Abstract：Background The Loess Plateau is one of the regions globally afflicted by severe soil erosion. The inherent instability of its soil structure and limited water retention capacity significantly impede local agricultural development. Lignin, as a widely employed soil conditioner, plays a crucial role in addressing this issue. Methods Laboratory tests and model simulation were conducted to investigate the effects of lignin application on soil structure and water transport in typical soils in loess areas. The samples were taken from Changwu Experimental Station, Institute of Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The application ratios of lignin were set to be 0, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5%. The influences of different lignin application amounts on each index were studied by measuring soil shear force, soil aggregate and one-dimensional vertical infiltration test. The average value of 3 repeated tests was taken as the final result of the test data. Results 1) Adding lignin in soil improved the stability of soil structure. The soil shear strengths of all treatment groups increased significantly with the increased of lignin application amount, and the soil shear strengths of all treatment groups increased by 13.6%, 18.2%, 31.8% and 50.0% compared with CK control group, respectively. Lignin significantly increased the mass fraction of super-large aggregates ( > 2 mm), large aggregates (0.25 – < 2 mm) and micro-aggregates (0.053 – < 0.25 mm) in soil, and reduced the mass fraction of clay particles ( ≤ 0.053 mm). Compared with CK control group, with the increase of lignin application ratio, lignin reduced the mass fraction of clay particles (≤ 0.053 mm). The super-large aggregates of > 2.000 mm increased by 26.7%, 33.3%, 106.7% and 133.3%, respectively. The aggregate size of 2.000 – > 0.250 mm increased by 13.3%, 18.3%, 26.3% and 40.0%, respectively. The microaggregates of 0.250 – > 0.053 mm increased by 26.7%, 48.5%, 78.2% and 83.2%, respectively. The clay particles ≤ 0.053 mm decreased by 15.2%, 42.8%, 41.5% and 47.5%, respectively. The fractal dimension was negatively correlated with the amount of lignin applied, which decreased by 1.0%, 1.3%, 2.1% and 3.1% compared with CK, respectively. 2) Lignin significantly reduced the infiltration capacity of soil water. With the increase of lignin application, the cumulative infiltration, infiltration rate and wetting front migration distance decreased significantly. The wetting front and infiltration rate simulated by the HYDRUS-1D model changed well with time, with R2 > 0.95, RMSE value smaller and MAE value < 0.04 in all treatment groups. With the increase of lignin application, the reciprocal air suction α and saturated water content θs gradually increased, while the residual water content θr, hydraulic conductivity Ks and shape coefficient n gradually decreased. Conclusions Lignin can improve soil structure, reduce soil water infiltration rate, and enhance soil water retention ability. To a certain extent, it can improve soil erosion, increase grain production and improve land productivity in the Loess Plateau area.
雷震远, 吴军虎, 白雪, 白伟, 康靖东. 木质素对土壤结构和水分运移的影响[J]. 中国水土保持科学, 2025, 23(1): 62-69.
LEI Zhenyuan, WU Junhu, BAI Xue, BAI Wei, KANG Jingdong. Effects of lignin on soil structure and hydraulic properties. SSWC, 2025, 23(1): 62-69.
陈冰玉，邸明伟. 木质素解聚研究新进展[J]. 高分子材料科学与工程，2019，35（6）：157.CHEN Bingyu，DI Mingwei. Progress on research of depolymerization of lignin[J]. Polymer Materials Science & Engineering，2019，35（6）：157.
[2]
姜波，金永灿. 基于木质素分子结构特性的功能材料研究进展[J]. 复合材料学报，2022，39（7）：3059.JIANG Bo，JIN Yongcan. Research progress of lignin functional materials based on its structural properties[J]. Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica，2022，39（7）：3059.
[3]
SHEN Dekui，JIN Wei，HU Jun，et al. An overview on fast pyrolysis of the main constituents in lignocellulosic biomass to valued-added chemicals：Structures, pathways and interactions[J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, 5(C): 761.
[4]
张召慧，吴朝军，于冬梅，等. 木质素基吸附剂的研究进展[J]. 中国造纸，2021，40（1）：106.ZHANG Zhaohui，WU Chaojun，YU Dongmei，et al. Research progress in the preparation of lignin-based adsorbents[J]. China Pulp & Paper，2021，40（1）：106.
