Variation law of ecological properties of soil improved by high-performance ester materials under freeze-thaw cycle conditions

High-performance ester materials are soil improvement materials typically used for the ecological remediation of slope soils.Currently,the mechanism pertaining to the long-term performance of high-performance ester materials is yet to be elucidated,particularly under the conditions of freeze-thaw cycles.Consequently,a scientific basis is yet to be established for the assessment of the geographical application scope,climatic conditions,and long-term evolution of high-performance ester materials.Therefore,freeze-thaw cycle and plant growth experiments are conducted in this study to investigate the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on the ecological properties of high-performance ester-amended soils.The results show that freeze-thaw cycles reduce the viscosity of high-performance ester adhesive materials and the water-absorption capacity of water-retaining materials.Furthermore,they reduce the field water-retention capacity and conductivity of the improved soil,increase the soil pH,and reduce the effectiveness and longevity of high-performance ester materials in the soil.Freeze-thaw cycles benefit plant germination while slightly increasing the plant height.Based on experimental results,the variation law of soil ecological properties improved by high-performance ester materials under freeze-thaw cycles is obtained.This study provides a theoretical basis for subsequent investigations into the service life of high-performance ester materials and is important for reducing the cost of ecological restoration.