File(s) under permanent embargo
Soil bulk density estimation methods: a review
journal contribution
posted on 2018-08-01, 00:00 authored by Ahmed Abed Gatea, Abbas KouzaniAbbas Kouzani, Akif KaynakAkif Kaynak, Sui Yang KhooSui Yang Khoo, Michael NortonMichael Norton, Will GatesWill GatesMeasurement of soil bulk density is important for understanding the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. Accurate
and rapid soil bulk density measurement techniques play a significant role in agricultural experimental research. This review is a
comprehensive summary of existing measurement methods and evaluates their advantages, disadvantages, potential sources of error,
and directions for future development. These techniques can be broadly categorised as direct and indirect methods. Direct methods
include core, clod, and excavation sampling, whereas indirect methods include the radiation and regression approaches. The core
method is most widely used, but it is time consuming and difficult to use for sampling multiple soil depths. The size of the coring
cylinder used, operator experience, sampling depth, and in-situ soil moisture content significantly affect its accuracy. The clod method is
suitable for use with heavy clay soils, and its accuracy is dependent on equipment calibration, drying time, and operator experience, but
the process is complicated and time consuming. Excavation techniques are most commonly used to evaluate the bulk density of forest
soils, but have major limitations as they cannot be used in soils with large pores and their measurement accuracy is strongly influenced
by soil texture and the type of analysis selected. The indirect methods appear to have greater accuracy than direct approaches, but
have higher costs, are more complex, and require greater operator experience. One such approach uses gamma radiation, and its
accuracy is strongly influenced by soil depth. Regression methods are economical as they can make indirect measurements, but these
depend on good, quality data of soil texture and organic matter content and geographical and climatic properties. Also, like most of
the other approaches, its accuracy decreases with sampling depth.
and rapid soil bulk density measurement techniques play a significant role in agricultural experimental research. This review is a
comprehensive summary of existing measurement methods and evaluates their advantages, disadvantages, potential sources of error,
and directions for future development. These techniques can be broadly categorised as direct and indirect methods. Direct methods
include core, clod, and excavation sampling, whereas indirect methods include the radiation and regression approaches. The core
method is most widely used, but it is time consuming and difficult to use for sampling multiple soil depths. The size of the coring
cylinder used, operator experience, sampling depth, and in-situ soil moisture content significantly affect its accuracy. The clod method is
suitable for use with heavy clay soils, and its accuracy is dependent on equipment calibration, drying time, and operator experience, but
the process is complicated and time consuming. Excavation techniques are most commonly used to evaluate the bulk density of forest
soils, but have major limitations as they cannot be used in soils with large pores and their measurement accuracy is strongly influenced
by soil texture and the type of analysis selected. The indirect methods appear to have greater accuracy than direct approaches, but
have higher costs, are more complex, and require greater operator experience. One such approach uses gamma radiation, and its
accuracy is strongly influenced by soil depth. Regression methods are economical as they can make indirect measurements, but these
depend on good, quality data of soil texture and organic matter content and geographical and climatic properties. Also, like most of
the other approaches, its accuracy decreases with sampling depth.
History
Journal
PedosphereVolume
28Issue
4Pagination
581 - 596Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
1002-0160Language
EnglishPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2018, Soil Science Society of ChinaUsage metrics
Categories
Keywords
measurement accuracydirect measurement methodsgamma radiationindirect measurement methodsregression methodssampling depthsoil propertiesScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineSoil ScienceAgricultureENERGY-BALANCE CLOSUREGAMMA-RAY ATTENUATIONPEDOTRANSFER FUNCTIONSTHERMAL-CONDUCTIVITYWATER-CONTENTPENETRATION RESISTANCEORGANIC-CARBONFOREST SOILSFIELDPREDICTIONPlant Biology
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC