A scheme for the quantitative description of soil macrostructure by image analysis

SUMMARY Images prepared from impregnated samples showing a range of structures were classified structurally. A Quantimet 720 image analyzer and the ANOPOR system separate the pore space in each image into its fissure, channel and packing pore/vugh components. Measurements are derived for each type. Overall structure is determined by the structural pore space consisting of fissures and packing pores/vughs. Paramenters relating to these types indicate the size and shape of structural units and their degree of development. Two scheme are proposed which describe several structural spectra.One treats fissures and packing pores as modifications of the same structural pore space, whereas the other treats the two separately.The effects of various processes of structural parameters are discussed, and the reliability of pore measurements is discussed.

[1]  P. Bullock,et al.  THE MEASUREMENT AND CHARACTERISATION OF VOIDS IN SOIL THIN SECTIONS BY IMAGE ANALYSIS. PART I. PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES , 1977 .

[2]  H. Schwarz,et al.  The characterization of the arrangement of feature centroids in planes and volumes , 1983 .

[3]  Johan Bouma,et al.  Calculation of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Some Pedal Clay Soils Using Micromorphometric Data1 , 1979 .

[4]  K. Smettem,et al.  Statistical characterization of soil biopores using a soil peel method , 1985 .

[5]  P. Bullock,et al.  THE MEASUREMENT AND CHARACTERISATION OF VOIDS IN SOIL THIN SECTIONS BY IMAGE ANALYSIS. PART II. APPLICATIONS , 1977 .

[6]  W. D. Nettleton.  Soil Survey Papers, No. 9, Micromorphometric Soil-Porosity Characterization by Means of Electro-Optical Image Analysis (Quantimet 720) , 1977 .

[7]  P. J. Walker,et al.  Quantimet image analysis of soil pore geometry: Comparison with tracer breakthrough curves , 1983 .

[8]  C. Mullins,et al.  The use of plaster of Paris in the study of soil structure , 1985 .

[9]  J. Bouma,et al.  The Function of Different Types of Macropores During Saturated Flow through Four Swelling Soil Horizons1 , 1977 .

[10]  A. Ringrose-Voase,et al.  The automatic recognition and measurement of soil pore types by image analysis and computer programs , 1984 .

[11]  P. Bullock,et al.  Rothamsted studies of soil structure II. Measurement and characterisation of macroporosity by image analysis and comparison with data from water retention measurements , 1979 .

[12]  A. Jongerius,et al.  Electro-optical soil porosity investigation by means of Quantimet-B equipment , 1972 .

[13]  M. Pagliai,et al.  Micromorphometric and micromorphological investigations of a clay loam soil in viticulture under zero and conventional tillage , 1983 .