Slaking is the process in which earth materials disintegrate and crumble when exposed to moisture. The term can be applied to natural geologic formations, land modified by or for human use, or to the use of earth materials in manufacturing or industry.
This process can often lead to erosion if the geologic area is not flat or vegetated. The slaking property does not necessarily have to be in the
A horizon, with
B horizon
A soil horizon is a layer parallel to the soil surface whose physical, chemical and biological characteristics differ from the layers above and beneath. Horizons are defined in many cases by obvious physical features, mainly colour and texture. ...
slaking only becoming a problem when the A horizon is disturbed or eroded away.
Slaking occurs on
soil aggregates and is correlated with the rate of wetting, the faster the wetting, the more slaking occurs.
Preventing slaking
As with most
erosion
Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is d ...
slaking can be prevented with re-vegetation of bare soil and limiting soil disturbance on slopes.
References
Erosion
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