TY - JOUR
T1 - Mucilage increases soil resistance to penetration after compaction
AU - Fathinejad Poshkoohi, Asma
AU - Mohammadi, Mohammad Hossein
AU - Zarebanadkouki, Mohsen
AU - Etesami, Hassan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024
PY - 2025/3
Y1 - 2025/3
N2 - Mucilage offers several beneficial functions for soils, yet its impact on soil mechanical behavior remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of chia seed mucilage on the plasticity index (under normal conditions) and penetration resistance (under compaction) of sandy clay loam soils with differing soil organic carbon (SOC) levels from Akhtar Abad (SOC = 1.6%) and Najm Abad (SOC = 0.6%) in northern Iran. Four mucilage concentrations (0, 1 g kg⁻1, 3 g kg⁻1, 5 g kg⁻1) and three compaction pressures (100 kPa, 300 kPa, 600 kPa) were used. We found that mucilage significantly increased the plasticity index, with a 5.8% increase at 1 g kg⁻1 in the Najm Abad soil and 2.6%–3% increases at higher concentrations in the Akhtar Abad soil. At a concentration of 3 g kg⁻1, soil penetration resistance in the Akhtar Abad soil increased by 0.9 MPa and 1.6 MPa at compaction pressures of 300 kPa and 600 kPa, respectively. In the Najm Abad soil, a concentration of 5 g kg⁻1 led to increases of 0.7 MPa and 1.7 MPa at compaction pressures of 300 kPa and 600 kPa, respectively. No significant relationship was found between soil penetration resistance and soil plasticity index. The mucilage-induced increase in soil plasticity may hinder soil workability, especially when tillage occurs immediately after crop harvest. Mucilage can also increase soil resistance to root penetration in areas compacted by heavy machinery. To mitigate these risks, we recommend performing tillage and machinery operations in both agricultural and forest ecosystems during dry periods, when mucilage is less active, to minimize its negative impact on soil workability and compaction.
AB - Mucilage offers several beneficial functions for soils, yet its impact on soil mechanical behavior remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of chia seed mucilage on the plasticity index (under normal conditions) and penetration resistance (under compaction) of sandy clay loam soils with differing soil organic carbon (SOC) levels from Akhtar Abad (SOC = 1.6%) and Najm Abad (SOC = 0.6%) in northern Iran. Four mucilage concentrations (0, 1 g kg⁻1, 3 g kg⁻1, 5 g kg⁻1) and three compaction pressures (100 kPa, 300 kPa, 600 kPa) were used. We found that mucilage significantly increased the plasticity index, with a 5.8% increase at 1 g kg⁻1 in the Najm Abad soil and 2.6%–3% increases at higher concentrations in the Akhtar Abad soil. At a concentration of 3 g kg⁻1, soil penetration resistance in the Akhtar Abad soil increased by 0.9 MPa and 1.6 MPa at compaction pressures of 300 kPa and 600 kPa, respectively. In the Najm Abad soil, a concentration of 5 g kg⁻1 led to increases of 0.7 MPa and 1.7 MPa at compaction pressures of 300 kPa and 600 kPa, respectively. No significant relationship was found between soil penetration resistance and soil plasticity index. The mucilage-induced increase in soil plasticity may hinder soil workability, especially when tillage occurs immediately after crop harvest. Mucilage can also increase soil resistance to root penetration in areas compacted by heavy machinery. To mitigate these risks, we recommend performing tillage and machinery operations in both agricultural and forest ecosystems during dry periods, when mucilage is less active, to minimize its negative impact on soil workability and compaction.
KW - Compaction
KW - Mechanical properties
KW - Organic carbon
KW - Plasticity index
KW - Root exudates
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85212233787&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.rhisph.2024.101014
DO - 10.1016/j.rhisph.2024.101014
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85212233787
SN - 2452-2198
VL - 33
JO - Rhizosphere
JF - Rhizosphere
M1 - 101014
ER -