Granulometric composition of soils: history, development of methods, current state and prospects

The problems of determination and classification of soils by granulometric composition from the point of view of domestic and international soil science are considered. The development of methods and devices for granulometric analysis of soils was largely promoted by the works of the Department of Soil Physics and Reclamation, on the basis of which the necessity of two stages of granulometric analysis was shown, the all-Russian method of sedimentation analysis of particles by pipette method was founded, with the development of the classification of N.A. Kachinsky and names of soils by granulometry, which are fundamentally different from those generally accepted in the world practice. At present, at the first stage the method of pretreatment with 4% sodium pyrophosphate is widespread, at the second stage — measurement of granulometric composition two approaches are used — sedimentation method and laser diffractometry, which have different physical bases. The difference of final results on granulometric composition of soils is usually associated with different shape and density of solid phase of organic and mineral particles. This paper presents the studies of granulometric composition of agrodernovo-podzolic sandy loam soil (Tver region, VNIIMZ experimental site) with low content of organic matter in comparison of three methods of granulometric composition determination: laser diffractometer, sedimentometric methods of suspension pressure estimation on Pario - ISP+ (Integral Suspension Pressure) device and classical pipette method. Th e laser diffractometer for fine fractions showed systematically underestimated data with the same pretreatment procedure compared to ISP and pipette method. The ISP+ method compared to the classical pipette method gives similar results.