JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

Texture fractal dimension is a physical index to describe soil particle size distribution having a variety of applications. Fractal dimension may be calculated from three relations of mass-time, mass-diameter and modified mass-diameter (Kravchenko-Zhang) with two linear and nonlinear options for fittings. The aim of the present study was to compare methods and select an appropriate one and fitting option for determining the fractal dimension using hydrometer data. Sixty soil samples were collected from four fields of Taqanak, near Shahrekord. After removal of organic matter and other initial treatments, hydrometer readings were obtained at 0.67, 1, 2, 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, 1440 and 2880 minutes and were converted to mass-time or mass-diameter data. Nonlinear fitting of the Kravchenko-Zhang mass-diameter relation was selected as the most appropriate method of calculating the fractal dimension of solid particles, due to its highest coefficient of determination and smallest mean square error and lowest Akaike Information Criteria. Error analysis also confirmed this conclusion. There was a significant, though not very strong, relationship between the fractal dimension obtained by linear and nonlinear fitting of mass- diameter and Kravchenko-Zhang mass-diameter methods. These relationships can be used to correct the fractal dimension determined by other methods and fitting options.

Treated wastewater may influence soil structure, porosity and as a consequence, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity. This study aims to assess the effect of wastewater on saturated hydraulic conductivity; and to determine the suitable soil solids fractal dimension to incorporate into the pedotransfer function by Rawls et al (1993) for estimation of saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks). Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity was measured by disc permeameter. Soil particle fractal dimension was calculated from linearized forms of mass- time, mass- diameter and mass- diameter as modified by Kravchenko- Zhang (1998) relations. Wastewater irrigation for 13 years increased the saturated hydraulic conductivity three times, from 7 mm/hour to 21 mm/hour, but longer application of wastewater did not further increase it. Rawls et al (1993) pedotransfer produced acceptable and relatively close saturated hydraulic conductivity values to that of disc permeameter when fractal dimension obtained from the linearized forms of mass- diameter and Kravchenko- Zhang relations were used. Therefore, Rawls et al (1993) pedotransfer was capable of reflecting the effect of wastewater application on soil saturated hydraulic conductivity.