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A Lysimeter Study of Vadose Zone Porosity and Water Movement in Gypsum Amended Soils

Tirado-Corbala, Rebecca
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1290111537

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Soil Science.
In Ohio, approximately 55% of agricultural land needs drainage to overcome occasional water ponding, reduce soil erosion, improve fields to support farm equipment and reduce crop yield variability. In recent years, many Ohio farmers converted to non-tillage systems without understanding the system constraints especially on poorly drained soils. Due to Ohio being a major coal-burning state for electricity production, enormous amounts of coal combustion by-products such as gypsum are readily available for agricultural use. Gypsum is a source of calcium which may improve the physical properties of the soil by promoting soil aggregation, increasing water surface infiltration rates and movement into and through the soil profile. Several studies in the Midwest have focused on the effect of gypsum controlling surface structure, crusting, sealing and erosion. However few studies have analyzed the structural and hydrologic effects of gypsum on the whole profile of non-sodic soils, especially in subsurface horizons.For that reason, undisturbed soil columns from Brookston loam and Celina silt loam soils with different gypsum application regimes were collected to determine the effect of gypsum on physical-chemical soil properties and hydrology of these two non-sodic soils with contrasting drainage from no-till fields. Higher exchangeable calcium and Ca:Mg ratios were found on both gypsum treated soils. Soil turbidity and light transmittance studies showed a positive effect with respect to gypsum application rate. Clearer suspensions and higher light transmittance were found under long-term gypsum. However, there was no consistent response for gypsum application regimes in both soils for water stable aggregates, water stable aggregates by aggregate size and mean weight diameter on the whole soil profile. Positive gypsum effects on both Brookston treated soils were observed. Greater water stable aggregates were found for > 4mm aggregates in the top 60 cm of short-term gypsum treatments and 60-75 cm interval of long-term gypsum treatments. However, in Celina, higher mean weight diameter and water stable aggregates were found for both gypsum treatments. Greater water stable aggregates occurred for > 4 mm aggregates in the top 40 cm of soil. Also, greater drainage (~ 60%) was obtained under Brookston long-term gypsum and Celina short-term gypsum soils. Greater drainage response on Brookston long-term gypsum was attributed to calcium redistribution to lower depths. Restricted drainage on Celina long-term soils was attributed to secondary calcium carbonate precipitation in pores.
Brian Slater, K (Advisor)
Warren Dick, A (Committee Member)
Edward McCoy, L (Committee Member)
David Barker, J (Committee Member)
258 p.
Soil Sciences
gypsum; flue gas desulfurization gypsum; micromorphological analysis; thin sections; flocculation studies; Ca:Mg ratio; lysimeter study; aggregate stability

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tirado-Corbala, R. (2010). A Lysimeter Study of Vadose Zone Porosity and Water Movement in Gypsum Amended Soils [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1290111537

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tirado-Corbala, Rebecca. A Lysimeter Study of Vadose Zone Porosity and Water Movement in Gypsum Amended Soils. 2010. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1290111537.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tirado-Corbala, Rebecca. "A Lysimeter Study of Vadose Zone Porosity and Water Movement in Gypsum Amended Soils." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1290111537

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.