LAUSR

Abstract The changes of soil particle size distributions (PSDs) can be used as a proxy for soil development intensity and an indicator of soil formation processes. The fragmentation fractal dimensions can describe PSDs of soils in a single parameter. The objective of this research is to use mass-based fragmentation fractal dimension models to describe PSDs and evaluate the relationship between the fragmentation fractal dimension values (DF) and pedogenesis in loess-paleosol. Based on the theory of fragmentation fractal dimension, particle size data from 837 eolian loess samples from the lower part of Chaoyang section uniform loess deposits were analyzed with mass-based models using linear regression and piecewise linear regression. A single power-law exponent can characterize the PSDs across the domain of 0.1–54.4 μm. The trend of fragmentation fractal dimension values is consistent with chemical weathering indices, magnetic susceptibility, and  DF2 (close to 2). The energy dissipation for fragmenting larger particles from coarse silt (CSI) to fine silt (FSI) is identified in the volume and for fragmenting smaller particles from fine silt (FSI) to clay (CL) it is substantially on the surface. This research indicated that fragmentation fractal model is a good descriptor for the PSDs and DF can be a value quantifying the intensity of loess-paleosol pedogenesis.