Short communication. The effect of freeze-thaw cycles on soil aggregate stability in different salinity and sodicity conditions

Abstract

Freezing and thawing affect soil aggregate stability. Understanding the effects of freezing and thawing processes on aggregate stability is necessary for the development of strategies for managing saline-sodic soils. This study was performed to determine the effects of freezing and thawing cycles (two, four, and six) on wet aggregate stability in six soils of different salinity and sodicity (54 dS/m, 11.7%; 49 dS/m, 11.8%; 53 dS/m, 31.7%; 85 dS/m, 39.7%; 59 dS/m, 13.9%; 68 dS/m, 36.8%, respectively) and three different aggregate sizes (< 1, 1-2, and 2-4 mm). The experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions using disturbed and non-cropped soil samples. In soils with a high percentage of exchangeable sodium and high electrical conductivity, the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on the wet aggregate stability was not significant. However, when the electrical conductivity was high and the percentage exchangeable sodium relatively low, wet aggregate stability was significantly reduced by the freeze-thaw cycles. Moreover, for aggregate sizes of 1-2 and 2-4 mm, a significant reduction (P<0.01) was seen in the wet aggregate stability of samples that underwent six freeze-thaw cycles compared to those that underwent two cycles.