Soils that are exposed to prolonged drought often develop desiccation cracks, which impact soil properties and exacerbate moisture loss through evapotranspiration.
Soils that are exposed to prolonged drought often develop desiccation cracks, which impact soil properties and exacerbate moisture loss through evapotranspiration. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign examines the evolution of soil cracking and how cracks interact with storage and movement of water in the soil. The findings can help improve hydrological models essential for water management.
“As moisture evaporates from the soil, it induces stress. Once this stress exceeds the tensile strength of the soil, the soil breaks and desiccation cracks form. The cracks open additional surface area for moisture to transfer from the soil to the atmosphere, causing soil with cracks to become even drier,” said lead author Kristelle Dela Cruz, a doctoral student in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and The Grainger College of Engineering at Illinois.
Soils are generally described based on their texture and structure, explained co-author Maria Chu, professor in ABE. “Texture refers to the percentages of sand, silt, and clay that make up the soil. Structure describes how these different components are arranged into clumps or aggregates. When the soil cracks it affects the organization of components, changing the soil structure.”
The research team built a lysimeter – an instrument which measures the water balance of soil – to replicate field conditions in the lab. The lysimeter contained a column with one cubic foot of silt loess, a soil common in the U.S. Midwest. They added an environmental chamber with temperature control and a tile drain to allow for drainage flow.
Read More: University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
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