In Australia much of the agricultural soils are clays, sodic and at times hydrophobic, which contribute significant complexity and compromise in the delivery of irrigation programs. Of all the functions that water serves in irrigation, none is more important than its mobility through these soils and much effort has been expended at optimizing and conserving water usage.<br/>Our hypothesis that Polyether modified Siloxanes will enhance wetting tendency and assist in the movement of water through the soil profile as well as the additional hypothesis that Silicone Quats will provide an avenue for ion exchange to displace sodium is tested in field activity and reported in this poster. It is noted that when these chemistries are used together the effect of reduced surface tension and higher cationic charge provide a directional guide for water and electrolyte movement with significant implications of dispersion and slaking behaviour of the soil as well as for environmental and cost issues arising out of irrigation processes.<br/>Laboratory evaluation of the slaking rate of reconstituted soil samples under immersion stresses demonstrate an interruption to dispersion tendency, increased coarse particle stability and increase water stability for high slaking soils. Water stable clay soils are shown to increase their water uptake while retaining their water stability. The improvement in interrupting the slaking behaviour becomes evident in many sources of clay soils and it is also clear from visual observation that dispersion is eliminated when the slaking behaviour is altered to such an extent. Data such as these suggest that the mechanism of non-metallic ion exchange introduced by the surface active polymer of Aqua-Sil is a real opportunity to counter the use of Gypsum and organic material in soil remediation strategies. A further observation that is also evident across many soil types is the reduction in variation of the slaking rate of the treated samples compared to the control.<br/>Field trial data from Werribee South (Broccoli), the Yarra Valley (vineyard), Shepparton (apples and stone fruit), Armidale (potatoes) amongst others, support this concept and find that better friability and greater infiltration of soil can be achieved, resulting greater water retention at depth and in the release and expulsion of sodium from soil as well as achieving lower electrical conductivity in the growth zone.

New mechanism to mitigate slaking and dispersion

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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