PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF SODIUM-TREATED SOIL AS AFFECTED BY 2 POLYMERS

Increasing values of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) lead to decreasing aggregate stability, increasing dry cohesive strength, and decreasing flocculation of soil. Soils with high SAR values occur in many semiarid and arid regions of the world. This research investigated the effectiveness of an anionic polyacrylamide (40J) and a cationic guar (T-4141) polymer in increasing aggregate stability and flocculation and decreasing the aggregate rupture stress of soils treated to have SAR values of 1, 5, and 15. The aggregate stability of soil at all three SAR values increased with increasing concentrations of 40J but was not greatly affected by T-4141. The effects of polymers on one soil property such as flocculation cannot be extrapolated to the effects on another soil property such as aggregate stability or rupture stress.