THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL CONDITIONERS ON THE LIQUID-SOLID CONTACT ANGLES OF SANDS AND SILT LOAMS

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Abstract
The possibility of changing the wettability of soil is one of the most important reasons for using soil conditioners. The influence of soil conditioners on the liquid-solid contact angle, being an index of the hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties of the soil, was studied on sand and silt loam treated with three different soil conditioners: a bitumen emulsion, a polyvinyl alcohol solution, and a polyacrylamide solution.The most adequate method to measure the contact angle in sandy soils is the equilibrium capillary rise method according to Letey et al. (1962b), whereas the capillary absorption procedure of Hammond and Yuan (1968) is best suited for silt loam.The bitumen emulsion gives a highly hydrophobic character to the sand as well as to the silt loam. The treatment with the polyvinyl alcohol and polyacrylamide polymers had a different effect on both textures. The sandy soil became hydrophobic, whereas the silt loam grew more hydrophilic. The possibility of changing the wettability of soil is one of the most important reasons for using soil conditioners. The influence of soil conditioners on the liquid-solid contact angle, being an index of the hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties of the soil, was studied on sand and silt loam treated with three different soil conditioners: a bitumen emulsion, a polyvinyl alcohol solution, and a polyacrylamide solution. The most adequate method to measure the contact angle in sandy soils is the equilibrium capillary rise method according to Letey et al. (1962b), whereas the capillary absorption procedure of Hammond and Yuan (1968) is best suited for silt loam. The bitumen emulsion gives a highly hydrophobic character to the sand as well as to the silt loam. The treatment with the polyvinyl alcohol and polyacrylamide polymers had a different effect on both textures. The sandy soil became hydrophobic, whereas the silt loam grew more hydrophilic. © Williams & Wilkins 1976. All Rights Reserved.

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