Microtomographic analysis of pore space in a virgin soddy-podzolic soil

Abstract

The method of X-ray microtomography was applied to study pore space of a virgin soddy-podzolic soil at the natural soil water content. The morphometric parameters of the pores of more than 100 μm in diameter were determined in the vertically oriented undisturbed soil monoliths (d = 3 cm, h = 3–4 cm) from the genetic horizons of the most differentiated part of the soil profile (the AY, AEL, EL, BEL, BT1, and BТ2 horizons). A tendency for the horizontal orientation of these pores was found in all the horizons, except for the humus (AY) horizon. Isolated vesicular pores of different sizes were abundant in the eluvial part of the profile. Numerous recent and relict phytogenic channels were found in the intraped mass of the BT2 horizon. Differently directed interfaces of structural units in the soil horizons were visualized. Cluster analysis was applied to estimate differences between the genetic horizons with respect to their textures, aggregate sizes, and shapes of pores as seen in vertical two-dimensional X-ray images.