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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #88471
Title: EFFECT OF DIFFERENT POLYACRYLAMIDE CONFIGURATIONS ON SOIL CRUST FORMATION

Author
item GREEN, V S - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
item Stott, Diane

Submitted to: International Erosion Control Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/28/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soil crusting on agricultural fields is a severe problem worldwide. One soil crusting control measure is the application of polyacrylamide (PAM). Much research has been conducted using PAM, but very little has been done comparing different PAM molecular configurations. We hypothesized that PAM will perform differently on various soils and have different optimum PAM configurations for effective protection. We examined molecular weights of 6, 12, and 18 Mg mol**-1 and charge densities (CDs) of 20, 30, and 40 percent hydrolysis. The soils used in this study were Heiden clay (Fine, smectitic, thermic Udic Haplusterts) and Cecil sandy loam (Clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Typic, Kanhapludults). Infiltration rate was used as an indicator of soil crusting. We used rainfall simulation at an intensity of 68 mm hr**-1 for one hour. The slope of the 0.141 m**2 erosion boxes was set at 5 percent. Heiden clay responded very well to PAM treatments, having higher infiltration rates than the control. PAMs with 30 percent CD and the two higher molecular weight 20 percent CD PAMs performed the best in maintaining high steady-state infiltration rates. For the Cecil sandy loam treatments, the 12 Mg mol**-1 molecular weight configurations were among the best performers at all three Cds. Different PAM formulations provide differing degrees of soil protection, varying between soils. Overall, 30 percent CDs and 12 Mg mol**-1 molecular weights work best for protecting soil from crusting.