Effects of Soil Conditioners on Aggregate Stability in a Clay Loam Soil: A Comparison Study of Biomass Ash with Other Four Conditioners |
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| Authors: | Rong Huang Jiang Liu |
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| Institution: | College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, P. R. China |
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| Abstract: | This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil conditioners on the structure stability of degraded soil. Biomass ash, lime, lime with zeolite, biological fertilizer and peat ash, mixed with chemical fertilizer were selected as soil conditioners. A pot experiment with degraded clay loam soil (a Cambisol) was carried out. The stability of soil aggregates was analyzed by the Le Bissonnais method. The results showed that macro-aggregates (>0.25 mm) of biomass ash treatment in fast wetting test stayed stable compared with others. The higher mean weight diameter and geometrical mean diameter in biomass ash treatment indicated a high stability from external forces. From this study, the stability of soil aggregates was improved by the addition of biomass ash in degraded soil effectively, but more attention should be paid on soil slope protection during heavy-rain seasons. |
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| Keywords: | Biomass ash Le Bissonnais method soil remediation water-stable aggregate |
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