Quantitative Method for Assessing Crack Retention in Two-Domain Soils: Implications for Agriculture and Infrastructure Stability | Chapter 5 | Geography, Earth Science and Environment: Research Highlights Vol. 8

In heavy soils, a high content of clay minerals can cause volume changes as soil moisture fluctuates. Clays and clay minerals are permanent components of the natural environment. Their presence in the soil leads to volume changes, which are three-dimensional processes. These changes result in the formation of cracks in the horizontal plane and vertical movements of the soil surface. The formation of cracks creates a dynamic two-domain structure within the soil, significantly influencing the precipitation-runoff process. However, directly measuring the volume of the crack network is extremely challenging. This study proposes a method for calculating the retention properties of the crack network. The approach is based on the hypothesis that crack volume depends on the clay particle content and soil water content. From a material perspective, the soil profile is classified based on its potential for volume changes. The calculation assesses the isotropy of the soil profile using a geometric factor and incorporates shrinkage characteristics, crack dimensions on the soil surface, and volumetric moisture distribution along the soil profile. To verify the proposed calculation method, temporal changes in crack width and their response to variations in soil bulk moisture were measured and analyzed. As part of the research, a simple tool was developed to accurately measure crack width on the soil surface. The study was conducted in the East Slovak Lowland, where a selected soil profile was examined under extreme drought conditions at the turn of July and August 2022. Crack widths ranged between 1.0 cm and 3.3 cm. The statistical evaluation of the calculation method confirmed its reliability for estimating changes in crack width on the soil surface.

 

Author (s) Details

Milan Gomboš
Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hollého 42, Michalovce 071 01, Slovakia.

 

Andrej Tall
Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hollého 42, Michalovce 071 01, Slovakia.

 

Branislav Kandra
Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hollého 42, Michalovce 071 01, Slovakia.

 

Dana Pavelková
Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hollého 42, Michalovce 071 01, Slovakia.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/geserh/v8/4663

Study on Impact of Clay Minerals on the Characteristics of Volume Changes of Heavy Soils| Chapter 3 | Challenging Issues on Environment and Earth Science Vol. 6

 Water can be absorbed by clay minerals and incorporated into their microstructure. Volume changes in clay particles occur during these processes (water absorption or loss). Clay particles with a high concentration might cause volume variations in soils if moisture levels fluctuate at the same time. The volume changes that occur in heavy soils during shrinking and swelling processes are significant because they are accompanied by soil surface shrinkage and the creation of fissures. Crack formation and dynamics have a significant impact on heavy soil transport mechanisms and, as a result, on their water regime. The results of the examination of the influence of clay content on the influence of clay content on the influence of clay content on the influence of clay content on the influence of clay content on the influence of soil geometric factor, coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE), potential of linear extensibility (PLE), and coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE). The notion that texture has an effect on the value of the volume change potential and the geometric factor, and thus on the degree of volume change distribution on the vertical and horizontal components, was confirmed. According to the hypothesis, the clay soil component has the biggest impact on the volume change potential and the geometric factor value. Field and laboratory measurements are used to get new information. The findings will be utilised as inputs for numerical simulations of heavy soil water regimes.

Author(s) Details

Dr. Milan Gomboš
Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hollého 42, Michalovce 071 01, Slovakia.

Dr. I. D. Andrej Tall
Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hollého 42, Michalovce 071 01, Slovakia.

Dr. Branislav Kandra
Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hollého 42, Michalovce 071 01, Slovakia.

Dr. Dana Pavelková
Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hollého 42, Michalovce 071 01, Slovakia.

View Book :- https://stm.bookpi.org/CIEES-V6/article/view/2829