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Evaluation of Air-to-Water Permeability Ratio for Measuring Differences in Soil Structural Stability Under Ten Cropping Systems¹

ABSTRACT

Aggregate and structural stabilities were determined on samples taken under 10 cropping systems on Beltsville silt loam soil. Water stability of aggregates from 2 mm. to 4.76 mm. in diameter was measured by the wet-sieving method of Bryant, Bendixen, and Slater. Structural stability was determined on samples < 2 mm. and < 1 mm. by the air-to-water permeability ratio method of Reeve. The measurement of soil aggregate stability by wet-sieving distinguished six different groups of cropping systems according to Duncan's Range Test (4). The order of placement of the cropping systems was in agreement with other experimental results of Wilson et al. concerning the effect of cultivation and forage crops on aggregate stability. The measurement of structural stability by the air-to-water permeability ratio method did not distinguish soil structural differences associated with the cropping systems. Attempts to increase the sensitivity of the air-to-water permeability ratio failed. Water permeability offers some promise as a measurement of structural stability differences associated with cropping systems.

¹ Based in part on a thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfillment of requirements for a M.S. degree at the University of Maryland. Maryland Agr. Exp. Sta. Contribution No. 3285 Scientific Article A929. Supported in part by funds from Regional Research Project NE-11. Presented before Div. 1, Soil Society of America, Nov. 18, 1959, at Cincinnati, Ohio.

² Formerly, Graduate Assistant, Department of Agronomy, University of Maryland; presently, Soil Scientist, National and University Institute of Agriculture, Rehovot, Israel; and Associate Professor of Soils, University of Maryland, respectively.

Received for publication September 12, 1961. Accepted for publication November 7, 1961.