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| DOI：10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.20180207 |
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| Water Movement in Soil Amended with Perlite Particles of Different Sizes |
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ZHANG Naiyu, YAN Shuangdui, REN Qian, WANG Chunmei, LIU Lijun
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1.College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China; 2.Shanxi Academy of Environmental Sciences, Taiyuan 030000, China
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| Abstract: |
| 【Objective】The objective of this paper is to elucidate the effect of amending soil with perlite particles of different sizes on water movement in the soil. 【Method】 We examined three particle sizes ranging from 50 μm to 3 mm, and their surface structure was characterize by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water movement in the soil amended with these particles was studied experimentally by measuring water retention and movement in it at different temperatures using pot experiments.【Result】SEM revealed that the pore size on the surface of the perlite particles increased with particle size while decreased as the number of pores increased. SEM did not identified any pore for particles <50 μm. Soil amended with large (1~3 mm) and medium particles (50~200 μm) was able to adsorb water at room temperature, with the medium-size particles most effective in retaining water. It was found that amendment with large and small perlite particles enhanced evaporation thereby reducing soil moisture. Water infiltration test showed that large and medium perlite particles promoted water infiltration and the cumulative infiltration and the wetting front advancing decreased as the perlite particle size increased. The infiltration process can be described by the Horton formula.【Conclusion】Water infiltration depended on pearlite particle sizes and soil amended with large perlite particles increased soil porosity and permeability to conduct water. Medium particles improved water retention and permeability, while small particles had detrimental impact on soil and should not be used to amend soil. |
| Key words: perlite particles; soil water movement; soil amendment |
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