Polyelectrolytes for the Construction of Artificial Soils

The effect of cationic polyelectrolyte poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), anionic polyelectrolyte potassium lignohumate, and their interpolyelectrolyte complex on the aggregate composition and phytotoxicity of constructozem, an artificially constructed soil, is investigated. The original constructozem is characterized by a wide range of structural aggregates with a high proportion of large particles. Addition of the polycation to the constructozem completely destroys large aggregates, while addition of the polyanion has almost no effect on particle size distribution. The polycomplex sharply reduces the proportion of large particles and blocks the appearance of small particles, thereby significantly increasing the content of agronomically valuable aggregates in the constructozem and, at the same time, stimulating the growth and development of plants.