{"title":"Analysis of the relationship between soil particle fractal dimension and physicochemical properties","authors":"Yongxing Pan, Meng Chen, Yudao Chen","doi":"10.1007/s12665-025-12214-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>By examining the multifractal characteristics of soil particle size distribution (PSD), we can elucidate the distribution patterns of soil particles and identify their primary influencing factors. In this study, soil samples from different areas of a floodplain were analyzed for PSD, physicochemical properties, and heavy metal content. Multifractal parameters were calculated using multifractal theory. Subsequently, the relationships between soil PSD, fractal dimension, and soil physicochemical properties were investigated using correlation analysis, Mantel test, and random forest models. The results indicated that the soil particle size distribution in the study area was dominated by silt (2–20 μm) and sand (20–2000 μm) particles, with average contents ranging from 21.18% to 59.46% and 33.24% to 63.81%, respectively. The mean values of the single fractal dimension (<i>D</i>), which represents overall soil structure complexity rather than an average of <i>D</i>(0), <i>D</i>(1), and <i>D</i>(2), ranged from 2.27 to 2.54, indicating coarser soil particles. The multifractal dimensions revealed that the capacity dimension (<i>D</i>(0)) was greater than the information dimension (<i>D</i>(1)) and the correlation dimension (<i>D</i>(2)), i.e., <i>D</i>(0) > <i>D</i>(1) > <i>D</i>(2), confirming the multifractal nature of soil particle size distribution. The mean values of spectral width (Δ<i>α</i>) ranged from 1.28 to 3.68, indicating a relatively complex soil fractal structure and significant variability in soil PSD inhomogeneity. Significant correlations (<i>P</i> < 0.05, |<i>r</i>| ≥ 0.35) were found between Zn and <i>D</i>, Δ<i>α</i>, <i>D</i>(1), <i>D</i>(2), and <i>D</i>(1)/<i>D</i>(0), as well as between Pb and <i>D</i>(2) and <i>D</i>(1)/<i>D</i>(0), suggesting a relationship between heavy metals and fractal dimensions. Additionally, there was a significant correlation (<i>P</i> < 0.05, |<i>r</i>|≥ 0.35) between soil PSD and fractal dimensions. Mantel Test and RF analyses, with soil PSD and physicochemical properties as independent variables and soil fractal dimensions as the dependent variable, demonstrated the significant influence of soil PSD on soil fractal dimensions. Fractal dimensions reflect soil quality characteristics and weathering intensity, with multifractal dimensions offering more descriptive insights, as demonstrated by their significant correlations with key soil properties such as cation exchange capacity (CEC), amorphous aluminum oxide (Al<sub>o</sub>), free iron oxide (Fe<sub>d</sub>), and free aluminum oxide (Al<sub>d</sub>). These findings highlight the critical role of soil fractal dimensions in representing soil particle composition and its spatial variability. By elucidating these relationships, this study enhances the understanding of soil structural variability, which is critical for informing targeted ecological management and restoration strategies in alluvial fan environments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":542,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Earth Sciences","volume":"84 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Environmental Earth Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12665-025-12214-3","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
By examining the multifractal characteristics of soil particle size distribution (PSD), we can elucidate the distribution patterns of soil particles and identify their primary influencing factors. In this study, soil samples from different areas of a floodplain were analyzed for PSD, physicochemical properties, and heavy metal content. Multifractal parameters were calculated using multifractal theory. Subsequently, the relationships between soil PSD, fractal dimension, and soil physicochemical properties were investigated using correlation analysis, Mantel test, and random forest models. The results indicated that the soil particle size distribution in the study area was dominated by silt (2–20 μm) and sand (20–2000 μm) particles, with average contents ranging from 21.18% to 59.46% and 33.24% to 63.81%, respectively. The mean values of the single fractal dimension (D), which represents overall soil structure complexity rather than an average of D(0), D(1), and D(2), ranged from 2.27 to 2.54, indicating coarser soil particles. The multifractal dimensions revealed that the capacity dimension (D(0)) was greater than the information dimension (D(1)) and the correlation dimension (D(2)), i.e., D(0) > D(1) > D(2), confirming the multifractal nature of soil particle size distribution. The mean values of spectral width (Δα) ranged from 1.28 to 3.68, indicating a relatively complex soil fractal structure and significant variability in soil PSD inhomogeneity. Significant correlations (P < 0.05, |r| ≥ 0.35) were found between Zn and D, Δα, D(1), D(2), and D(1)/D(0), as well as between Pb and D(2) and D(1)/D(0), suggesting a relationship between heavy metals and fractal dimensions. Additionally, there was a significant correlation (P < 0.05, |r|≥ 0.35) between soil PSD and fractal dimensions. Mantel Test and RF analyses, with soil PSD and physicochemical properties as independent variables and soil fractal dimensions as the dependent variable, demonstrated the significant influence of soil PSD on soil fractal dimensions. Fractal dimensions reflect soil quality characteristics and weathering intensity, with multifractal dimensions offering more descriptive insights, as demonstrated by their significant correlations with key soil properties such as cation exchange capacity (CEC), amorphous aluminum oxide (Alo), free iron oxide (Fed), and free aluminum oxide (Ald). These findings highlight the critical role of soil fractal dimensions in representing soil particle composition and its spatial variability. By elucidating these relationships, this study enhances the understanding of soil structural variability, which is critical for informing targeted ecological management and restoration strategies in alluvial fan environments.
期刊介绍：
Environmental Earth Sciences is an international multidisciplinary journal concerned with all aspects of interaction between humans, natural resources, ecosystems, special climates or unique geographic zones, and the earth:
Water and soil contamination caused by waste management and disposal practices
Environmental problems associated with transportation by land, air, or water
Geological processes that may impact biosystems or humans
Man-made or naturally occurring geological or hydrological hazards
Environmental problems associated with the recovery of materials from the earth
Environmental problems caused by extraction of minerals, coal, and ores, as well as oil and gas, water and alternative energy sources
Environmental impacts of exploration and recultivation – Environmental impacts of hazardous materials
Management of environmental data and information in data banks and information systems
Dissemination of knowledge on techniques, methods, approaches and experiences to improve and remediate the environment
In pursuit of these topics, the geoscientific disciplines are invited to contribute their knowledge and experience. Major disciplines include: hydrogeology, hydrochemistry, geochemistry, geophysics, engineering geology, remediation science, natural resources management, environmental climatology and biota, environmental geography, soil science and geomicrobiology.
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