Soil Sediment Deposits in Subsurface Drains
ABSTRACT THE possible mode of sediment entry into drains may be determined by comparing the particle-size dis-tribution curves of the deposits with those of correspond-ing soils. Some deposits will be finer, some similar, and some coarser in texture than the soil. Variations in tex-ture are due to a sorting process effected by the envelope, by reductions in water-flow velocity, by breaks or loose joints in the drain pipe, or by the effluents washing the fine sediments out of the drain. The dispersive effect of a high sodium content can also influence the texture of the deposit.