AGE HARDENING OF AGRICULTURAL TOP SOILS

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Abstract
Summary: Changes in the strength of remoulded agricultural top soil with ageing are studied for two sandy loam soils from South Australia and a clay soil from Queensland. There is evidence of significant thixotropic behaviour in these soils around the water contents at which tillage is usually performed.For the Urrbrae soil, in which the dominant clay minerals are illite and kaolinite. the maximum thixotropic strength ratio was obtained at a water content just below the plastic limit. For the Strathalbyn soil, which contains illite and actinolite. and for the Waco soil which contains montmorillonite. the maximum thixotropic strength ratios occurred at water contents between the plastic and liquid limits.The age hardening for these soils was investigated using probe penetration, tensile strength and compression resistance measurements. The effect was still apparent after sterilization and after removal of organic matter.

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