Free Acid in Soil Materials Exposed by Excavation for Highways in East Texas

Details

• Creators:
  Miller, Wesley L. ; Godfrey, C. L. ; Thomas, G. W. ; McCully, Wayne G.
• Corporate Creators:
  Texas Transportation Institute. Texas A&M University
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas Highway Department ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Bureau of Public Roads
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Acidity
  • Embankments
  • Erosion control
  • pH value
  • Plant growth
  • Roadside
  • Soils
• Publication/ Report Number:
  67-8 {Progress)
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Texas ; United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  Texas Transportation Institute. Texas A&M University
• Abstract:
  Recurring failure of three applications of mulch sod on roadsides of Interstate 20 near Tyler, Texas led to a closer examination of soil material on the face of the cut slopes. The exposed materials on the slopes had pH values ranging from 2.5 to 4.0. Material from the surface of the cut slope was more acid than underlying materials. A general positive relationship was found between sulfate content and degree of soil acidity. The acid condition is postulated to arise from the oxidation and hydrolysis of the iron sulfide compounds from in the original sediments. However, the detrimental effect on plants apparently is a result of the low pH which solubilizes iron and aluminum to toxic levels. Studies are underway to overcome this undesirable soil condition and permit establishment and growth of plants for erosion control on roadsides where these materials occur.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  2-18-63-67
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/84566/dot_84566_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 640.95 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3088db9d7037b477277ec77ccc0d298001da3e908d5b639e9d5268eace730814a492ad4a514619de7509be11cdabce9bb51fd4be682e9a3110fd230c840cc33e