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

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (6) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rhoton, F. E. Articles by Upchurch, D. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Rhoton, F. E. Articles by Upchurch, D. R. GeoRef GeoRef Citation Agricola Articles by Rhoton, F. E. Articles by Upchurch, D. R. Related Collections Soil Erosion Soil Chemistry Soil Mineralogy

DIVISION S-6—SOIL & WATER MANAGEMENT & CONSERVATION

Ferrihydrite Influence on Infiltration, Runoff, and Soil Loss

^a USDA-ARS, National Sedimentation Lab., 598 McElroy Dr., Oxford, MS 38655
^b School of Natural Resources, Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH 43210
^c USDA-ARS, Cropping Systems Research Lab., Lubbock, TX 79415

^* Corresponding author (frhoton{at}ars.usda.gov)

Soil aggregates low in organic matter and clay contents are generally susceptible to disintegration at low rainfall energies. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of ferrihydrite (Fe₅ HO₈·4H₂O) at stabilizing such aggregates, using five soils with a wide range of physical and chemical properties. The soils were amended with ferrihydrite at rates equivalent to 0, 0.34, 3.36, 16.80, and 33.60 Mg ha^-1, packed to a depth of 7.6 cm in plexiglass cylinders, and then exposed to simulated rainfall at an intensity of 64 mm h^-1 for 1.5 h. The erodibility data indicated that as ferrihydrite increased from 0 to 16.80 Mg ha^-1 on acid soils, infiltration increased an average of 21.5% while runoff and soil loss decreased 20 and 40%, respectively. Conversely, infiltration decreased 37% while runoff and soil loss increased 21 and 34%, respectively for alkaline soils. Further, sediment size distributions measured at these same ferrihydrite rates indicated that the >250-, and 250- to 53-µm fractions increased 24 and 22% for acid soils and decreased 15 and 14%, respectively in alkaline soils. The <53-µm fraction decreased 21% in the acid soils and increased 46% in the alkaline soils. These results suggest ferrihydrite develops a net positive charge in acid soil environments that leads to formation of bonds with negatively charged soil particles and an increase in water stable aggregation. Conversely, in alkaline soils, ferrihydrite becomes negatively charged which results in dispersion and aggregate instability. Thus, ferrihydrite appears to be an effective amendment for reducing runoff and soil loss from acid pH soils at amendment rates between 3.36 and 16.80 Mg ha^-1.

Abbreviations: AAO, acid ammonium oxalate • CDB, citrate-dithionite-bicarbonate • CEC, cation exchange capacity • Fe_o, AAO-extractable Fe • Fe_d, CDB-extractable Fe • OM, organic matter • WDC, water dispersible clay • ZPC, zero point of charge

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. K. Udeigwe, J. J. Wang, and H. Zhang Predicting Runoff of Suspended Solids and Particulate Phosphorus for Selected Louisiana Soils Using Simple Soil Tests J. Environ. Qual., July 17, 2007; 36(5): 1310 - 1317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. E. Rhoton and J. M. Bigham Phosphate Adsorption by Ferrihydrite-Amended Soils J. Environ. Qual., April 20, 2005; 34(3): 890 - 896. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]