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Materials for Stabilizing Surface Clods of Cropped Soils¹

ABSTRACT

Thirteen chemicals were sprayed on clods to increase soil resistance to erosion by rainfall.

Several measurements were used as criteria of effectiveness of materials. The measure of the increase in initial stability of a treated bed of soil clods was the increase in energy required to initiate water runoff compared with energy required on an untreated bed. Differences in total infiltration were used as an indication of differences in the extent of clod brcakdown and surface sealing. Total soil loss was used to measure the amount of detachment and subsequent movement of soil. Final soil loss rate was used to measure persistence of the chemical used.

Three soils—Clarion loam, Webster loam, and Luton silty clay—were studied to provide a range in clay content. Most effective of the substances tested on clod surfaces were Superfloc, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), vinyl acetatemaleic acid (VAMA), and potassium silicate. Except for VAMA, the substances tested were more effective on the Clarion (19% clay) than on the other two soils. All were lcast effective on the Luton (51% clay).

When Webster loam was mixed with Arquad 2HT or VAMA and compressed and broken into clods, runoff did not begin during the 90-min period of waterdrop application, and no soil was lost.

¹ Contribution from the Corn Belt Branch, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA, in cooperation with the Iowa Agr. and Home Econ. Exp. Sta. (Journal Paper no. J-6548 Project 1776). Support for the project was also in the form of an OAS Fellowship.

² Formerly OAS Fellow, Iowa State Univ., now with Edafology Division, Ministry of Public Works, Venezuela; Research Soil Scientist, USDA, and Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State Univ.; and Agricultural Research Technician, USDA. Much of the paper is from the senior author's M. S. Thesis. Iowa State Univ.

Received for publication June 29, 1970. Accepted for publication October 26, 1970.