Investigating different laboratory methods in detecting the dispersion of loess soils in Golestan province

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Ph.D Student of Soil Science Department, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, IRAN

2 Professor of the Department of Soil Science, University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Soil Science Department, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources,iran

4 Associate Professor of Geology Department of Golestan University, IRAN

Abstract

Introduction: Loess soils are a special type of silty soils with a porous structure and weak adhesion. In case of improper management, loess soils are the most sensitive soils to erosion and are easily washed away by heavy rains. One of the most important influencing factors in the vulnerability of loess soils is the phenomenon of dispersion. during which the soil floats in it as a result of contact with water and is removed from the environment by the force of the water flow. Many studies have been conducted by researchers to investigate dispersive soils. Providing a suitable improvement method for them requires the correct determination and diagnosis of the degree of divergence in the studied area. The complete identification of dispersive soil also depends on a detailed test. As a result, various methods have been presented to identify soil dispersion. The most significant of which are the pinhole, chemical, crumb and double hydrometry methods. So far, there is no general consensus regarding prioritizing the use of dispersion tests. Considering the importance of the issue of divergence on the quality of soil and agricultural products, in this research we try to investigate the accuracy of different tests in detecting soil dispersion.
Materials and Methods: This research was focused on loess soils of Golestan province. seven pedons were selected, sampled and described in different parts of the province. Physicochemical properties of soil such as texture, density, pH, solutes in soil, etc. important measurements and tests to determine soil dispersion potential such as pinhole, chemical, crumb and double hydrometry tests were performed based on ASTM standards. Finally, the validation of the tests was done based on the comparison of their results with each other.
Results and Discussion: The results show that the percentage of organic Carbon and soil porosity decreased from the surface (horizon A) to the depth of the soil (horizon B and C), while the apparent specific mass increased. Therefore, the change in soil properties from surface horizons to depth has caused a change in the degree of dispersion of these horizons. On the other hand, high amounts of exchangeable sodium in some horizons caused chemical dispersion, which indicates the role of sodium in increasing the thickness of the double layer of clay soil surfaces. However, the results of this research indicate that there is no severe dispersion of loess soils in Golestan province.On the other hand, the dispersion tests performed on these soils show that the dispersion phenomenon caused by the presence of sodium does not play a role in the erosion of these soils, and the dispersion of these soils is basically a physical phenomenon caused by the loess texture in the study area.
Conclusion: The results of the studies indicate that almost all the tests have the ability to detect the dispersion of the soil, the only difference is in expressing the intensity of the dispersion and actually the accuracy of the test. In determining the dispersion potential of soils, the pinhole test better models the actual state of water seepage in the cracks in the soil structure. So, in any case, the results of this test can represent the potential of real soil dispersion in the region. In determining the dispersion potential of soils, the Crumb test in loess soils showed the dispersion potential to be lower than the actual state, and the double hydrometric method had the most agreement with the results of the pinhole test.
Keywords: Loess soils, Dispersive soil, Pinhole test, Double hydrometric test.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

