A laser diffractometry technique for determining the soil water stable aggregates index

This study introduced and optimized the Sonication and Laser Diffractometry technique (SLD) for evaluating the stability of soil aggregates, drawing comparisons with the conventional Wet Sieving (WS) method. The SLD technique uses ultrasound and particle motion, and is shown to be suitable for fine soils where the WS method struggles with problems such as sieve screen clogging. Results show that the water aggregates stability index (WSAi) determined using SLD is consistent with values obtained from WS and has good reproducibility. Comparisons show that SLD offers advantages in speed, simplicity, and lower potential for human error, providing results in only a few minutes compared to the days required for WS. Challenges such as the adaptability of the methodology to different soil types and equipment remain areas for further research. Nevertheless, this study highlights the potential of SLD as an efficient and reliable method for assessing aggregate stability in soils.