LINEAR FRACTAL ANALYSIS OF 3 MEXICAN SOILS IN DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT-SYSTEMS

The purpose of this study was to document the fractal nature of three soils of Mexico with contrasting genesis and marked differences in mor phology and to estimate the fractal dimensions of their sets of aggreg ates and pores. These dimensions were estimated along lines and were c alled linear fractal dimensions. A single, 'ideal' fractal dimensional ity was detected in the three soils studied. The soil linear fractal d imensions, calculated from macro and micromorphological data, had larg er values than the dimension of the Canter fractal dust model, but wer e less than unity. It was shown, that the fractal structure of the soi l pore space could not be described by the same dimension as that of t he aggregates. The linear fractal dimensions of soils of distinct gene sis, were significantly different on all scales compared, but the diff erences fluctuated between 0.4% and 9.1%. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B. V.