Effect of Petroleum Products on the Amount of Spontaneously and Mechanically Dispersible Clays in Soils with Different Textures

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of application of 0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5% of crude oil, kerosene, and gasoline on spontaneously and mechanically dispersible clay in three texturally different soils of clay loam, loamy sand, and sandy loam. In general, the results showed that the percentage of spontaneously dispersible clay in soils treated with kerosene and gasoline was significantly higher than that treated with crude oil by, respectively, 34% and 44%. Mechanically dispersible clay in soils treated with kerosene and gasoline were significantly higher than that of the crude oil treaded soils by nearly two folds. The percentage of spontaneously dispersible clay in the loamy sand soils was significantly higher than that of the clay loam and the sandy loam soils by nearly 21% and 57%, respectively. While mechanically dispersible clay in loamy sand soil was significantly less by about 31% than that in clay loam soil and about 32% more than that in sandy loam soil. In general, increasing the application rates of petroleum products increased the percentage of spontaneously and mechanically dispersible clay at low levels, but decreased the mentioned attributes at higher levels. The results showed that different levels of petroleum products had significant effects on dispersible clay. Therefore, the results of this study can provide the necessary information about the effect of petroleum materials on the amount of dispersible clay, as one of the soil strength and cohesion criteria and other related characteristics. This information can be used in making the necessary decisions for management and reclamation of different types of oil-contaminated soils, and for using petroleum compounds to protect the soil against erosion.