Hydrophobic soil
Definition
Hydrophobicity is a property of some soils that is introduced when waxy, organic substances coat the surface area of soil particles, essentially making them impenetrable by any precipitation or other liquids. This water repellent layer is highly variable in effects depending on where the given site is.
Distribution
Consequences
Loss of Agriculture
Increased Erosion
Sudden wildfires
Treatment and Sampling
The most commonly documented treatment of hydrophobic soil is done by adding moisturizing clay agents in a process referred to simply as “claying”. Because the most vulnerable soils tend to be sand-based, clay mixtures aid the current soil in retaining more water and allowing precipitation to seep through a To determine if a soil site must undergo treatment, a few things must be determined regarding the sample. The first and most straight-forward method of testing for hydrophobicity is the water droplet method, where 1-2 droplets are put directly onto the soil. Initial water intake of wettable soil occurs rapidly because of the strong attraction between the water molecules and dry soil aggregates. (DeBano 5). However, the water infiltration rate of repellent soils is either very slow or non-existent. Therefore, repellent soil will cause naturally occurring precipitation and the experimental water droplet to bead on top of the sample, if or until it is completely absorbed.