Hardsetting in sandy soils: a review

Hardsetting soils dry with high strength, but soften again upon re-wetting. Affected soil layers can form a transient constraint to root growth, developing and diminishing with fluctuations in soil water. Several studies have explored physical and chemical mechanisms for hardsetting, including the role of certain soil particle arrangements and the presence of cementing agents between sand grains. However, the process is not fully understood and is likely to vary between soils. Traditionally, har