Evaluating the Application of Natural Mineral Water Absorbents on Soil Hydraulic Properties

The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of natural mineral water absorbent on soil water capacity and soil moisture characteristic curve (WRC). One computer models, RETC, was used for data analysis. Two natural mineral water absorbents, Zeolite and Bentonite in four levels, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg were mixed with three soil textures, sandy, loamy and clay in 3 replicates. The water content for each treatment was measured at 0, 0.3,1, 3, 5 and 15 bar and soil water retention curves (WRC) were obtained for each soil sample. The results of the soil moisture characteristics models indicated that, for each texture by applying natural mineral water absorbents the residual water content (θr) and saturated water content (θs) increased. However, the variation of magnitude of θr was small. The results of the statistical analysis showed that there was significant difference between samples containing natural mineral absorbent and controlled group (without absorbent), level of absorbent application and between types of absorbents. Plant available water (AWC) increased 1.5 times with Zeolite in level, 8 g/kg in sandy soil and 1.2 and 1.1 times in loamy and clay soil respectively.