The soil aggregate stability under the energy transmission line magnetic field

Abstract

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in finding effects of magnetic fields on soil properties. Some minerals presents in soil have magnetic susceptibilities. In this case, it is expected that physical and chemical properties of soil can be affected by magnetic fields. In this research, the effects of magnetic field on aggregate stability of the soil in Isparta- Kuleönü, Turkey, were studied. The research area was intersected by the energy transmission line (ETL) of 154 kV (50 Hz), on a clay loam soil (Vertic Haploxeroll). Soil samples were taken from 0–15 cm layers at gradually increased distances in relation to ETL. The changes in dispersion ratio, aggregate stability and mean weighed diameter (MWD) were measured. Magnetic field densities (MFD) at adjacent distances to ETL were much higher than those other distances. The average dispersion ratio, aggregate stability and MWD values at perpendicular direction to ETL ranged from 16.65±1.46 % to 25.24±1.03 %, from 32.64±3.36 % to 48.19±3.40 %, and from 0.39±0.01 mm to 0.68±0.06 mm, respectively. The data obtained for stability parameters were in accordance with each other, and indicated a relatively low relationship between MFD and stability parameters.

Keywords:

• Magnetic field
• soil
• aggregate stability
• energy transmission line

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank to University of Süleyman Demirel for their support and to Prof. Dr Osman Çerezci (University of Sakarya) for utilizing the apparatus of magnetic field meter.