Evaluation of soil compactibility using micromorphological characteristics and mercury intrusion porosimetry data [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The cuurent investigation was couductcd to evaluate soil compactibilily using micromorphologicaJ characteristics and mercury intrusion porosimctry. The micromorphological description reveals that there are marked differences in morphology, size and distribution of pores in the compacted and uncompacted soib. The microstructure of compacted soils is platy, where as it shows a granular structure in the uncompacted ones. The increase in planar and fissure pores on compaction produces a platy microstructure and a strongly horizontal pret'crred orientation. The structure of uncompacted soils shows a weakly preferred and random orientation Mercury intrusion porosimerry data show that total porosity was significantly lower at all sampling times in compacted soils and the proportion of pores ranging from 0.2 to 100 urn, which are considered the most important criteria in soil-water-plant retionships and in maintaining a good soil structure. The compacled soils have higher area compared to uncompacted ones due to the destruction of soil aggregates.induced by heavy agricultural machinery and the rearrangement of particles which are more closely assGciated to soil compaction. These values could be used to predict water movement and give a better information about transmission and storage pores.

Summary in Arabic.

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