Ecological properties of soil improved by high-performance ester materials under freeze-thaw cycles conditions.

High-performance ester materials (HPEMs) are widely applied in slope soil restoration owing to their biodegradability, with a predictable degradation cycle of 2-3 years. Although HPEMs have been extensively studied for tropical applications, their performance in cold regions subject to frequent free...

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Main Authors: Cuiying Zhou, Qingxiu Zhang, Jin Liao, Haoqiang Lai, Zhen Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327417
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author Cuiying Zhou
Qingxiu Zhang
Jin Liao
Haoqiang Lai
Zhen Liu
author_facet Cuiying Zhou
Qingxiu Zhang
Jin Liao
Haoqiang Lai
Zhen Liu
author_sort Cuiying Zhou
collection DOAJ
description High-performance ester materials (HPEMs) are widely applied in slope soil restoration owing to their biodegradability, with a predictable degradation cycle of 2-3 years. Although HPEMs have been extensively studied for tropical applications, their performance in cold regions subject to frequent freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) remains poorly understood. We hypothesize that FTCs degrade HPEM performance but enhance plant germination. Controlled experiments demonstrated that FTCs reduced material viscosity by 70.5% and water absorption by 52%, while increasing germination rates by 30%, revealing a trade-off between material durability and ecological benefits. Additionally, the field water holding capacity and soil conductivity of the improved soil decrease. Based on these experimental results, the study establishes quantitative relationships between FTCs and soil ecological properties improved by HPEMs. Quantitative relationships revealed linear viscosity decline and exponential water absorption decay trends, with high correlation coefficients (R² ≥ 0.95). This study establishes a comprehensive theoretical framework for predicting the service life of ester materials in cold regions and optimizing their application strategies.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-d04f6fac30734a9f90ec809bf99205042025-08-20T03:29:03ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01207e032741710.1371/journal.pone.0327417Ecological properties of soil improved by high-performance ester materials under freeze-thaw cycles conditions.Cuiying ZhouQingxiu ZhangJin LiaoHaoqiang LaiZhen LiuHigh-performance ester materials (HPEMs) are widely applied in slope soil restoration owing to their biodegradability, with a predictable degradation cycle of 2-3 years. Although HPEMs have been extensively studied for tropical applications, their performance in cold regions subject to frequent freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) remains poorly understood. We hypothesize that FTCs degrade HPEM performance but enhance plant germination. Controlled experiments demonstrated that FTCs reduced material viscosity by 70.5% and water absorption by 52%, while increasing germination rates by 30%, revealing a trade-off between material durability and ecological benefits. Additionally, the field water holding capacity and soil conductivity of the improved soil decrease. Based on these experimental results, the study establishes quantitative relationships between FTCs and soil ecological properties improved by HPEMs. Quantitative relationships revealed linear viscosity decline and exponential water absorption decay trends, with high correlation coefficients (R² ≥ 0.95). This study establishes a comprehensive theoretical framework for predicting the service life of ester materials in cold regions and optimizing their application strategies.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327417
spellingShingle Cuiying Zhou
Qingxiu Zhang
Jin Liao
Haoqiang Lai
Zhen Liu
Ecological properties of soil improved by high-performance ester materials under freeze-thaw cycles conditions.
PLoS ONE
title Ecological properties of soil improved by high-performance ester materials under freeze-thaw cycles conditions.
title_full Ecological properties of soil improved by high-performance ester materials under freeze-thaw cycles conditions.
title_fullStr Ecological properties of soil improved by high-performance ester materials under freeze-thaw cycles conditions.
title_full_unstemmed Ecological properties of soil improved by high-performance ester materials under freeze-thaw cycles conditions.
title_short Ecological properties of soil improved by high-performance ester materials under freeze-thaw cycles conditions.
title_sort ecological properties of soil improved by high performance ester materials under freeze thaw cycles conditions
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327417
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AT qingxiuzhang ecologicalpropertiesofsoilimprovedbyhighperformanceestermaterialsunderfreezethawcyclesconditions
AT jinliao ecologicalpropertiesofsoilimprovedbyhighperformanceestermaterialsunderfreezethawcyclesconditions
AT haoqianglai ecologicalpropertiesofsoilimprovedbyhighperformanceestermaterialsunderfreezethawcyclesconditions
AT zhenliu ecologicalpropertiesofsoilimprovedbyhighperformanceestermaterialsunderfreezethawcyclesconditions