Rain impact soil crust. II. Some effects of surface slope, drop size and soil variation

Abstract

Formation and non-formation of the rain-impact soil crust were studied experimentally over ranges of surface-slope, drop-size and soil variation. In these contexts, the formative process was found to be very versatile. However, stable particles, of a size just movable on the soil surfaces by raindrops, appear to play a special role in preventing crust development. Becoming juxtaposed on the surface, these particles form clusters which allow hydraulic penetration of water from impacting drops, through their large pores. This maintains loose packing in the near-surface zone as opposed to the compaction associated with crust formation where only small surface pores exist. A method of soil modification, involving increasing the proportion of durable, barely rain-movable particles in soils, is suggested as a means of combating crusting on a long-term basis.