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The Influence of Soil Properties on the Effectiveness of Synthetic Soil Conditioners¹

ABSTRACT

The influence of soil organic matter, soil acidity, free calcium carbonate, soil texture, type of clay mineral, and destruction and re-forming of stabilized aggregates on the effectiveness of the soil conditioners was studied. Wet-sieve aggregation data were expressed as mean weight-diameter and the effectiveness of the conditioner was obtained by subtracting the mean weight-diameter of the untreated soil from that of the treated soil.

Oxidation of the soil organic matter greatly decreased the effectiveness of the soil conditioner. Adjusting acid soils to pH 6.3 to 7.0 with calcium carbonate increased the effectiveness of the soil conditioner, but the presence of free calcium carbonate in the soil appears to inhibit the effectiveness.

In synthetic soils the effectiveness of the conditioner reached a maximum at 15% clay where acid Cecil clay colloid was used. When base saturated colloids were used, the maximum effectiveness of the conditioner occurred at about 10% clay content. When applied to Texas soils, the conditioner was more effective as an aggregating agent on sandy loam and clay loam soils than on heavy clay soils.

¹ Paper No. 6, Karl Hoblitzelle Agricultural Laboratory of the Texas Research Foundation, Renner, Tex. Presented before Div. I and Div. III Soil Science Society of America, Dallas, Tex., Nov. 19, 1953.

² Soil Scientist.

Received for publication November 23, 1953.