My interests

I am interested in modeling and interpretation of mass flow in unsaturated zone, defining the soil physical parameters influencing the preferential flow and solute transport processes in the soil. As my PhD project, I am working on soil hydraulic and mechanical properties affected by compaction and try to investigate how changes in soil pore structure due to compaction affect the flow and transport regime in the soil. I do my measurement both in lab and in situ which help me to find clear relations between field and lab methods. I’m also working on pore-scale geometry with the aim of CT-Scanning (X-ray tomography) and dye tracing in my PhD project.

My PhD project summery description

Soil compaction by vehicular traffic can lead to profound changes in soil mechanical properties and the soil pore system and correspondingly influence preferential water flow and movement of associated chemicals to the groundwater in arable lands. Compaction not only reduces pore volume, but also modifies the pore geometry (i.e. pore morphology and connectivity). Hence, soil compaction modifies soil structure and affects a range of important ecological functions. Compaction may also induce preferential flow in any remaining macropores or those that re-generate after compaction, which may facilitate transport of otherwise immobile pollutants such as phosphorus and pesticides to receiving water bodies. Many studies have investigated the effects of agricultural field traffic on soil stresses and strains in the subsoil, as well as soil compaction effects on crop yield. However, the effects of compaction on soil pore functioning and transport processes have been little studied and are still poorly understood. During this project we will evaluate the effect of compaction on morphology and function of soil pore system, transport processes and mechanical properties of the soil. The work is generally part of the Nordic Poseidon Project.

Digitized pictures created from Computer Aided Tomography (CT-scans) from a loamy soil in Skåne, Sweden (Wildenschild et al., in preparation). Comparison between standard management (left) and trafficked four times by a heavy sugar beet harvester fourteen years prior to sampling (right); POSEIDON project.