Evaluation of the Effects of Organic Matter and Other Soil Characteristics Upon the Aggregate Stability of Some Tropical Soils

Abstract

This paper reports on statistical studies conducted to evaluate the degree of stability of soil aggregates in terms of the respective organic-matter, clay, and silt contents of selected soils from the Lajas Valley irrigation development project. Simple regression analyses revealed that there was no correlation between aggregate stability and clay or silt content. However, a highly significant correlation was obtained when organic-matter content was considered as the independent variable. In spite of the level of significance only 16 percent of the variability in aggregate stability can be explained on a basis of the soil organic-matter content, thus limiting the possible usefulness of estimates made by using the equation developed.