Twenty-five years of computed tomography in soil physics: A literature review of the Brazilian contribution

The last 25 years of the use of computed tomography in Brazil, applied to soil physics is here presented. This period ranges from the first publication made by Brazilian researchers in 1985 to 2010. Discussion is made on the use of 1st to 3rd generation tomographic systems, with millimetric and micrometric resolutions, using X and gamma-ray, and neutron sources. The main achievements of these researchers involve studies on soil compaction, surface soil sealing, effects of wetting-drying cycles on soil structure, soil porosity and pore size distribution, water movement through soils and effects of agricultural management systems on soil structure. Therefore, the results presented in this review have the aim of giving to the reader the state of art of the Brazilian research using tomographic systems. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.