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Cellulose xanthate as a soil conditioner: Laboratory experiments
Author(s) -
Page E. Ronald
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740310102
Subject(s) - xanthate , cellulose , chemistry , vinyl alcohol , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer
Cellulose xanthate was found to be effective in reducing the strength of a crust formed under standard laboratory conditions on all soils tested, including some known to be unresponsive to conditioning by poly(vinyl alcohol). Suitable application rates were 12.5 or 25 kg (of cellulose) ha −1 , as a 1% solution. It was more effective, weight for weight, than PVA or Natrosol 250 HHR. Whereas germination of seeds was either partially or completely inhibited by direct contact with 1% cellulose xanthate solution, even when its pH was adjusted with orthophosphoric acid from the initial 13.2 to 6.5, application of cellulose xanthate as a spray to the surface of the soil in pot experiments did not depress emergence of seedlings of lettuce, cabbage, onions or chicory.