Characteristics of clay dispersion and its influencing factors in saline-sodic soils of Songnen Plain, China

Under the influence of salinity-sodicity stress, soil salinization and sodification tend to be severe and the dispersion of clay particles increases, which threatens agricultural production and food security. To explore the characteristics of clay dispersion in saline-sodic soils and their influencing factors, the quantitative relationship between clay dispersion indices and soil physicochemical parameters in saline-sodic soils of the Songnen Plain in China was investigated, to provide theoretical and data support for clay dispersion control in saline-sodic soils. Forty-two natural soil samples (0–0.2 m) were collected from saline-sodic soils in Songnen Plain, northeast China, and their physicochemical parameters and clay dispersion indices were determined. Correlation analysis, random forest analysis, and multivariate linear regression analysis were used in this study. The results showed that water-dispersible clay (WDC) ranged from 0.60 % to 18.38 % and total clay (TC) ranged from 4.70 % to 20.68 %. The maximum value of the clay dispersion ratio (CDR) is nine times the minimum value. In terms of turbidity, mechanical dispersion turbidity (MDT) ranged from 39.60 to 59,433 NTU, while spontaneous dispersion turbidity (SDT) ranged from 1.11 to 154.67 NTU. In terms of zeta potential, the minimum value of mechanical dispersion ZETA potential (MDZP) was −46.42 mV, and the maximum value was close to 0 mV. There was a significant correlation between soil physicochemical parameters and clay dispersion indices. Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) was the most important explanatory variable for CDR, followed by pH, Na+ex, HCO3-, Na+, CEC, CO32-, SAR, CROSS, and SOC, which could help construct the following multiple linear regression model: CDR=0.143+0.015*ESP −0.036*CO32- −0.006*Na+. Exchangeable sodium percentage has the strongest effects on clay dispersion among the soil parameters. Clay dispersion indices vary with soil physicochemical parameters. Compared to MDT, SDT, MDZP, and SDZP, CDR is more suitable for evaluating and predicting the clay dispersion condition in saline-sodic soils. •Characteristics and influencing factors of clay dispersion in saline-sodic soils were investigated.•Innovative introduction of zeta potential to basic agricultural research.•Exchangeable sodium percentage has a profound effect on the clay dispersion ratio.•The clay dispersion ratio has better predictability in predicting the dispersion of saline-sodic soils.•Enriching the theory