Co-Authors:
Alperovitch, N., Inst. Soils & Water, ARO, Bet-Dagan, Israel.
Shainberg, I., Inst. Soils & Water, ARO, Bet-Dagan, Israel.
Rhoades, J.D., Inst. Soils & Water, ARO, Bet-Dagan, Israel.
Abstract:
The clay dispersivity and hydraulic conductivity (HC) properties of three California soils were studied as a function of exchangeable Na and electrolyte concentration in Na/Ca and Na/Mg systems. Soils that are relatively stable chemically are concluded to be the most sensitive to low levels of exchangeable Na and to the 'specific' effect of exchangeable Mg when leached with distilled water. The results agree with the hypothesis that the susceptibility of soils to HC decreases, produced by exchangeable Na and exchangeable Mg, depends on their rates of mineral dissolution. Exchangeable Mg reduces the dissolution rates of non-calcareous soils and increases soil susceptibility to exchangeable Na under conditions of low electrolyte concentrations. (Authors' abstract)-A.W.H.