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The stability of some highly weathered soils of the tropics is controlled by their organo-mineral substances. Highly weathered soils from 10 different locations were sampled from their A and B horizons to determine their aggregate stability. The objective of the study was to determine the aggregate stability of the soils and their relationships with geochemical constituents. The major geochemical elements of the soils are quartz and kaolinite, SiO, AlO and FeO, while the dithionite extractable Fe and Al was greater than their corresponding oxalate and pyrophosphate forms. The mean-weight diameter from dried aggregates (MWD) and their corresponding wet mean-weight diameter (MWD) were related significantly (r = 0.64*). The dithionite extracted Al and Fe or the crystalline forms of these elements were outstanding in the stability of the aggregates. However, this did not diminish the influence of SOC reduced to third order level in the stability of the soils. The influence of SOC in these soils, however, indirectly manifested on the role of Fe and Al in the aggregation of these soils. The crystalline Fe and Al sesquioxides were very prominent in the aggregation and stability of these soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

l-lardsetting soil properties are undesirable in agricultural soils because they hamper moisture movement and soil aeration. The soils of the floodplain of Niger River in eastern Nigeria hardsets upon drying, following dispersion, puddling, and slaking during the waterlogged period. Ten soil samples collected from a depth of 0-20 cm were analyzed for their properties. The soils are classified as Fluvaquentic Eutropepts or Dystric Gleysol (FAO). The objective was to investigate the influence of some soil properties on water-dispersible clay (WDC) of the soils, which is the precursor of the hardsetting process. The total clay content (TC) correlated significantly with WDC (r = 0.94**), whereas the water-dispersible silt (WDSi) was higher than its corresponding total silt content. The WDC showed a positive correlation with dithionite extractable Fe (Fed), Al (AId), and oxalate extractable Fe (Feo) (r = 0.75*, 0.89**, and 0.76* respectively). Exchangeable Mg2+ correlated significantly with WDSi (r = 0.70). Principal component analysis of the soil variables indicates that 15 soil components, which influence WDC as hardsetting properties, were reduced to 5 orthogonal components. The parameters that influence hardsetting properties are exchangeable Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Fed, Alo, and Feo. Other soil properties are kaolinite, smectite, illite, and WDC, including soil organic carbon (OC), electrical conductivity (EC), and ESP. Therefore, those soil properties, which explain hardsetting characteristics most, are exchangeable Na+, Fed, OC, Mg2+ and Alo. There are negative consequences on the erodibility, runoff, infiltration and tillage of the soils at both submerged and dry conditions due to clay dispersion, low OC, and hardsetting behavior of the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The stability of microaggregates in soils as opposed to its dispersion is a very important soil phenomenon that checks degradation arising from unguided tillage and soil erosion. Ten soils from southeastern Nigeria were sampled from their typical A and B horizons for the study. The aim was to identify the extent of colloidal stability of the soils and the forms of Fe and Al oxides in the soils contributing to their stability. The soils are mostly Ultisols and Inceptisols formed on sandstones and shale parent materials. The soils are low in soil basic cations including the soil organic carbon (SOC). The major clay mineral is kaolinite while the soil is acid in reaction. The various forms of soil Fe and Al oxides are high with the total forms of Fe and Al being most dominant and >dithionite extracted Fe and Al>oxalate extracted Fe and Al>pyrophosphate extracted Fe and Al. The water-dispersible clay and silt (WDC) and (WDSi) which are index of dispersion in most soils are low to medium thus reflecting in the low to medium dispersion ratio (DR). The clay flocculation index (CFI) and aggregated silt+clay (ASC) were moderate to high implying the high potential stability of the soils. Soil organic carbon did not seem to be contributing much to the stability of the microaggregates while oxalate and pyrophosphate extractable Fe (Feox, Fep) and to some extent total Al (Alt) were among the different forms of oxides that act as aggregating agents. We propose here that rather than SOC acting as a disaggregating agent in the soils, it might have acted in association with these oxides in a linkage or bridge such as C–P–OM–C to ensure stability of the soils. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]