Compaction effects on evaporation and salt precipitation in drying porous media

Abstract. Compaction and salinization of soils reduce croplands fertility, affect natural ecosystems, are major concerns worldwide. Soil compaction alters soil structure affects the soil's hydraulic properties, it therefore may have a significant impact on evaporation solute transport processes in soil. In this work, we investigated combined compaction, bare evaporation, salt precipitation. X-ray computed microtomography techniques were used to study geometrical pore grain parameters influenced by compaction. The precipitation was studied using column experiments. We found that reduced average size increased number grains, due crushing grains their translocation within compacted profile. Changes geometry heterogeneously distributed throughout profile, with changes most apparent near source our case, at surface. experiments showed presence small pores upper layer profile leads higher loss rates, increase connectivity surface prolongation first stage evaporation.