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The Influence of Microorganisms and Some Organic Substances on Water Percolation through a Layer of Peorian Loess
Author(s) -
McCalla T. M.
Publication year - 1946
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1946.03615995001000c00028x
Subject(s) - loess , citation , service (business) , agriculture , library science , computer science , ecology , biology , business , marketing , paleontology
M ICROORGANISMS and certain chemical substances have been found to increase the stability of soil structure to water drops (7). Soil aggregation has been found also to be favorably influenced by organic matter and microbial activity (-2, 6, 7, 8, 10). Musgrave and coworkers (4, 9, 10) regarded noncapillary porosity, degree of aggregation, organic matter, and amount of clay in the subsoil as determinants of infiltration. The loessial soils of Nebraska and adjacent states usually are regarded as having a high infiltration rate. However, it is apparent that these soils on rolling land erode rapidly under cultivation which must entail considerable runoff. Once the surface soil is lost by erosion, there logically arises the practical problem of how can the subsoil and parent material be treated to increase water intake and resistance to erosion. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the influence of microorganisms on-water percolation through a layer of Peorian loess; also, their activity in the soil and the presence of certain organic substances.