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Evaluation of Air‐to‐Water Permeability Ratio for Measuring Differences in Soil Structural Stability Under Ten Cropping Systems
Author(s) -
Cohen O. P.,
Strickling E.
Publication year - 1962
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/sssaj1962.03615995002600040006x
Subject(s) - loam , air permeability specific surface , permeability (electromagnetism) , soil science , environmental science , cropping , soil structure , silt , cropping system , soil water , agronomy , materials science , chemistry , geology , composite material , crop , membrane , geography , biochemistry , archaeology , layer (electronics) , biology , agriculture , paleontology
Aggregate and structural stabilities were determined on samples taken under 10 cropping systems on Beltsville silt loam soil. Water stability of aggregates from 2 mm. to 4.76 mm. in diameter was measured by the wet‐sieving method of Bryant, Bendixen, and Slater. Structural stability was determined on samples < 2 mm. and < 1 mm. by the air‐to‐water permeability ratio method of Reeve. The measurement of soil aggregate stability by wet‐sieving distinguished six different groups of cropping systems according to Duncan's Range Test (4). The order of placement of the cropping systems was in agreement with other experimental results of Wilson et al. concerning the effect of cultivation and forage crops on aggregate stability. The measurement of structural stability by the air‐to‐water permeability ratio method did not distinguish soil structural differences associated with the cropping systems. Attempts to increase the sensitivity of the air‐to‐water permeability ratio failed. Water permeability offers some promise as a measurement of structural stability differences associated with cropping systems.