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Contribution of Humic Acid and a Polysaccharide to Water Repellency in Sand and Soil
Author(s) -
Savage S. M.,
Martin J. P.,
Letey J.
Publication year - 1969
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/sssaj1969.03615995003300010039x
Subject(s) - humic acid , loam , soil water , peat , environmental chemistry , chemistry , organic matter , polysaccharide , soil science , environmental science , organic chemistry , ecology , biology , fertilizer
A silica sand and Pachappa sandy loam were treated at various pH's with aqueous suspensions of three microbial humic acids, a soil and peat humic acid, a microbial polysaccharide, and metallic salts of the tested organic substances. Of all the substances tested, only one, a humic acid isolated from a Stachybotrys atra culture, caused water repellency in the sand and soil. The Fe 3+ and Al 3+ salts of this humic acid rendered the sand and soil practically impermeable to water. The organic matter content of the extremely water repellent sands was less than .05%. The final conclusion of the paper is that humic acid‐like substances and polysaccharides probably do not contribute much to water repellency in soils.