Clay Dispersion and Hydraulic Conductivity of Some Salt‐Affected Arid Land Soils

Abstract

AbstractCumulative clay dispersion from four arid land soils are compared with their relative hydraulic conductivities as affected by electrolyte concentration and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). As electrolyte concentration decreased and SAR increased, clay dispersion increased and hydraulic conductivity decreased correspondingly. Threshold relations between electrolyte concentration and SAR associated with clay dispersion of 5 g of clay per kilogram of soil corresponded well with hydraulic conductivity threshold relations. This correspondence between clay dispersion and sodicity‐related reductions in soil hydraulic conductivity can be utilized to provide an index based on clay dispersion for screening soils for their sodicity hazard sensitivity and for predicting reductions in soil hydraulic conductivity related to soil and water sodicity.