TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of four methods for liberating various aggregate fractions in Vertosols to study their morphology
AU - Field, Damien J.
AU - Sullivan, Leigh A.
AU - Cattle, Stephen R.
AU - Koppi, Anthony J.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Topsoil samples from 3 Vertosols located at Narrabri, Warren, and Dalby were treated with 4 aggregate liberation methods to determine their suitability for analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition to the ability of each method to liberate aggregates for assessment, the potential for consequent morphological deformation was also considered. It was found that the aggregate slaking in water and modified wet sieving methods were suitable for liberating aggregates >100 μm in diameter, whereas the ultrasonic agitation method readily liberated aggregates <50 μm in diameter. End-over-end shaking is not recommended for preparing aggregates for SEM as the method appeared to cause morphological deformation of the liberated aggregates. The systematic use of the 4 aggregate liberating methods, assuming an increase in the intensity of the energy supplied, enabled the partitioning of the aggregates of these Vertosols into pragmatic aggregate size fractions defining a hierarchy, i.e. >250, 100-250, 20-100, 2-20, and <2 μm in diameter.
AB - Topsoil samples from 3 Vertosols located at Narrabri, Warren, and Dalby were treated with 4 aggregate liberation methods to determine their suitability for analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition to the ability of each method to liberate aggregates for assessment, the potential for consequent morphological deformation was also considered. It was found that the aggregate slaking in water and modified wet sieving methods were suitable for liberating aggregates >100 μm in diameter, whereas the ultrasonic agitation method readily liberated aggregates <50 μm in diameter. End-over-end shaking is not recommended for preparing aggregates for SEM as the method appeared to cause morphological deformation of the liberated aggregates. The systematic use of the 4 aggregate liberating methods, assuming an increase in the intensity of the energy supplied, enabled the partitioning of the aggregates of these Vertosols into pragmatic aggregate size fractions defining a hierarchy, i.e. >250, 100-250, 20-100, 2-20, and <2 μm in diameter.
KW - Aggregate hierarchy
KW - Microaggregate
KW - Scanning electron microscopy
KW - Soil micromorphology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1542321153&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/SR03057
DO - 10.1071/SR03057
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:1542321153
SN - 0004-9573
VL - 42
SP - 29
EP - 37
JO - Australian Journal of Soil Research
JF - Australian Journal of Soil Research
IS - 1
ER -