Definition
Anisotropy is the property of being directionally dependent, as opposed to isotropy, which means homogeneity in all directions. It can be defined as a difference in one soil physical property along different directions.
Anisotropic soil does not have the same physical properties when the direction of measurement is changed. Commonly it is used in reference to soil structure, soil strength, and soil permeability changes with direction of measurement.
Causes
The anisotropy of soil physical properties may be primarily derived from natural pedogenesis. Due to the weathering of rock materials and the input of organic matter into soils, soil profiles can be, in general, defined as a humus-enriched mineral horizon (A), a leached horizon (E), an accumulated horizon (B), and a parent material horizon (C) from the topsoil downward to the less-weathered underlying material. The horizontal layers contain directly dependent soil properties. Human activity may be the secondary factor....
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Bibliography
Bronswijk, J. J. B., 1990. Shrinkage geometry of a heavy clay soil at various stresses. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 54, 1500–1502.
Chertkov, V. Y., Ravina, I., and Zadoenko, V., 2004. An approach for estimating the shrinkage geometry factor at a moisture content. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 68, 1807–1817.
Dabney, S. M., and Selim, H. M., 1987. Anisotropy of a fragipan soil: vertical vs. horizontal hydraulic conductivity. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 51, 3–6.
Dörner, J., and Horn, R., 2006. Anisotropy of pore functions in structured Stagnic Luvisols in the Weichselian moraine region in N Germany. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 169, 213–220.
Garnier, P., Perrier, E., Jaramillo, R. A., and Baveye, P., 1997. Numerical model of 3-dimensional anisotropic deformation and 1-dimensional water flow in swelling soils. Soil Science, 162, 410–420.
Hillel, D., 1998. Environmental Soil Physics. London: Academic.
Horn, R., Way, T., and Rostek, J., 2003. Effect of repeated tractor wheeling on stress/strain properties and consequences on physical properties in structured arable soils. Soil and Tillage Research, 73, 101–106.
Mualem, Y., 1984. Anisotropy of unsaturated soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 48, 505–509.
Pagliai, M., Vignozzi, N., and Pellegrini, S., 2004. Soil Structure and the effect of management practices. Soil and Tillage Research, 79, 131–143.
Peng, X., and Horn, R., 2007. Anisotropic shrinkage and swelling of some organic and inorganic soils. European Journal of Soil Science, 58, 98–107.
Peng, X., and Horn, R., 2008. Time-dependent, anisotropic pore structure and soil strength in a 10-year period after intensive tractor wheeling under conservation and conventional tillage. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 171, 936–944.
Wiermann, C., Werner, D., Horn, R., Rostek, J., and Werner, B., 2000. Stress/strain processes in a structured unsaturated silty loam Luvisol under different tillage treatments in Germany. Soil and Tillage Research, 53, 117–128.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Peng, X. (2011). Anisotropy of Soil Physical Properties. In: Gliński, J., Horabik, J., Lipiec, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Agrophysics. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3585-1_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3585-1_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-3584-4
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-3585-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences