Analysis of views about increasing the water stability of the soil

One of the methods to increase the water stability and erosion resistance of soils is the use of polymer-structors. It is believed that the mechanism of their action is based on strengthening the bonds between the particles of clay minerals. This approach ignores the existence of organomineral gels on the surface of mineral particles, which can affect the effectiveness of polymers. The purpose of the work was to investigate the interaction of a number of structor substances used to increase water stability and erosion resistance with soil components. In model experiments on the interaction of polymers with soil components, suspensions of humate and bentonite were used. Verification of the results was carried out on leached chernozem. The effectiveness of polymers was evaluated by the blade method used to determine the water stability of soils, and the interaction of particles in suspensions in model experiments was evaluated by laser diffractometry. It was found that in solutions of humates with polymers, the size of particles formed in solutions increases with increasing hydrophobicity of polymers. No such unambiguous relationship was found in bentonite suspensions with polymers. Verification of the results of model experiments on chernozem showed that the water stability of the aggregates increases with an increase in the hydrophobicity of the polymer used for processing. To further verify the role of organic matter in ensuring soil water stability, an assessment was made of the possibility of using variously charged humic substances and iron sol to increase soil water stability. Experiments have shown that the use of iron sol increases the water stability of chernozem. Moreover, with an increase in the pH of the iron sol solution from 1.7 to 6.1, the effect value increases from 11 to 59%. The results of the study allow us to conclude that the shift in emphasis from strengthening the adhesion between mineral particles to strengthening organic and organomineral interactions should be considered as a reserve for increasing the effectiveness of formulations to maintain soil structure.