[5]
鲁秀国，陈晶. 化学改性木质素吸附水中重金属的研究进展[J]. 化工新型材料，2021，49（11）：279.LU Xiuguo，CHEN Jing. Research progress on adsorption of heavy metal in water by chemical modified lignin[J]. New Chemical Materials，2021，49（11）：279.
[6]
高铃淑，石晓峰，王超，等. Mg，N共掺改性木质素对废水中As（Ⅴ）的高选择性吸附研究[J]. 应用化工，2021，50（11）：2934.GAO Lingshu，SHI Xiaofeng，WANG Chao，et al. Study on the highly selective adsorption of Mg，N-co-doped lignin for As（V） from wastewater[J]. Applied Chemical Industry，2021，50（11）：2934.
[7]
李媛，薛雨源，侯海俊. 氧化氨解改性木质素及其对Cu2+、Pb2+的吸附性能[J]. 广东化工，2021，48（20）：40.LI Yuan，XUE Yuyuan，HOU Haijun. Oxidization-ammoniation lignin and their adsorption for Cu2+，Pb2+[J]. Guangdong Chemical Industry，2021，48（20）：40.
[8]
SADEGHI N，SHAYESTEH K，LOTFIMAN S. Effect of modified lignin sulfonate on controlled-release urea in soil[J]. Journal of Polymers and the Environment，2017，25（3）：792.
[9]
ROTONDO F，CONIGLIO R，CANTERA L，et al. Lignin-based coatings for controlled P-release fertilizer consisting of granulated simple superphosphate[J]. Holzforschung，2018，72（8）：637.
[10]
JIAO Gaojie，PENG Pai，SUN Shaolong，et al. Amination of biorefinery technical lignin by Mannich reaction for preparing highly efficient nitrogen fertilizer[J]. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules，2019，127：544.
[11]
杨培岭，罗远培，石元春. 用粒径的重量分布表征的土壤分形特征[J]. 科学通报，1993，38（20）：1896.YANG Peiling，LUO Yuanpei，SHI Yuanchun. Soil fractal characteristics characterized by particle size weight distribution[J]. Chinese Science Bulletin，1993，38（20）：1896.
[12]
李云鹏，王云琦，王玉杰，等. 重庆缙云山不同林地土壤剪切破坏特性及影响因素研究[J]. 土壤通报，2013，44（5）：1074.LI Yunpeng，WANG Yunqi，WANG Yujie，et al. Characteristics of soil shear failure of different forests and its affecting factors in Jinyun Mountain，Chongqing city[J]. Chinese Journal of Soil Science，2013，44（5）：1074.
[13]
吴军虎，邵凡凡，刘侠. 蚯蚓粪对土壤团聚体组成和入渗过程水分运移的影响[J]. 水土保持学报，2019，33（3）：81.WU Junhu，SHAO Fanfan，LIU Xia. Effects of earthworm casts on soil aggregate composition and water transport during infiltration[J]. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation，2019，33（3）：81.
[14]
苏宇，刘邵谋，张炜，等. 不同修复模式边坡土壤水文效应及团聚体特征[J]. 四川林业科技，2020，41（6）：89.SU Yu，LIU Shaomou，ZHANG Wei，et al. Soil hydrological effects and aggregate characteristics of slopes in different restoration models[J]. Journal of Sichuan Forestry Science and Technology，2020，41（6）：89.
[15]
杨世琦，邢磊，刘宏元，等. 羧甲基纤维素钠对黄土高原新造耕地土壤改良效果[J]. 中国农业大学学报，2021，26（4）：185.YANG Shiqi，XING Lei，LIU Hongyuan，et al. Effects of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose application on soil properties of new cultivating farmland in Loess Plateau[J]. Journal of China Agricultural University，2021，26（4）：185.
[16]
王欢，曹素娟，曹义康，等. 木质素改良膨胀土的工程特性及微观机理[J]. 土木与环境工程学报（中英文），2024，46（6）：9.WANG Huan，CAO Sujuan，CAO Yikang，et al. Engineering characteristics and microscopic mechanism of lignin improved expansive soil[J]. Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering，2024，46（6）：9.
[17]
张涛，蔡国军，刘松玉. 木质素改良粉土基本工程特性试验研究[J]. 东北大学学报（自然科学版），2015，36（12）：1766.ZHANG Tao，CAI Guojun，LIU Songyu. Experimental study on basic engineering properties of silt improved by lignin[J]. Journal of Northeastern University （Natural Science），2015，36（12）：1766.
2025, Vol. 23 
