Dear AD
That is really interesting. So it can render a profound change in characteristics. Has the dung-water+clay chemisty been heard of in your area? It is a labour only alternative to concrete. Regards Crispin +++++++ Dear Crispin, the natural soil in this part of India is black in colour (it is called vertisol). It is extremely clayey. It swells when wet and contracts when it dries, producing cracks in the process. So, it is absolutely useless for any kind of construction. Our region was colonised about 2500 years ago. The soil in old human settlements shows a distinctly whitish colour. It does not expand when wet and does not crack on drying. This soil is prefered for any kind of construction work. People kept their cattle penned next to their houses. Archaeologists tell us that the vertisol gets converted into the whitish soil due to the chronic mixing with animal dung Yours A.D.Karve
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