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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Damage to soil physical properties caused by soil sampler devices as assessed by gamma ray computed tomography

Luiz F. Pires A B , Osny O. S. Bacchi A and Klaus Reichardt A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, USP. C.P. 96, C.E.P. 13.400-970 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.

B Corresponding author; email: lfpires@cena.usp.br

Australian Journal of Soil Research 42(7) 857-863 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR03167
Submitted: 5 December 2003  Accepted: 31 May 2004   Published: 12 November 2004

Abstract

Soil sample physical properties can be greatly affected during soil sampling procedures. Improper procedures can impose modifications on soil sample structure and consequently lead to wrong measurements of soil properties. The objective of this work was to evaluate the damage caused by soil samplers to soil structure through the analysis of computed tomography (CT) images. A first generation tomograph was used, having a 241Am source and a 7.62 × 7.62 cm NaI(Tl) scintillation crystal detector coupled to a photomultiplier tube. Results confirm the effect of soil sampler devices on the structure of soil samples, and that the compaction caused during sampling causes significant alterations to soil bulk density. Through the use of CT it was possible to determine the level of compaction and to make a detailed analysis of the soil bulk density distribution within the soil sample.

Additional keywords: soil sampler device, soil compaction, computed tomography, gamma radiation.


Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank R.C.J. Arthur and R.P. Camponez do Brasil for the help during soil sampling procedure and to FAPESP (grant no. 02/05066–5) for the financial support.


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