The Influence of a Gel-Forming Conditioner on Water Retention and Crust Strength of some Calcareous Soils.

The effects of an organic commercial super gel (containing 24.5% humic acids and 3.8% polysaccharides) at rates ranging from 0 to 1.6% on water retention and modulus of rupture (MOR) of two and four soil samples, respectively were investigated. The amount of water retention by a loamy sand sample at each suction over the whole range (10-1500 kPa) significantly increased with increase of Jalma rate. However, only the highest rate increased available water (AW). Although the conditioner significantly increased field capacity and permanent wilting point it had no significant effect on available water of a clay loam soil. At low rates ( < 0.4%), the conditioner decreased MOR of sandy loam, sandy clay loam and clay loam samples by 68, 78 and 15%, respectively, but had no effect on MOR of the loamy sand ( = 0.0 kPa ). At high rates ( > 0.4% ), it increase MOR of loamy sand, sandy loam, sandy clay loam and clay loam by 637, 188, 442%, respectively