The Effect of Synthetic Soil Conditioners on Soil-Aggregate Stability and the Production of Potatoes and Stringless Beans

Abstract

Data are presented here on the effect of the synthetic soil conditioners Krilium (formulations 6 and 9) and Aerotil on the aggregate stability of Juncos clay and on the yield of potatoes and string beans. The conditioners used were formulations 6 and 9 of Krilium, dry form, and Aerotil, wettable flakes, each at rates of 900, 1,800, and 3,600 pounds to the acre. At all levels Krilium 6 showed the highest aggregate-stabilizing capacity. Significant and highly significant differences were obtained between the stability of soil aggregates in the check plots and in all conditioner-treated plots, except where Krilium 9 was used at the minimum level. The production of potatoes of the Kennebeck variety was significantly increased by conditioner treatment, except at the low levels of both Krilium formulations and the intermediate level of formulation 6. Stringless beans did not respond to the increased stability of soil aggregates, which stresses the importance of recognizing crop differences in assessing soil characteristics.