Pacific Southwest

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

Author: DeBano, Leonard F.; Osborn, Joseph F.; Krammes, Jay S.; Letey, John, Jr.

Date: 1967

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

Station ID: RP-PSW-043

Description: 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

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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..