Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Abstract

A number of organic and inorganic soil amendments are added to soil for improving its physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics, which facilitate soil workability and farming. Diatomite is a recently developed soil amendment and its modifying effects on soil physical, hydraulic and tilling properties has not been well studied. The consistency limits and compaction test parameters are related to agronomy as far as compaction hazard for soils and tillage is concerned. This research was designed to evaluate the influence of diatomite with different rates of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% (v/v) on soil liquid and plastic limits and soil compactibility parameters in soils with different textures. The results of this research showed that diatomite application considerably improved soil tillage properties and reduced soil compactibility. Diatomite applications in all soils tested significantly (p<0.05) increased consistency limits, with more pronounced in soils with low clay content. Compared with the control, the highest application of diatomite (30%) raised soil liquid limit with the rates of 53.9%, 27.3%, and 14.7%, in silt, silt loam and silty clay loam soils, respectively. Averagely diatomite application increased plastic limit by 18.3%, 30.6%, and 43.8% with 10%, 20%, and 30% application rates, respectively, as compared to the control. Diatomite application decreased maximum dry bulk density (MBD), but increased optimum moisture content (OMC). The lowest MBD and the highest OMC were achieved from the highest application rate of diatomite in all the soils tested. Compared with the control, the highest diatomite application (30%) decreased the MBD with the rates of 8.7%, 10.3%, and 13.2%, in silt, silt loam and silty clay loam soils, but it increased the OMC values with the rates of 28.7%, 22.4%, and 25.3%. The results clearly indicated that application of diatomite increase the soils strength to mechanical forces, since increasing the water content at OWC may suggest that soil is more easily tilled in higher water contents with little deformation which also gives higher workable range.

Biography

Email: qujiliqwq@163.com