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Drainage System Effects on Physical Properties of a Lakebed Clay Soil
Author(s) -
Hundal S. S.,
Schwab G. O.,
Taylor G. S.
Publication year - 1976
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/sssaj1976.03615995004000020028x
Subject(s) - drainage , hydraulic conductivity , geology , macropore , compressive strength , soil water , bulk density , soil science , geotechnical engineering , materials science , chemistry , composite material , mesoporous material , ecology , biochemistry , biology , catalysis
The long‐term effects of drainage on physical properties of a lakebed silty clay soil were evaluated 16 years after initiation of a field experiment. The treatments were undrained, surface drainage, subsurface drainage, and a combination of surface and subsurface drainage. Soil conditions were characterized by surface penetration resistance and by unconfined compressive strength, hydraulic conductivity, and pore size distribution in the 0–30 cm depth. Subsurface drainage resulted in greater soil hydraulic conductivity, less unconfined compressive strength, and less surface crust resistance than treatments without subsurface drainage. Subsurface drainage also decreased bulk density and increased the volume of air‐filled pores at 0.02 to 1.0‐bar suctions, but these effects were of smaller magnitude. An alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.)‐timothy (Phleum pratense) mixture was grown during the period of these measurements. The survival of alfalfa and the total hay yield decreased in the order: combined surface and subsurface drained, subsurface drained, surface drained, and undrained treatments.