HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Koch, J. T. Articles by Lange, G. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Koch, J. T. Articles by Lange, G. L. Agricola Articles by Koch, J. T. Articles by Lange, G. L.

A Postulated Mechanism for Increasing the Efficiency of Organic Soil Conditioners¹

ABSTRACT

A mechanism whereby organic polymers may be made more effective in maintaining the water stability of soil aggregates is postulated. The proposed mechanism employs coupling agents which chemically bond parts of the organic and inorganic phases of the aggregate together.

Various silane coupling agents and other compounds of similar structure were added to soil aggregates. Predictions based on the proposed mechanism were tested by recording the effects of the compounds on aggregate stability as measured by the wet-sieving technique. Addition of silicon—functional compounds resulted in a marked increase in the water stability of soil aggregates. However, it was not possible to prove conclusively that the organic functionality of NH₂(CH₂)₃Si(OC₂H₅)₃ participated in the postulated mechanism of strength improvement.

¹ Contribution from the Dep. of Land Resource Science, Univ. of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. This paper is a portion of the thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfilment of the Ph.D. degree.

² Graduate Student and Assistant Professor, respectively, and Associate Professor, Dep. of Chemistry. The senior author is now at Natal Agr. Res. Inst., Cedara, Natal, S. Africa.

Received for publication January 11, 1974. Accepted for publication March 11, 1974.