What is flocculated and dispersed structure?

Flocculation – process during which particles, for example, of a soil, dispersed in a solution contact and adhere each another, forming clusters, flocks, flakes, or clumps of a larger size. In soils dispersion occurs when a soil contains clays.

Is clay flocculated?

Soil clay particles can be unattached to one another (dispersed) or clumped together (flocculated) in aggregates. Soil aggregates are cemented clusters of sand, silt, and clay particles. Flocculation is important because water moves mostly in large pores between aggregates.

What is the structure of clay soil?

Soil structure describes the physical configuration of the soil. The sand particles in a sand soil are held together weakly and do not form aggregates, while the clay particles in a clay soil readily form aggregates. These aggregates make clay soil easy to till and improve the transport of air and water.

Which structure is better flocculated or dispersed and why?

The difference between flocculated (aggregated) and dispersed soil structure. Flocculation (left) is important because water moves through large pores and plant roots grow mainly in pore space. Dispersed clays (right) plug soil pores and impede water movement and soil drainage.

What is Flocculated structure of soil?

Flocculated Soil Structure Flocculated structure is present in clay particles which contains larger surface area. Salt present in the marine water acts as electrolyte and reduces the repulsive force between the particles which leads to the formation of flocculent structure. This type of soils has high shear strength.

What is Flocculated structure?

Flocculated Structure Clay particles are very small, flaky in shape and they have large surface area and because of that their surface forces are more prominent in them than gravitational force. These particles have negative charge on the surface and positive charge on the edges.

Are clay soils high in calcium?

Clay soils tend to have a high CEC. GYPSOIL is calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4 • 2H2O). It dissolves (dissociates) with moisture into free calcium and sulfate.

What is Flocculated clay?

Flocculation is the process where individual clay particles are pulled together. This clumping is called AGGREGATION. Soil aggregates are cemented clusters of sand, silt, and clay that create pore space in the soil—allowing water movement and air exchange. THIS is one of the most important keys to healthy soil.

What are the 5 types of clay?

Ceramic clays are classified into five classes; earthenware clays, stoneware clays, ball clays, fire clays and porcelain clays.

What are the 4 main properties of clay?

The small size of the particles and their unique crystal structures give clay materials special properties. These properties include: cation exchange capabilities, plastic behaviour when wet, catalytic abilities, swelling behaviour, and low permeability.

What rock does clay come from?

Clay is a common component of sedimentary rock.

What are the types of soil structures?

Types. There are five major classes of structure seen in soils: platy, prismatic, columnar, granular, and blocky. There are also structureless conditions. Some soils have simple structure, each unit being an entity without component smaller units.

How are flocculated structures formed in clay deposits?

These are the two types of structures found in clay deposits. In the case of flocculated structure there will be edge to edge and edge to face contact between the particles (see Fig-3). This type of formation is due to the net electrical forces between the adjacent particles at the time of deposition being attractive in nature.

Which is the best example of a flocculated soil?

Clay present in the marine area is the best example for flocculated structure. Salt present in the marine water acts as electrolyte and reduces the repulsive force between the particles which leads to the formation of flocculent structure. This type of soils has high shear strength.

Why does dispersed structure occur in clay particles?

Dispersed structure also occurs in clay particles when the clay is remolded. Remolding reduces the shear strength of soil which reduces the net attractive forces between the particles. Hence, due to repulsion between them, the edge to face orientation turns into face to face orientation.

Why does flocculated soil have edge to edge contact?

In the case of flocculated structure there will be edge to edge and edge to face contact between the particles (see Fig-3). This type of formation is due to the net electrical forces between the adjacent particles at the time of deposition being attractive in nature.