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Soil tests to determine application rates for polymeric soil conditioners

Journal Article · · Soil Sci.; (United States)

Five different soil tests that can be used in the laboratory (two of them can also be used in the field) were developed to determine possible rates for field application of polymeric soil conditioners to achieve desirable physical properties of soil. These tests are (1) determining rates of polymers to achieve flocculation of soil in test tubes, (2) filtering and air-drying the aggregates from the test tubes to evaluate water stability, (3) testing a range of concentrations of polymers to determine the rate that preserves existing soil aggregates, (4) treating small samples of soil with polymers, followed by curing, for water penetration tests, and (5) wet-sieving control soils and soils treated with polymers while in suspension. All tests relate to application of polymers in irrigation water, which procedure increase the efficiency several-fold due to improved spatial relationships in soil.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Los Angeles
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00012
OSTI ID:
5458871
Journal Information:
Soil Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci.; (United States) Vol. 141:5; ISSN SOSCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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