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Effects of Drilling Fluids on Soils and Plants: II. Complete Drilling Fluid Mixtures
Author(s) -
Miller Raymond W.,
Pesaran P.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1980.00472425000900040003x
Subject(s) - drilling fluid , sodium , chemistry , soil water , sodium hydroxide , potassium , phaseolus , salt (chemistry) , agronomy , drilling , environmental science , soil science , metallurgy , materials science , organic chemistry , biology
Six typical drilling fluids (muds) and a drilling fluid base were mixed with six soils at ratios of 1:1 and 1:4 volumes of liquid mud/soil; these mixtures were tested for their effects on plant growth. Green beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) and sweet corn [ Zea mays var. succharata (Sturtev.) Bailey] in pots in the greenhouse grew normally in a few mixtures, but in most instances plants had reduced growth when compared to those growing in soil alone (controls). It was concluded that high levels of soluble salts or the high exchangeable sodium percentages were the primary causes of reduced plant growth. The high salt content in some fluids was mostly from added potassium chloride, sodium hydroxide, and sodium dichromate. Dispersion of mud‐treated soils caused by high exchangeable sodium percentages occurred in these samples because of the sodium hydroxide and sodium dichromate added to typical muds.