Estimation of soil clay content from hygroscopic water content measurements

Wuddivira, Mark N.; Robinson, David A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7290-4867; Lebron, Inma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8610-9717; Brechet, Laëtitia; Atwell, Melissa; De Caires, Sunshine; Oatham, Michael; Jones, Scott B.; Abdu, Hiruy; Verma, Aditya K.; Tuller, Markus. 2012 Estimation of soil clay content from hygroscopic water content measurements. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 76 (5). 1529-1535. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2012.0034

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Abstract/Summary

Soil texture and the soil water characteristic are key properties used to estimate flow and transport parameters. Determination of clay content is therefore critical for understanding of plot-scale soil heterogeneity. With increasing interest in proximal soil sensing, there is the need to relate obtained signals to soil properties of interest. Inference of soil texture, especially clay mineral content, from instrument response from electromagnetic induction and radiometric methods is of substantial interest. However, the cost of soil sampling and analysis required to link proximal measurements and soil properties, for example, clay mineral content, can sometimes outweigh the benefits of using a fast proximal technique. In this paper, we propose that determination of a soil's hygroscopic water content at 50% atmospheric relative humidity (RH50), which is time and cost efficient, and particularly suitable for developing countries, can act as a useful surrogate for clay content in interpreting soil spatial patterns based on proximal signals. We used standard clays such as kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite to determine the water release characteristic as a function of hygroscopic water content. We also determined clay content of soils from temperate (Arizona, United States) and tropical (Trinidad) regions using the hydrometer method and hygroscopic water content for soils equilibrated at RH50. We found linear dependence of clay percentage and RH50 for a range of soil mineralogies. Hygroscopic water measurements offer an inexpensive and simple way to estimate site-specific clay mineral content that in turn can be used to interpret geophysical signal data in reconnaissance surveys.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2012.0034
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes > BGC - 1.1 - Monitor concentrations, fluxes, physico-chemical forms of current and emerging pollutants ... CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Emmett
ISSN:	0361-5995
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	This document is the author’s final manuscript version of the journal article, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer review process. Some differences between this and the publisher’s version remain. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from this article. The definitive version is available at www.soils.org/
Additional Keywords:	soil texture, soil water content, flow and transport in soils
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	15 Jan 2013 12:25 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/21140

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