Criteria for Determining the hydrophilicity‐hydrophobicity of Soils

Abstract

AbstractExcept for dehydroxylated silica, all the inorganic minerals of soils are hydrophilic because their surfaces usually hold ions and polar groups (hydroxyls).The molecules of humic acid, i. e. the most important part in soil humus, are amphiphilic and superficially active. Water repellancy in soils is mainly caused by amphiphilic humic acid.Criteria are supplied to characterize the hydrophilic‐hydrophobic balance of soils.The changes in the hydrophilicity‐hydrophobicity of soil by the addition of organic components modify many of their hydric properties, such as wetting, evaporation, infiltration, etc. which are frequently incompatible. Due to the many different types of soil and organic correctors, no general recommendations can be made.