RELEVANCE OF STRENGTH DISTRIBUTION WITHIN AGGREGATES TO THE MOVEMENT OF SOIL-WATER AND SOIL SOLUTION

Different transport processes exist not only between the total soil and single aggregates, but also within individual aggregates. To clarify the structure of single aggregates without thin-sectioning, resistance to penetration was repeatedly measured on the same aggregate at a predefined soil water tension. The aggregates were sampled from the G(o) 2 horizon of a Typic Fluvaquent (empty set 15-25mm) and from the B(g) 2 horizon of an Aquic Chromudert (empty set 30-50mm) and equilibrated with water tensions ranging from roughly 0hPa to 1000hPa. The strength distributions within individual aggregates were calculated using penetration resistance values of all measurements on one aggregate at a single water tension. These distributions, as exemplified by those at 300hPa and 1000hPa, show that the aggregates are surrounded by a thin, but very strong mineral skin which may be discontinuous, especially for aggregates from the Aquic Chromudert soil. In these aggregates, slickenside-like friction planes were found to penetrate through the skin. The deviation in the skin composition from that of the inner-aggregate described in literature, together with the finding of its strength, suggest that the exchange of water and solutes between the inter-aggregate and intra-aggregate pores is strongly impeded. The weaker parts within the skin, however, must be interpreted as preferred pathways, perhaps resulting in some fingering within aggregates at the prevailing matrix potential. The significance of different pathways within aggregates for the general transport of matter in soils is briefly discussed.