Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Clay cannot be resolved by optical microscopes as its particles are 0.002 mm (7.9 × 10 −5 in) or less in diameter and a thickness of only 10 angstroms (10 −10 m). [ 16 ] [ 17 ] In medium-textured soils, clay is often washed downward through the soil profile (a process called eluviation ) and accumulates in the subsoil (a process called ...
In colloidal and surface chemistry, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is defined as the concentration of surfactants above which micelles form and all additional surfactants added to the system will form micelles. [1] The CMC is an important characteristic of a surfactant. Before reaching the CMC, the surface tension changes strongly ...
Soil chemistry is the study of the chemical characteristics of soil.Soil chemistry is affected by mineral composition, organic matter and environmental factors. In the early 1870s a consulting chemist to the Royal Agricultural Society in England, named J. Thomas Way, performed many experiments on how soils exchange ions, and is considered the father of soil chemistry. [1]
Topsoil is composed of mineral particles and organic matter and usually extends to a depth of 5-10 inches (13–25 cm). Together these make a substrate capable of holding water and air which encourages biological activity. There are generally a high concentration of roots in topsoil since this is where plants obtain most of their vital nutrients.
Cation-exchange capacity is defined as the amount of positive charge that can be exchanged per mass of soil, usually measured in cmol c /kg. Some texts use the older, equivalent units me/100g or meq/100g. CEC is measured in moles of electric charge, so a cation-exchange capacity of 10 cmol c /kg could hold 10 cmol of Na + cations (with 1 unit ...
Soil formation. Soil formation, also known as pedogenesis, is the process of soil genesis as regulated by the effects of place, environment, and history. Biogeochemical processes act to both create and destroy order (anisotropy) within soils.
Granulometry. In granulometry, the particle-size distribution (PSD) of a powder, or granular material, or particles dispersed in fluid, is a list of values or a mathematical function that defines the relative amount, typically by mass, of particles present according to size. [1] Significant energy is usually required to disintegrate soil, etc ...
The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) is a soil classification system used in engineering and geology to describe the texture and grain size of a soil. The classification system can be applied to most unconsolidated materials, and is represented by a two-letter symbol. Each letter is described below (with the exception of Pt): If the ...