Abstract
Soil water erosion is frequently reported as serious problem in soils in Southeast Asia with tropical climates, and the variations in pH affect the development of the erosion. This study investigated the effects of changes in pH on soil water erosion based on changes in the physical properties of the simulated soils with pH adjusted from 2.0 to 10.0 through artificial rainfall tests. The zeta potential was entirely shifted to positive direction at each pH condition due to Al, Ca, and Mg. In the pH range of 6.0 to 2.0, the aggregation of soil particles resulting from the release of Al3+ from clay minerals and/or molecular attraction between soil particles caused the plastic index (IP) of the soil to decrease. The decrease in IP led to the development of soil water erosion at the pH range. When the pH exceeded 6.0, the repulsive force generated by the negative charges on soil particles decreased IP, resulting in accelerated erosion by water. The results suggest that changes in pH causes physical properties of the soil to change through changes of the zeta potential in the clayey soil rich in Al, Ca, and Mg, leading to the development of soil water erosion.
Highlights
Soil erosion, which is serious problem in soils, naturally results from water and wind
The effects of pH on the development of soil water erosion were investigated in terms of the physical properties of soils, which were evaluated by artificial rainfall tests using simulated soils adjusted to different pH values from 2.0 to 10.0
Al3+ released from clay minerals along with the molecular attraction between soil particles resulted in significant decreases in IP and liquid limit (LL)
Summary
Soil erosion, which is serious problem in soils, naturally results from water and wind. Raindrops cause soil particles to be detached from the ground and transported along the slope. The change in soil structure and removal of topsoil resulting from the erosion may cause nutrient removal and environmental degradation, thereby inhibiting plant growth [1,2]. This issue has been frequently reported in Southeast Asian countries with tropical climates [3,4,5], where squalls with high rain intensity are a major contributor to the erosion caused by water [6]. Small particles formed by soil dispersion resulting from electric repulsion between
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