What are dispersible clay soils?
DISPERSIBLE SOILS: Soils that are structurally unstable and disperse in water into basic particles i.e. sand, silt and clay. When water is added, the sodium attaches to the clay and forces the clay particles apart. This results in a cloud of clay forming around the aggregate.
Can clay be found in water?
Because they are the smallest particles of soil, clay particles stay suspended in water longer than sand or silt particles. As a result of this the best place to find clay are along floodplains of rivers and streams or on the bottoms of ponds, lakes and seas.
How do you disperse clay?
Dispersive clays are most easily eroded by water that is low in ion concentration, such as rain water. Runoff water has the opportunity to attain ions from land surface contact making it more in ionic balance with the dispersive clays and less erosive.
What is clayey water?
Water based clay is simply that, clay mixed with water. It is usually very inexpensive but must be kept covered or it will dry out. Water based clay is easy to work when it has just the right amount of water, which is easy to manipulate. It is easy to remove from a mold with a water sprayer.
What is expansive clay soil?
Expansive clay soils (also known as heavy clay or fat clay soil) are soft-textured soils containing minerals that undergo considerable volumetric changes during seasonal moisture fluctuations. They absorb water and expand (swell), as much as ten percent or more when wet, and crack (shrink) when dry.
Why is gypsum added to soil?
Improves water infiltration. Gypsum also improves the ability of soil to drain and not become waterlogged due to a combination of high sodium, swelling clay and excess water. When we apply gypsum to soil it allows water to move into the soil and allow the crop to grow well.
What cation causes the most clay dispersion?
1. Dispersion/Flocculation is a purely chemical phenomenon, driven by the balance of cations in the soil. Calcium has a very high flocculation power, while sodium and potassium cause dispersion.
What is the difference between lean clay and fat clay?
The term fat and lean are sometimes used to distinguish between highly plastic and slightly plastic soils. For example, lean clay is only slightly plastic, whereas fat clay is highly plastic. It is reached when the soil is no longer pliable and crumbles under pressure.