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IONICITY OF CLAY–CATION BONDS IN RELATION TO DISPERSIVE BEHAVIOR OF Mg AND K SOIL CLAYS AS INFLUENCED BY pH

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Clays and Clay Minerals

Abstract

The dispersive behavior dynamics of clay determine soil characteristics such as permeability and aggregate stability, and, consequently, crop productivity. Soil dispersion is heavily influenced by the ionicity of clay–cation bonds and has been shown to be related to the net negative charge and pH of the system. Little work has been done, however, which considers these factors together, especially for K and Mg clays. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of changing pH on the dispersive behavior of Mg and K homoionic clays, in comparison to Ca and Na clays under equivalent pH conditions. The clay fractions used here were extracted from three soils and have distinctly different mineralogies. These clays were treated to become homoionic with regard to Na, K, Ca, and Mg. Excess salts were removed by dialysis and pH was adjusted to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 for all clays, except Mg (pH range 3–7). Clay dispersion-flocculation dynamics were investigated, and the net negative charge, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and turbidity were measured. Mg has a similar but less flocculative effect than Ca, while K has a similar but less dispersive effect than Na, under similar pH conditions. The dispersive behavior of Na, K, Mg, and Ca homoionic clays was correlated well with the ionicity of clay–cation bonds at equivalent pH, with the degree of clay dispersion being explained by the pH, EC, ionicity, ζ-potential, and mean particle size of the clay–cation system. A predictive model for dispersion was developed with its applicability and limitations discussed.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia

    Yingcan Zhu, Alla Marchuk & John McLean Bennett

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  1. Yingcan Zhu
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  2. Alla Marchuk
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Correspondence to Yingcan Zhu.

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(Received 21 November 2019; revised 28 August 2020; AE: Michael Ploetze)

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX A

Fig. 6
figure 6

Visual changes in dispersive behavior of Na, K, Mg, and Ca kaolinite soil clays at pH 3 to pH 11

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Fig. 7
figure 7

Visual changes in dispersive behavior of Na, K, Mg, and Ca montmorillonite soil clays at pH 3 to pH 11

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Fig. 8
figure 8

Visual changes in dispersive behavior of Na, K, Mg, and Ca illite soil clays at pH 3 to pH 11

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Zhu, Y., Marchuk, A. & Bennett, J.M. IONICITY OF CLAY–CATION BONDS IN RELATION TO DISPERSIVE BEHAVIOR OF Mg AND K SOIL CLAYS AS INFLUENCED BY pH. Clays Clay Miner. 68, 588–600 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42860-020-00100-x

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