Soil wettability and wetting agents . . . our current knowledge of the problem

Leonard F. DeBano; Joseph F. Osborn; Jay S. Krammes; John Letey

Treesearch

Soil wettability and wetting agents . . . our current knowledge of the problem

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Leonard F. DeBano, Joseph F. Osborn, Jay S. Krammes, John Letey

Year:

1967

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

Source:

U.S. Forest Serv. Res. Paper PSW-RP-43Berkeley, Calif., Pacific SW. Forest & Range Exp. Sta. 13 pp.

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Download (PDF 1.47 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/28757.pdf

Abstract

Soils that resist wetting are a widespread phenomenon on chaparral areas of southern California watersheds. On burned watersheds, non-wettable soils markedly reduce moisture movement during both evaporation and infiltration. The reduced infiltration rate probably contributes significantly to the high debris production from the watersheds. Factors involved in the formation of non-wet-table soils include vegetation and soil temperatures during fire. Wetting agents applied to burned areas apparently help retard debris movement and enhance vegetation establishment.

Keywords

soil formation, fire effects, soil erosion control, soil wettability, wetting agents, saturation resistance, infiltration rate, hydrophobic soil, line project 1605

Citation

DeBano, Leonard F.; Osborn, Joseph F.; Krammes, Jay S.; Letey, John, Jr. 1967. Soil wettability and wetting agents . . . our current knowledge of the problem. U.S. Forest Serv. Res. Paper PSW-RP-43Berkeley, Calif., Pacific SW. Forest & Range Exp. Sta. 13 pp.