Polyacrylamide (PAM) in granular and solution form was applied to the surface in the field and glasshouse to test effects on soil crusting nd seedling emergence. Emergence improved when soils were treated with PAM solutions, but not when treated with granular PAM. On soils in different initial physical conditions, liquid PAM kept soil aggregates stable through-out seven irrigation events and reduced penetrometer resistance. PAM applied as granules did not maintain aggregate stability or reduce penetrometer resistance. Neither liquid nor solid PAM created new aggregates, but soil aggregates treated with liquid PAM were preserved in the physical form existing at the time of application. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) emerged days earlier from aggregated soils treated with PAM in solution than from soils treated with granular PAM.
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COOK et al. (1986) studied this question.