Abstract
The majority of indices proposed to predict the erodibility of tropical soils is based on empirical tests and often fail to reveal the actual erodible properties of soil. This investigation analysed 244 samples of tropical soils collected in São Paulo State (Brazil) where engineering geological mapping was available, such that the results of the erodibility testing could be linked with several index properties of the soils. These relationships were analysed in three-dimensional graphics. The results showed that the most significant attributes in tropical soil erodibility were loss of mass by immersion, specific gravity and water absorption index. The cation exchange capacity, when associated with loss of mass by immersion, allowed the identification of 96% of the samples with low and 88% of those with high erodibility, demonstrating that simple indices can be successfully used to predict tropical soil erodibility.
Résumé
La majorité des indices proposés pour évaluer l’érodabilité des sols tropicaux sont basés sur des tests empiriques qui conduisent souvent à des diagnostics erronés. Cette recherche a porté sur 244 échantillons de sols tropicaux prélevés dans l’état de Sao Paulo (Brésil) où une cartographie de géologie de l’ingénieur était disponible, des résultats de tests d’érodabilité pouvant être comparés avec différents indices géotechniques. Ces relations ont été étudiées à partir de graphiques en 3 dimensions. Les résultats ont montré que les principaux indicateurs de l’érodabilité des sols tropicaux étaient la perte de masse par immersion, le poids spécifique et l’indice d’absorption d’eau. La capacité d’échange de cations, associée à la perte de masse par immersion, a permis d’identifier 96% des échantillons de faible erodabilité et 88% des échantillons de forte érodabilité, montrant ainsi que des indices simples peuvent être utilisés avec succès comme indicateurs de l’érodabilité des sols tropicaux.
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Pejon, O.J., da Silveira, L.L.L. Index properties to predict erodibility of tropical soil. Bull Eng Geol Environ 66, 225–236 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-006-0067-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-006-0067-9