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Stability of a Calcareous Saline‐Sodic Soil During Reclamation
Author(s) -
Lebron I.,
Suarez D. L.,
Alberto F.
Publication year - 1994
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/sssaj1994.03615995005800060025x
Subject(s) - atterberg limits , soil science , soil water , sodic soil , calcareous , soil test , soil structure , chemistry , environmental science , geotechnical engineering , geology , paleontology
General guidelines to reclaim saline or sodic soils do not adequately consider variables such as pH and the presence of organic matter that are known to affect soil stability. Poor structural stability of sodic, saline‐sodic, and high‐pH soils adversely influences crop yields; promotes piping, tunneling, and slope erosion; and can accelerate the failure of water conveyance systems. We evaluated six soil tests, used to measure physico‐chemical properties, for their suitability to evaluate the structural stability of a calcareous, saline‐sodic soil under reclamation. The stability tests were wilting point, plastic limit, coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE rod ), water content at 0.03 MPa, liquid limit, and dispersion index. The range of electrical conductivity (EC) studied was 0.5 to 20 dS m −1 , sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) 0 to 400 (mmol L −1 ) 0.5 , and pH 8.4 to 10.5. The results obtained indicate that the amount of water necessary for a soil to flow under standard conditions for the liquid limit test decreased an average of 25% when the EC decreased from 40 to 2 dS m −1 . The liquid limit and EC showed a linear correlation ( R 2 = 0.785); therefore, the liquid limit was considered to be an appropriate index to evaluate the physical properties of a soil under a leaching process. Plasticity index and available water were more useful in the evaluation of the mechanical properties of the soil when we used amendments. Liquid limit combined with the water content of the soil at 0.03 MPa was the most useful tool for evaluating soil structural stability during reclamation.