Effects of iron-based amendments on soil structure: a lab experiment using soil micromorphology and image analysis of pores |
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| Authors: | Laura Gargiulo Giacomo Mele Fabio Terribile |
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| Institution: | 1. Institute for Agriculture and Forestry in the Mediterranean, National Council of Research, Via Patacca 85, 80056, Ercolano, Italy
2. Department of Agriculture, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
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| Abstract: | Purpose Recent trends in soil green and sustainable remediation require an increased attention on environmental effects. The physical consequences of remediation practices on soil structure are very rarely investigated. Material and methods A laboratory experiment was carried out by adding iron grit to a sand (S), a silt loam (L), and a clay (C) soil subjected to several wetting-drying cycles. The physical effects of the treatment on soil pore system were identified and quantified combining physical measurements on repacked samples with image analysis of pores on resin-impregnated soil blocks and micromorphological analysis on thin sections. Results and discussion A negligible reduction of total porosity (P) resulted in S, and a slight increase was observed in the L and C soils. However, an important impact on soil structure was identified in pore size range >10 μm for the L and C soils, with the formation of new pores related to the differential shrink-swell behavior between soil matrix and added iron grains. Different plasticity of these soils also played a role in planar pore formation. Conclusions Effects of the addition of iron grit on soil pore system are strongly dependent on soil physical properties. The performed experiment showed that iron-based amendments can improve soil structure in low-plastic shrink-swell soil increasing porosity in the range of transmission pores (50–500 μm). This study showed the high potential of soil micromorphology and pore image analysis in order to evaluate the environmental impact of soil remediation practices. |
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