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Polymers as Soil Conditioners Under Consecutive Irrigations and Rainfall
Author(s) -
BenHur M.,
Faris J.,
Malik M.,
Letey J.
Publication year - 1989
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/sssaj1989.03615995005300040030x
Subject(s) - infiltration (hvac) , irrigation , arid , polymer , environmental science , soil crust , polyacrylamide , penetration (warfare) , soil water , adsorption , surface irrigation , soil science , materials science , chemistry , geology , agronomy , composite material , mathematics , biology , paleontology , organic chemistry , operations research , polymer chemistry
Low water infiltration caused by crust formation during rain or sprinkler irrigation is a significant problem in some arid and semiarid regions. Polymers may be applied in irrigation water through a sprinkler system, but must be applied directly to the soil under rainfall conditions. The objectives of this rainfall simulator study were to: (i) determine the effect of drying of crusted vermiculitic soil on the subsequent crust properties and infiltration rate (IR) values, (ii) determine the effect of polymers applied at low concentration in irrigation water of two qualities on the IR under consecutive water applications, and (iii) determine the effectiveness of polymer application to the soil as would be required under rainfall conditions. Two cationic polysaccharide guar derivatives having a higher (HCCP) and a lower (LCCP) charge density and a polyacrylamide (PAM) with a low negative charge density were used in the study. Applications of polymers with the sprinkler water maintain IR in the order HCCP > LCCP > PAM > untreated. Except for PAM, the polymer applications were relatively ineffective in subsequent sprinkler applications with plain water applied with impact energy. The beneficial effects were preserved under water application without impact energy. Spraying concentrated polymer solutions on the soil surface was not effective in preventing crust formation by following rain events except for the case when LCCP was sprayed on in a CaCl 2 solution. The results are explained on the basis of polymer adsorption and penetration into the soil surface layer and aggregates.