Cyclic freeze–thaw as a mechanism for water and salt migration in soil

Abstract

Freeze–thaw action acts as a controlling mechanism for redistributing soil water and salt. The paper focuses on the factors that influence soil water and salt migration and uses experimental results to analyze the mechanism of cyclic freeze–thaw in which the temperature gradient is the principal factor for water and salt transfer. Salt redistribution in soil occurs as a result of the integrated effects of convection, diffusion, and numerous chemical and physicochemical processes.