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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #108247

Title: POLYACRYLAMIDE EFFECT ON INFILTRATION OF VARIOUS QUALITY WATER

Author
item Ajwa, Husein
item Trout, Thomas

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: High molecular weight polyacrylamides (PAM) have been proposed as a soil amendment to improve soil structure and water holding capacity, and to reduce soil erosion. Laboratory column studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of two formulations of negatively charged PAM on infiltration of irrigation water containing various salts into crusting sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils. Irrigation water was prepared with sodium chloride (SAR 9 and 18) or calcium sulfate (EC 0.3 and 1.5) salts, alone or with four concentrations of PAM. Infiltration rates in packed soil columns decreased with increasing PAM concentration, and varied between the two PAM formulations. The decrease in infiltration caused by PAM was less in the calcium sulfate water than in either sodium chloride water or pure water. The effect of viscosity on infiltration for the various water qualities will be presented.