropping system. The findings revealed that amorphous Fe and Al, which play a significant role in P fixation, increased due to cultivation. The NPK+Lime treatment offered the most balanced approach, improving both crop yield and P uptake while effectively managing P dynamics in the soil. On the contrary, long-term application of NPK+FYM in an acid soil may result in faster P saturation of adsorption sites and increase the chances of leaching and eutrophication. Tailored P fertilization strategies should be developed to better utilize the PFe and PAl fractions and supplementing applied P.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Yuan Li, Ying Li, Qingping Zhang, Gang Xu, Guopeng Liang, Dong-Gill Kim, Carmen Rosa Carmona, Mei Yang, Jianming Xue, Yangzhou Xiang, Bin Yao, Yuying Shen
Summary: Agricultural intensification has led to severe degradation of croplands in China. Converting degraded croplands to grasslands can increase soil organic carbon and nitrogen content, but may decrease soil pH and available phosphorus. The duration of conversion and mean annual precipitation are major factors influencing soil changes.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xinliang Wu, Sixu Yao, Jinxing Zhou
Summary: The coupling effect of slaking and mechanical breakdown on aggregate stability was evaluated using a new method. This method can partition the unique and shared effects of these two breakdown mechanisms and showed better performance in predicting soil erosion compared to existing methods.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xinni Ju, Lei Gao, Dongli She, Yuhua Jia, Zhe Pang, Yaji Wang
Summary: This study linked soil pore structures quantified by X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning and infiltration processes traced using stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes under different land uses in the red soil region of southern China. The results showed that soil pore characteristics mainly affected soil water transport, while other soil properties played more important roles in soil water retention. CT-based porosity and soil texture were considered crucial indicators in the evaluation of water exchange during infiltration processes.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Hongwei Xu, Qing Qu, Jiaping Yang, Zhen Wang, Minggang Wang, Rentao Liu, Sha Xue
Summary: This study systematically analyzed the effects of drought on terrestrial ecosystem C-N-P stoichiometry on a global scale. The results showed that drought significantly decreased the C:N ratio in soil, enzymes, shoots, and roots. Soil microbes were limited by N, whereas plants were restricted by P under drought stress. Drought intensity and duration were negatively correlated with shoot N:P and vector angle.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Sara L. Bauke, Sabine J. Seidel, Miriam Athmann, Anne E. Berns, Melanie Braun, Martina I. Gocke, Julien Guigue, Timo Kautz, Ingrid Koegel-Knabner, Juliette Ohan, Matthias Rillig, Michael Schloter, Oliver Schmittmann, Stefanie Schulz, David Uhlig, Andrea Schnepf, Wulf Amelung
Summary: Agricultural production in Central Europe is increasingly affected by extreme drought events. This study found that incorporating organic matter, especially biowaste compost, into the subsoil significantly increased root growth and subsequently improved crop nutrient uptake, biomass, and grain yield. The incorporation of green waste compost had less pronounced effects.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xi Chen, Xuesong Wang
Summary: Based on the application of the integrated wind erosion modeling system, this study comprehensively simulated the loss and conservation of nutrients during aeolian dust emissions in the arid and semiarid areas of China. The results showed a decreasing trend in nutrient losses over the past two decades, with the ecosystems playing a crucial role in preventing these losses. The prevention rates of different land cover types were generally high, indicating the effectiveness of conservation measures.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)