Indian Journal of Agricultural Research
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2026
  • Volume: 60
  • Issue: 7

Peculiarities of Hydrodynamic and Electro-osmotic Flow of Water in Clay Soils

  • Author:
  • S. Sahakyan1, T. Yedoyan2,*, E. Neverova-Dziopak3, V. Kobelyan1, V. Yedoyan4
  • Total Page Count: 8
  • Page Number: 1003 to 1010

1Faculty of Construction, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, 105 Teryan St., Yerevan0009, Republic of Armenia

2Faculty of Management and Technology, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, 105 Teryan St., Yerevan0009, Republic of Armenia

3Faculty of Mining Surveying and Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland

4Department of Mathematics, Construction Mechanics and Physics, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, 105 Teryan St., Yerevan0009, Republic of Armenia

*Corresponding Author: T. Yedoyan, Faculty of Management and Technology, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, 105 Teryan St., Yerevan0009, Republic of Armenia. Email: yedoyantatevik@nuaca.am

Abstract

Global climate change, accompanied by recurrent droughts in arid and semi-arid regions, necessitates the development of more effective approaches for regulating soil water regimes. Conventional hydrodynamic methods often perform poorly in soils with thick clay horizons and low permeability, where electrokinetic processes may provide alternative pathways for enhancing water movement.

This study evaluated the parameters of hydrodynamic and electro-osmotic flow in irrigated meadow clay soils of Armenia. Laboratory experiments were conducted under controlled hydrostatic pressure gradients and applied electrical field gradients to characterize filtration behaviour and electro-osmotic response.

A strong curvilinear relationship was observed between filtration rate and pressure gradient (R = 0.983), indicating plastic viscous behaviour of the soil solution. A similar curvilinear dependence was identified between the electro-osmotic coefficient and electrical field gradient (R = 0.884). Electro-osmotic effects substantially increased the water permeability when the electrical field strength exceeded 2.57 V cm-1. These findings demonstrated the potential of electro-osmotic phenomena to enhance water movement in heavy clay soils, offering promising applications for soil-water management under changing climatic conditions.

Keywords

Electrical field gradient, Electro-osmotic coefficient, Heavy soils, Hydraulic pressure gradient, Water permeability