What are the effects of rainfall, snowfall and freeze-thaw cycles on soil aggregate breakdown?
The results from this study (Table 1) suggest that rainfall, snowfall and freeze-thaw cycles all influence soil aggregate breakdown, but the nature and degree of their influence varies depending on the timing and magnitude of these events. If fall rain is accompanied by freeze-thaw cycles, the risk of soil aggregate breakdown increases, as indicated by the Fairfield site data for the “fall rain” period. Ice expansion between aggregates would cause aggregate breakdown, and as air and soil temperatures go below freezing as the “no rain” period approaches, the reversal of aggregate breakdown would not be possible. On the other hand in the “spring rain” period, rain after the majority of spring freeze-thaw cycles are over would result in saturation of the surface with slaking of aggregates. As these saturated surfaces dry, aggregates would be drawn together by water tension, and soil crusting would be likely, especially for soils with a higher clay content. The decreasing number of freeze-
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