Soil aggregate stability,an important index of the physical characteristics of a soil,can provide a good indication of a soil’s erodibility,and deserves special consideration in regions with cold climate.The objective of this study was to study the effect of freeze-thaw on soil water-stable aggregates in the black soil region of Northeast China.Samples of a typical black soil in the region were collected to measure water-stable aggregates after freeze-thaw under different conditions(i.e.,initial moisture contents,freezethaw cycles and freezing temperatures)by wet-sieving into eight particle size groups(>10,10–6,6–5,5–3,3–2,2–1,1–0.5,and0.5–0.25 mm).Freeze-thaw had the most effect on aggregate stability when the samples had an initial moisture content of 400 g kg-1.The water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups(>5,5–3,3–2,and 2–1 mm)reached a peak stability value,but those of the two smaller particle size groups(1–0.5 and 0.5–0.25 mm)reached a minimum value when the soil moisture content was 400 g kg-1.Water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups decreased while those of the two smaller particle size groups increased with the increase of freeze-thaw cycles.As temperatures fell,the water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups decreased while those of the two smaller particle size groups increased.
