W3, Soil structure and SOC

Question 1

Define friability.

Answer 1

A measure of the relative strength of aggregates vs. their volume or size. Crumbly/friable soil will break down into smaller bits when physical force is applied, but those aggregated won’t further break down into primary particles.

Friability = the slope (linear) of the relationship between the log aggregate tensile strength (Y) and the log aggregate volume (X).

The steeper the slope, the higher the friability (weak large aggregates, strong small aggregates) = more preferable.