4. Conclusions
The purpose of the studywas to examine changes of CT-measured
pore parameters as influenced by grass and agroforestry buffers and
compare these with row crop management. Computed tomographymeasured
total number of pores, number of macropores, number of
coarse mesopores, porosity, macroporosity, coarse mesoporosity,
and fractal dimension of macroporosity were found to be significantly
different among the treatments. Buffer practices were shown
to improve soil pore parameters that are important for water
movement, infiltration, and retention. The fractal dimension of pores
accounted for 76% of the variability in saturated hydraulic conductivity
and contributions of other parameters or an individual
parameter did not make a significant improvement. Differences in
pore parameter among the treatments below the 22 cm depth may
suggest that perennial vegetation helps in developing pores in the
subsurface horizons compared to the crop treatment. The results of
the study provide spatial information on pore parameters related to
buffer management practices in surface and subsurface horizons.
The degree of improvement associated with each management
practice can be used to examine spatial variability in water and gas
movement.