Many investigators are finding that micromorphology is useful. Applications go far beyond the field of traditional soil science. Sediments (consolidated and unconsolidated), and man-made or consturcted materials are used for many purposes and the information obtained from thin sections can be used in an analytical and interpretative manner, and to predict certain behavior. Thin sections have, and are being used in the study of:

• Movement of water and solutes (pore size, orientation and continuity)
  

  macropore and micropore flow
  water retention
  pesticide movement

• Agriculture (effects on soil structure and porosity)
  

  tillage practices, cultivation, irrigation
  conversion from one land use to another
  effects of additives such as fertilizers, organic matter, sewer sledge

• Environmental quality
  

  waste disposal, land reclamation
  water quality and conservation
  soil erosion and degradation

• Soil structure and porosity
  

  influence of tilage
  soil crusting
  water and gas movement

• Soil mechanics and soil strength

• Soil-root environments and interactions

• Wetlands investigations and the morphological indicators of wetness

• Soil biology, zoology, and microbiology

• Soil corrosivity of man made structure (pipeline, foundations, structures)

• Mineral synthesis, weathering, degradation and transformations

• Identification of diagnostic soil horizons

• Soil genesis, geomorphology, classification and taxonomy

• Archaeological investigations, paleopedology, and paleoclimatology

• Analysis of construction material (engineering applications)
  

  strength of materials
  alterations and weathering of construction material (concrete)

• Soil-materials, environment and interactions

• Extrterrestrial materials (moon rocks and meteorites)

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  This page (http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/plymouth/programs/applic.html) created by
  Vera MacConnell, Research Technician, I on December 1, 1997.
  Last Updated on December 8, 1997.