The effect of different exchangeable sodium percentages (ESP) on the saturated hydraulic conductivity of a soil was studied under laboratory conditions by determining the relationship between the hydraulic conductivity of a normal soil and that measured on soil with different ESP. The results show a great reduction in the saturated hydraulic conductivity with the increase of the exchangeable sodium percentage in the soil, this reduction being as great as 100% on the highly sodified samples when compared with those which did not receive sodium treatment. This fact is explained due to the dispersing effect of the exchangeable sodium on the soil particles.
relative hydraulic conductivity; exchangeable sodium; dispersion
