Soil Science

Coherence

Another factor that affects soil strength is soil type.

A number of additional properties can affect soil coherence and hence soil strength. These are associated with the type of bonds between soil particles and include type of clay minerals present, organic matter, oxides of Fe and Al, carbonates and exchangeable cation composition.

The photomicrograph at left shows an open single grain fabric. The fabric is dominated by sand size particles which, due to the lack of a sufficient number of clay size particles and other bonding substances, are only loosely connected to each other. The soil coherence of this fabric would be low.

 

 

 

The photomicrograph at right shows interconnected silt and clay assemblages. Most of the silt size particles are clothed with clay which significantly increases the fabric strength. The soil coherence of this fabric would be medium to high.

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