Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T04:26:26.275Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effect of Exchangeable Potassium on the Hydraulic Conductivity of Smectite-Sand Mixtures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2024

I. Shainberg
Affiliation:
Institute of Soils and Water, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50-250, Israel
R. Keren
Affiliation:
Institute of Soils and Water, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50-250, Israel
N. Alperovitch
Affiliation:
Institute of Soils and Water, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50-250, Israel
D. Goldstein
Affiliation:
Institute of Soils and Water, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50-250, Israel
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Changes in hydraulic conductivity of smectite-sand mixtures (using four reference smectites) as a function of the concentration (0.01, 0.003, 0.002, 0.001 M Cl- and distilled water) and potassium adsorption ratio (of 2, 4, and 6) of the percolating solution were measured. Swelling and dispersion of the clays were evaluated from the changes in hydraulic conductivity of the mixture and from the clay concentration in the effluent.

The effect of exchangeable potassium percentage (EPP) on the hydraulic conductivity of the smectites depended on the charge density of the clays. The effect of potassium at EPPs <20 on the hydraulic conductivity of smectites having high charge density was negligible. Conversely, the hydraulic conductivity of smectites having low charge density (smectites from Wyoming and Belle Fourche, South Dakota), changed markedly when leached with dilute solutions as the EPP of the clay increased. The dispersive effect of exchangeable potassium on low-charge smectites was similar to that of exchangeable sodium. The low hydration energy of the K+ cations, coupled with the strong electrostatic attraction forces between platelets of smectites with high charge density account for the “inefficiency” of K+ in dispersing these smectites.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1987, The Clay Minerals Society

Footnotes

1

Contribution 1755E, 1986 series, from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel.

References

Ahmed, S., Swindale, L. D. and El-Swaify, S. A., 1969 Effects of adsorbed cations on physical properties of tropical black earths. 1. Plastic limit, percentage stable aggregate and hydraulic conductivity J. Soil Sci. 21 255268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alperovitch, N., Shainberg, I., Keren, R. and Singer, M. J., 1985 Effect of clay mineralogy and Al and Fe oxides on the hydraulic conductivity of clay-sand mixtures Clays & Clay Minerals 33 443450.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cecconi, S., Salazar, A. and Martelli, M., 1963 The effect of different cations on the structural stability of some soils Agrochimica 7 185204.Google Scholar
Frenkel, H., Goertzen, J. O. and Rhoades, J. D., 1978 Effects of clay type and content, exchangeable sodium percentage, and electrolyte concentration on clay dispersion and soil hydraulic conductivity Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 42 3239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Low, P. F., 1980 The swelling of clay: II. Montmorillonites Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 44 667676.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McNeal, B. L., Layfield, D. A., Norvell, W. A. and Rhoades, J. D., 1968 Factors influencing hydraulic conductivity of soils in the presence of mixed-salt solutions Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 32 187190.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oster, J. D., Shainberg, I. and Wood, J. D., 1980 Flocculation value and gel structure of Na/Ca montmorillonite and illite suspension Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 44 955959.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pupisky, H. and Shainberg, I., 1979 Salt effects on the hydraulic conductivity of a sandy soil Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 43 429433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quirk, J. P. and Schofield, R. K., 1955 The effect of electrolyte concentration on soil permeability J. Soil Sci. 6 163178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ravina, I., 1973 The mechanical and physical behavior of Caclay soil and K-clay soil Berlin Ecol. Stud. 4 131140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shainberg, I., Alperovitch, N. and Keren, R., 1987 Charge density and Na-K-Ca exchange on smectites Clays & Clay Minerals 35 6873.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shainberg, I. and Letey, J., 1984 Response of soils to sodic and saline conditions Hilgardia 52 157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shainberg, I., Rhoades, J. D. and Prather, R. J., 1981 Effect of low electrolyte concentration on clay dispersion and hydraulic conductivity of a sodic soil Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 45 273277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar