Part 5

Ascertaining
Depth of
Seasonal Fluctuation
and
Depth of Desiccation

Inserting meter stick into desiccation crack

The depth of desiccation is typically estimated from examination

of soil moisture content with depth (shown at left)
The depth of seasonal soil moisture content fluctuation is
usually much less, also shown at left.

Drainage improvements, like these concretelined drainage interceptor ditches, can be

difficult to maintain when constructed upon
expansive soils
This is because these soils are prone to
seasonal slope creep, differential heave, and
desiccation, as shown here