Characterizing and linking macropore structure characteristics to water infiltration in stony soils

Macropores have been widely recognized as preferential pathways for the rapid movement of water into soils. The objectives of this study were to characterize soil macropore structures using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and to explore the relationships between macropore characteristics and hydraulic properties of stony soils. To achieve these, a total of 18 soil columns were sampled from six sites (three sites covered with grass and three sites with forest) with stony soils located in a mountain watershed in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area of Central China. Field infiltration experiments were carried out at the sampling sites under near-saturated conditions using a tension disc infiltrometer. The three-dimensional macropore structures were visualized from X-ray CT images, and total macroporosity, connected macroporosity, macropore density, specific surface area, degree of anisotropy, fractal dimension, and hydraulic radius were characterized. The results showed that the largest total macroporosity and connected macroporosity were observed at forest sites. The macropore structure with high connectivity could facilitate greater water infiltration into the soils. The near-saturated hydraulic conductivity Kh was significantly higher at the forest sites than at the grassland sites at four water pressure heads. The stony soils studied had heterogenous macropore systems with large and well-connected macropores. The macroporosity of macropores with equivalent diameters between 0.5 and 2 mm was found best to predict the near-saturated hydraulic conductivity. Our study provides a helpful technique for a better understanding of stony soil macropores and hydraulic properties by a combination of 3D visualization methods and traditional hydraulic analysis.