Dynamics and characteristics of pore space changes during the crumbling ondrying of structured agricultural soils

An investigation was carried out to examine the characteristics and dynamic s of pore space changes, during drying of a structured agricultural soil un der capillary bonding stresses. The procedure involved the preparation, in batches, of several identical cylindrical soil samples. Having subjected ea ch batch to selected sample treatments, the samples were dried to different moisture contents and a tensile strength test performed on each one. The a ntecedence of freezing was found to have considerable effects on pore sizes , swelling and shrinkage characteristics and moisture retention in inter-ag gregate pores. Pore volume relationships are proposed. Using these relation ships, a preliminary attempt has been made to gain further insight into the dynamics of pore space changes in the soil water suction range 0-100 mbar. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.