1.Klute, A. (1986). Methods of Soil Analysis, part 1 (Physical and Mineralogical Methods). Am. Soc. Agron., Madison, WI. doi.org/reference/ referencespapers?referenceid=267539.
2.Shabanzadeh, M., & Atrchian, M. R. (2021). Improving Behavioral properties of dispersive clay by Addition of Incinerated sewage sludge Ash and Hydrated Lime. AUT Journal of Civil Engineering, 5(1), 1-13. doi: 10.22060/ ajce.2020.18077.5659.
3.Ocheli, A., Ogbe, O. B., & Aigbadon, G. O. (2021). Geology and geotechnical investigations of the Anambra Basin, Southeastern Nigeria: implication for gully erosion Hazards. Environmental system research, 10(23). 1-27. doi: doi.org/10.26480/magg.01.2023.17.21.
4.Fernando, J. (2010). Effect of water quality on the dispersive characteristics of soils found in the Morwell area, Victoria, Australia. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 28(6). 835-850. doi: 10.1007/ s10706-010-9345-1.
5.Sherard, J. L., Ryker, N. L., & Decker, R. S. (1972) Piping in Earth Dams of Dispersive Clay. The ASCE Specialty Conference on Performance of Earth and Earth-Supported Structures, 1, 589-626.
6.Jafarzadeh, M., Amelsakhi, & M., Sadeghi, B. (2019). International Conference on Researches in Science & Engineering & International Congress on Civil, Architecture and Urbanism in Asia.
7.Ouhadi, V. R., & Goodarzi, A. R. (2006). Assessment of the stability of a dispersive soil treated by Alum. Journal of Engineering Geology, 85, 91-101. doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2005.09.042.
8.Abbasi, N., & Nazifi, M. H. (2013). Assessment and Modification of Sherard Chemical Method for Evaluation of Dispersion Potential of Soils. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 31, 337-346. doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10706-012-9573-7.
9.Askari, F. A., & Fakher, A. (1993). Swelling and variation of soils from the point of view of geotechnical engineering, University of Tehran.
10.Duiker, S. W., Flanagan, D. C., & Lal, R. (2001). Erodibility and filtration characteristics of five major soils of southwest Spain. Catena, 45, 103-121. doi:10.1016/S0341-8162(01)00145-X.
11.Gidday, B., & Mittal, S. (2020). Improving the characteristics of dispersive subgrade soils using lime. Journal Heliyon. 6, 03384.
12.Schoeneberger, P. J., Wysocki, D. A., Benham, E. C., & Broderson, W. D. (2012). Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils. Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE.
13.ASTM D4647. (1998). Standard test method for identification and classification of dispersive clay soils by the pinhole test, Designation.
14.ASTM D6572-13e2. (2013). Standard Test Methods for Determining Dispersive Characteristics of Clayey Soils by the Crumb Test. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International.
15.ASTM D4221. (2005). Standard Test Method for Dispersive Characteristics of Clay Soil by Double Hydrometer. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International.
16.Ghazinoor, A. (1990). Piping Failure in Earth Dams, Caused by Dispersive Clays, Proc. of the 1st International Seminar on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Eng. of Iran, 2, 324-335.
17.ASTM D422-63. (2007). Standart test method for particle-size analysis of soil. (American Society for Testing and Materials), Annual Book of ASTM Standards, 2-7.
18.Sayevand, S., & Dehghani, M. (2013). Identification and Management of Dispersive Soils. The 1st Iranian Conference on Geotechnical Engineering, 22-23 October University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
19.Maharaj, A. (2011). The Use of the Crumb Test as a Preliminary Indicator of Dispersive Soils. The 15th African Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 299-306. doi:10.3233/978-1-60750-778-9-299.
20.Afriani1, L., & Perdana, R. (2022). The Identification of the Existence of Dispersive Soil on the Soft Soil for Dam Filling Material. Civil Engineering and Architecture 10 (1), 388-394. DOI: 10. 13189/cea.2022.100133.
21.Zare Junaghani, N., Mehrnehad, H., Khabiri, M. M., & Srfraz, S. (2021). Estimating Dispersibility Potential of Soil and its Stabilization by Nano Cellulose. Journal of Engineering Geology, 15 (2), 253-282. doi.org/10. 52547/jeg.15.2.253. [In Persian]
22.Kinney, J. L. (1979). Laboratory procedures for determining the dispersibility of clayey soils. Report No. REC-ERC-79-10, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO.
23.Bureau of Reclamation. (1990). Earth Manual, Part 2, Third Edition, Denver, CO.
24.Penner, D., & Lagaly, G. (2001). Influence of anions on the rheological properties of clay mineral dispersions. Applied Clay Science, 19, 131-142. doi.org/10.1016/S0169-1317(01)00052-7.
25.Marandi, S. M., Hamidi, S., & Salajegheh, S. (2015). Validation of Dispersion Tests in Soils with Low Plasticity and Low Dispersion Potential (A Case Study on Parts of Iran Regions). Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 45 (3), 51-63. https://ceej. tabrizu.ac.ir/article_4223_20ec5f90cb7939d4cb1ce7116092799c.pdf?lang=en.
26.Premkumar, S., Piratheepan, J., & Rajeev, P. (2017). Effect of brown coal fly ash on dispersive clayey soils. Proceedings of the Institution of
Civil Engineers-Ground Improvement. 170 (4), 231-244. doi:10.1680/jgrim. 17.00008.
27.Zare, M., Soufi, M., Nejabat, M., & Pourghasemi, H. R. (2020). The topographic threshold of gully erosion contributing factors. Natural Hazards. 112 (1), 2013-2035. DOI:10.1007/ s11069-022-05254-6.
28.Marchuk, A., Rengasamy, P., & McNeill, A. (2013). Influence of organic matter, clay mineralogy, and pH on the effects of CROSS on soil structure is related to the zeta potential of the dispersed clay. Soil Research. 51 (1), 34-40. DOI:10.1071/SR13012.
29.Moravej, S., Habibagahi, G., Nikooee, E., & Niazi, A. (2018). Stabilization of dispersive soils by means of biological calcite precipitation. Geoderma. 315 (1), 130-137. doi.org/10.1016/j. geoderma.2017.11.037.
30.Padyab, M. (2018). Simultaneous Impact of pH and Sodium Ion Concentration on the Dispersivity of Clayey Soils. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Highway and Transportation. [In Persian]
31.Besharti, B., Abedini, M., & Asaghari, S. (2018). Study and analysis of factors affecting the creation and development of gully erosion whatershed of shoor chai. Journal of Geographical Research. 33 (2), 206-222. doi:10.29252/geores. 33.2.206. [In Persian]
32.Zamanzadeh, M., & Akbari, M. (2012). The effect of physical and chemical characteristics of soil on the formation and expansion of trench erosion (Case study: Fars, Kahor Lamard Plain region). Quantitative Geomorphological Research, 2 (2), 135-156. [In Persian]
33.Zhung, S. Y., Zhuo, M. N., Xie, Z. Y., Yuan, Z. J., Wang, Y. T., Hung, B., liao, Y. S., Li, D. Q., & Wang, Y. (2020). Effects of near soil surface components on soil erosion on steep granite red soil colluvial deposits. Geoderma.356 (3). Article 114203. doi: 10.1016/ j.geoderma.2020.114203.
34.Bahrami, K., Nikoodel, M. R., & Hafezi Moghadas, N. (2014). Investigating the engineering geological characteristics of loess soils north of Kalaleh in Golestan province with a Special attitude on erosion and erodibility. Iranian Journal of Geology, 8 (29), 2-34. [In Persian]
Journal of Soil Management and Sustainable Production
Volume 15, Issue 1
March 2025
Pages 55-78

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics