The document describes soil colloids, which are finely divided materials dispersed in a second phase, detailing their types and properties. It identifies four major types of soil colloids: layer silicate clays, iron and aluminum oxide clays, allophane and associated amorphous clays, and humus, explaining their characteristics and roles in soil science. Additionally, it discusses general properties such as size, surface area, surface charges, cation adsorption, and other physical behaviors.

1. SOIL COLLOIDS
TYPES, PROPERTIES INORGANIC COLLOIDS
AND ORGANIC COLLOIDS

2. SOIL COLLOIDS
The colloidal state refers to a two-phase system
in which one material in a very finely divided state
is dispersed through second phase.
Eg., Solid in liquid (Dispersion of clay in water) and
Liquid in gas (Fog or clouds in atmosphere).
27-Nov-18Sethupathi SIva, M.Sc., (Ag.) in Soil Science

3. GENERAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL COLLOIDS
Size
Surface area
Surface charges
Adsorption of
cations
Adsorption of water
Adhesion
Cohesion
Swelling and shrinkage
Dispersion and flocculation
Brownian movement
27-Nov-18Sethupathi SIva, M.Sc., (Ag.) in Soil Science

4. TYPES OF SOIL COLLOIDS
There are four major types of
colloids present in soil
1. Layer silicate clays
2. Iron and aluminum oxide clays
(sesquioxide clays)
3. Allophane and associated
amorphous clays
4. Humus
INORGANIC
COLLOIDS
ORGANIC
COLLOIDS
27-Nov-18Sethupathi SIva, M.Sc., (Ag.) in Soil Science

5. 1. LAYER SILICATE CLAYS
Silica tetrahedron
-a unit composed of
one silicon atom
surrounded by four
oxygen atoms.
-Eg: Olivine
Alumina octahedron
-the key cations
surrounded by six oxygen
atoms or hydroxyl group
giving an eight sided
building block termed
octahedron.
27-Nov-18Sethupathi SIva, M.Sc., (Ag.) in Soil Science

6. 27-Nov-18Sethupathi SIva, M.Sc., (Ag.) in Soil Science

7. 2. IRON AND ALUMINUM OXIDE CLAYS
Under conditions of extensive leaching by rainfall and
long time intensive weathering of minerals in humid
warm climates,
which have lower solubility are called sesquioxides.
Sesquioxides (metal oxides) are mixtures of aluminum
hydroxide, Al (OH)3, and iron oxide, Fe2O3, or iron
hydroxide, Fe(OH)3.
Note: The Latin word sesqui means one and one-half times, meaning one
and one-half times more oxygen than Al and Fe
27-Nov-18Sethupathi SIva, M.Sc., (Ag.) in Soil Science

8. 3. ALLOPHANE AND OTHER AMORPHOUS MINERALS
They are amorphous in nature
These clays are common in soils forming from volcanic ash
(e.g., Allophane). These clays have high anion exchange
capacity or even high cation exchange capacity.
27-Nov-18Sethupathi SIva, M.Sc., (Ag.) in Soil Science

9. 4. HUMUS (ORGANIC COLLOID)
Humus is amorphous, dark brown to
black, nearly insoluble in water, but
mostly soluble in dilute alkali (NaOH or
KOH) solutions.
It is a temporary intermediate product
left after considerable decomposition of
plant and animal remains.
The negative charges of humus are
associated with partially dissociated
hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), and
phenolic groups.
27-Nov-18Sethupathi SIva, M.Sc., (Ag.) in Soil Science

10. 4. HUMUS (ORGANIC COLLOID)
Humus is amorphous, dark brown to
black, nearly insoluble in water, but
mostly soluble in dilute alkali (NaOH or
KOH) solutions.
It is a temporary intermediate product
left after considerable decomposition of
plant and animal remains.
The negative charges of humus are
associated with partially dissociated
hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), and
phenolic groups.
27-Nov-18Sethupathi SIva, M.Sc., (Ag.) in Soil Science