The effect of soil gels on the stability of soil

The process of wind and water erosion of soils is often considered as three successive stages: separation, transport and deposition of particles. This approach does not take into account the effect on erosion of organomineral soil gels, which cover and bind soil particles together. The aim of the work was to check the relationship between soil gels and stability of soils. The aim of the work was to verify the assumption about the effect of soil gels on the water stability and mechanical strength of soils. The method of determining the water stability of soils, scanning electron microscopy and determination of the strength of soil aggregates using vibrational sieving were used in the work. During the research, it was found that drying soils of natural humidity of various types in the air stream with a velocity of 2 m/s reduced their water stability by about 1.5 times compared with drying in standing air. To study air samples that affected the soil, it was bubbled through water. Examination of these samples using a scanning electron microscope showed that they contain fragments of soil gels and organic supramolecular formations (SMF). It was also found that SMF were blown not only from moist, but also air-dry soils. It is shown that the introduction of polyvinyl alcohol into soils strengthens gels and increases the mechanical strength of soil aggregates. Moreover, the effectiveness of the polymer on moist soils is higher than on air-dry soils.

wind erosion of soils, mechanical strength of soil aggregates, humic substances, increasing soil resistance to wind erosion