Dynamics of cracking and swelling clay soils: Displacement of skeletal grains, optimum depth of slickensides, and rate of intra-pedonic turbation

Grumusols (Vertisols), though having a uniformly high clay content with depth, commonly exhibit a coarsening upward in the sand fraction, either of skeletal grains or of nodules. The non-uniform way in which the wetting front advances in swelling clay soils, with preferred advance and swelling around the coarse grains, produces upward directional forces and uplifting of the grains, thus producing the observed textural differentiation in the coarse fraction. From observations of slickenside distribution in the profile, and using published data on the ratio of lateral to vertical stresses and swelling pressure distribution with depth, a concept of optimum depth for slickensides is developed. Generally at 150–200cm, below the depth of cracking, this depth depends in part on climatic conditions. Below the optimal depth increased overburden pressure and smaller moisture variations restrain the extent of swelling and deformation, above it drying produces cracks and obliterates large slickensides, though a strong bimasepic microfabric remains. The extent of intrapedonic turbation was estimated from measurements of the volume of cracks and of surface material falling into the cracks. It indicates a turnover time of several hundred to a few thousand of years. This agrees with the known increase of radiocarbon ages of organic matter (MRT) with depth which in Vertisols (Grumusols) is only slightly slower than in non-turbating Udolls (Chernozems) and Udalfs (Lessivés). The moderate rate of homogenization due to intrapedonic turbation does not prevent the development of a normal organic carbon profile and it is slower than the upswelling of coarse grains by upward directional forces. The development of shear planes and slickenside structures is a rapid process and not dependent on turbation.