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Quantifying soil macropore networks in different forest communities using industrial computed tomography in a mountainous area of North China

  • 2015 International Symposium on Forest Soils
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Macropores have important effects on the movement of soil water, air, and chemical substances. However, the quantitative relationship between complex 3D soil macropore networks and forest communities remains unclear in the northern mountainous area in China. The objectives of this study were to (1) use industrial computed tomography (CT) scanning and image analysis to quantitatively analyze macropore networks in intact soil columns and (2) identify characteristics of soil macropore networks in different forest communities.

Materials and methods

Intact soil columns (100-mm diameter, 300 mm long) were taken from six local forest communities with three replicates for a total of 18 samples. Industrial X-ray CT was used to scan soil samples; then, the scanned images were used to obtain the 3D images of rock fragments and macropore structures. Next, the macropore structure was quantified, including volume, diameter, surface area, length, angle, tortuosity, and number of macropores. This technique provided an accurate method to quantify the structure of macropores.

Results and discussion

The analysis and results revealed that different forest communities influence soil macropore 3D structure significantly and in different ways. Macropores in mixed Pinus tabulaeformis, Castanea mollissima, and Ulmus pumila forest had the largest diameter, surface area, network density, and length density of macropores as well as the smallest mean tortuosity of soil macropores. This is caused by the fact that mixed forest soils had more complex root systems, better soil structure, and more biotic activity. Within the soils of a single forest community, macropore porosity, network density, surface area density, and length of macropores decreased with increased soil depth, because more roots and more biological activity were present in the surface soil.

Conclusions

Advanced industrial CT technology can allow an accurate quantification of soil macropore structure. This is important because this type of structure has significant effects on soil water, air, and chemical transport. The results suggest that mixed forest is the best afforestation model in the northern mountainous area in China because of its ability to improve soil structure.

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Acknowledgments

The National Science Foundation of China (NSFC 41271044) and the Graduate Training and Development Program of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education partially supported this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Chen Meng, Jianzhi Niu, Xiang Li, Ziteng Luo, Xiaoqing Du, Xingna Lin & Xinxiao Yu

  2. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shanxi, 712100, China

    Jie Du

Authors
  1. Chen Meng
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  2. Jianzhi Niu
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  3. Xiang Li
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  4. Ziteng Luo
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  5. Xiaoqing Du
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  6. Jie Du
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  7. Xingna Lin
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  8. Xinxiao Yu
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Correspondence to Jianzhi Niu.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Meng, C., Niu, J., Li, X. et al. Quantifying soil macropore networks in different forest communities using industrial computed tomography in a mountainous area of North China. J Soils Sediments 17, 2357–2370 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1441-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1441-2

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