ARS | Publication request: New Methodology for 3D Visualization and Modeling of the Cracking Behavior of SOil at the Field Scale

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 10, 2008
Publication Date: June 1, 2009
Citation: Abou Najm, M.R., R.H. Mohtar, J.D. Jabro, W.M. Iversen, J.B. Jesiek, and E. Sanders. 2009. New Methodology for 3D visualization and Modeling of the Cracking Behavior of Soil at the Field Scale. Annual International Meeting of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Reno, NV, June 20-24, 2009. Cd-Rom.

Technical Abstract: Crack development in the field is the result of the complex interaction of multiple processes relating to the soil’s structure, moisture condition, and stress level. Visualizing and characterizing the cracking behavior of soils across the soil depth has always been a key challenge and major barrier against scaling up existing hydrologic concepts and models to account for preferential flows. We present a new methodology to quantify soil cracks across a soil profile. The evolution of the cracking behavior (in terms of volume of cracks at different soil depths) as function of moisture conditions will be assessed. Results from different soil types (the savage soil vs. the Chalmers soil) and different landuses (corn field vs. soy bean field in the Chalmers soil) will be presented.