ASSESSMENT OF A COMBINATION OF WET SIEVING AND TURBIDIMETRY TO CHARACTERIZE THE STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF MOIST AGGREGATES

A method of measuring the structural stability of moist soils using a combination of turbidimetry and wet sieving has been developed and assessed. Aggregates of 1-2 mm in diameter are shaken end-over-end in test tubes and dispersed clay and stable aggregates greater than 0.25 mm diameter measured. Stabilities determined using this method were compared to stabilities determined using a modification of the Yoder wet-sieving method on 20 soils of different textures, organic-matter content, and recent cropping history. -from Authors