SOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF SOIL AGGREGATES

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Abstract
A study of the stability of soil aggregates in liquids of varying dielectric constants showed that the 2 variables were inversely related. Wetting air-dry soils for 20 minutes with toluene, benzene, CC1, kerosene, and petroleum ether, and wet-sieving in water while the soils were still wet with the organic liquid resulted in a marked dispersion of the aggregates. The marked dispersing effect resulted only when the soil was wet with the liquid at the time contact was made with the water. Treatment of air-dry soils with ethyl and methyl alcohols before wet-sieving in water increased the % of water-stable aggregates larger than 0.105 mm., whereas previous treatment with diethyl ether decreased slightly the % of water-stable aggregates larger than 0.105 mm., as compared to pretreatment with water only. Swelling measurements showed that pretreatment with ethyl and methyl alcohols decreased the swelling of soils in water at the end of 24 hrs. in comparison to those samples wet only with water. Pretreatment with either toluene or diethyl ether caused a marked increase in swelling in water. Dispersion is associated with the swelling of soils although some exceptions to the general relationship indicate that swelling will not alone explain dispersion.

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