Analysis of Views about Increasing the Water Stability of Soils

Abstract

One of the methods to increase the water stability and erosion resistance of soils is the use of structure-forming polymers. It is believed that the mechanism of their action is based on strengthening the bonds between particles of clay minerals. This approach ignores the existence of organomineral gels on the surface of mineral particles, which can affect the effectiveness of polymers. The purpose of this work is to investigate the interaction of a number of structure-formers used to increase water stability and erosion resistance with soil components. In model experiments on the interaction of polymers with soil components, suspensions of humate and bentonite are used. The results are verified on leached chernozem. The effectiveness of polymers is evaluated by the blade method used to determine the water stability of soils, and the interaction of particles in suspensions in model experiments is evaluated by laser diffractometry. It is established that, in solutions of humates with polymers, the size of particles formed in solutions increases with increasing hydrophobicity of the polymers. No such unambiguous relationship is found in bentonite suspensions with polymers. Verification of the results of model experiments on chernozem has shown that the water stability of the aggregates increases with an increase in the hydrophobicity of the polymer used for treatment. To further verify the role of organic matter in ensuring soil water stability, the possibility of using oppositely charged humic substances and iron sol to increase soil water stability is evaluated. The experiments have shown that the use of iron sol increases the water stability of chernozem. Moreover, at an increase in the pH of the iron sol solution from 1.7 to 6.1, the effect value increases from 11 to 59%. The results of this study suggest that shifting focus from strengthening the adhesion between mineral particles to strengthening organic and organomineral interactions should be considered as a reserve for increasing the effectiveness of compositions to maintain the soil structure.