TY - JOUR

T1 - Clay dispersion in typical soils of north cameroon as a function of ph and electrolyte concentration

AU - Nguetnkam, J.

AU - Dultz, S.

N1 - Copyright: Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Knowledge of clay dispersion behaviour [which is highly influenced by ion concentration in the aqueous phase and by related surface charge (SC) of colloids] is important for rating soil erosion risk (by water). It can also be useful for improving soil management systems. Clay fractions separated from samples of the A-horizon of a Vertisol, Ultisol and Oxisol were collected, representing typical soils of North Cameroon. These soils were very different in physicochemical and mineral parameters. The effect of pH and the multivalent ions Ca2+, SO42- and PO43- on SC and dispersion characteristics were determined. The water dispersible clay was found to be higher in the Vertisol and Ultisol than in the Oxisol, indicating that the <2μm fractions from the Vertisol and Ultisol are more dispersible than that from the Oxisol. The clay dispersion ratio together with the dispersion ratio were found to be in good agreement with water dispersible clay and are negatively correlated with the amount of organic matter and dithionite citrate bicarbonate soluble Fe and Al. Generally, SC of the <2μm fraction was found to be negative when the pH was in the region of 3 to 9; thus the absolute value is highly pH-dependent. At pH 6 and 8, CaCl2, Na2SO4 and Na2HPO4 additions had antagonistic effects on SC: Ca2+ increased SC, whereas SO42- and PO43-decreased SC indicating the adsorption of positively as well as negatively charged multivalent ions by soil colloids. Along with the increase of SC, there was a fall in repulsive forces and formation of Ca-bridges, the addition of Ca2+ induced flocculation more rapidly than SO42- and PO43- amendments.

AB - Knowledge of clay dispersion behaviour [which is highly influenced by ion concentration in the aqueous phase and by related surface charge (SC) of colloids] is important for rating soil erosion risk (by water). It can also be useful for improving soil management systems. Clay fractions separated from samples of the A-horizon of a Vertisol, Ultisol and Oxisol were collected, representing typical soils of North Cameroon. These soils were very different in physicochemical and mineral parameters. The effect of pH and the multivalent ions Ca2+, SO42- and PO43- on SC and dispersion characteristics were determined. The water dispersible clay was found to be higher in the Vertisol and Ultisol than in the Oxisol, indicating that the <2μm fractions from the Vertisol and Ultisol are more dispersible than that from the Oxisol. The clay dispersion ratio together with the dispersion ratio were found to be in good agreement with water dispersible clay and are negatively correlated with the amount of organic matter and dithionite citrate bicarbonate soluble Fe and Al. Generally, SC of the <2μm fraction was found to be negative when the pH was in the region of 3 to 9; thus the absolute value is highly pH-dependent. At pH 6 and 8, CaCl2, Na2SO4 and Na2HPO4 additions had antagonistic effects on SC: Ca2+ increased SC, whereas SO42- and PO43-decreased SC indicating the adsorption of positively as well as negatively charged multivalent ions by soil colloids. Along with the increase of SC, there was a fall in repulsive forces and formation of Ca-bridges, the addition of Ca2+ induced flocculation more rapidly than SO42- and PO43- amendments.

KW - Clay dispersion

KW - Electrolyte effects

KW - North Cameroon

KW - Soil erosion

KW - Surface charge

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84897964538&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/ldr.1155

DO - 10.1002/ldr.1155

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84897964538

VL - 25

SP - 153

EP - 162

JO - Land Degradation and Development

JF - Land Degradation and Development

SN - 1085-3278

IS - 2

ER -