Application of γ-ray computed tomography to analysis of soil structure before density evaluations

Several studies have shown that physical properties of a soil may vary significantly over relatively short distances. This variability is due to the nature of the soil, agricultural management practices and sampling procedures; this study is focused on the latter factor. γ-Ray tomography was used as a tool to evaluate the quality of soil samples collected for estimating physical characteristics of the soil and to detect possible damage to the soil in the process of sampling. A first-generation tomograph with an 241Am source and a 3″×3″ NaI(Tl) scintillation crystal detector coupled to a photomultiplier tube was employed. The results show that computed tomography can provide an insight into the sample structure, which helps to select samples that are best suited for evaluation of physical characteristics of a soil.