Aggregate stability and assessment of soil crustability and erodibility: II. Application to humic loamy soils with various organic carbon contents

Abstract

SummarySurface crusting results from aggregate breakdown under raindrop impact. It reduces the infiltration rate and may induce erosion by increasing runoff. Soil crustability and erodibility generally increase as organic carbon content decreases. Samples of topsoil were collected from fields cropped continuously for maize after land clearance at various dates. Organic carbon content ranged 4–30 g kg‐1. Aggregate stability was assessed by measuring fragment size distribution after different treatments. Samples were also subjected to simulated rainfall. The size of fragments forming the seal when the rain ceased and the infiltration rate during the rainfall were measured to characterize seal structure and hydraulic properties. Development of the seal and infiltration capacity were related to aggregate stability, which was itself a function of organic carbon content. The relations between aggregate breakdown, crusting and infiltration enabled us to predict soil physical behaviour from measurements of aggregate stability which are easier to make than direct measurements under rainfall. The proposed tests offer the opportunity to evaluate actual or potential soil physical degradation and erosion risks without extensive field measurements.