Sodic and dispersive soils are a common problem across farms, lawns, sports turf, and building sites.
These soils contain too much sodium. When they get wet, the soil falls apart instead of holding together. Fine clay turns into mud, blocks water movement, and washes away. When it dries, the surface becomes hard, sealed, and crusted.
You will usually see this as:
• Water pooling instead of soaking in
• Muddy, unstable soil when wet
• Hard, compacted ground when dry
• Patchy plant or turf growth
• Ongoing erosion and drainage problems
This cycle keeps repeating unless the soil chemistry is corrected.
FUTURE SOIL® is a soil chemistry platform designed specifically to fix sodic and dispersive soils.
It works by:
• Stabilising clay particles so soil holds together
• Restoring water movement into and through the soil
• Binding fine clay suspended in water to firm muddy, unstable “quicksand” soils
This makes watering, fertiliser, and other inputs work better, saving time, money, and repeat effort while creating soil that is more reliable and resilient.
Understanding Sodic and Dispersive Soils
What Is Sodic Soil?
Sodic soil contains too much sodium.
Excess sodium causes clay to break apart when it gets wet. Instead of staying crumbly and open, the soil turns muddy, seals over, and stops water soaking in. This leads to runoff, erosion, and poor plant performance.
Sodic soils are commonly identified using simple soil tests that measure sodium levels and how clay behaves in water. These problems are often seen where infiltration is poor and erosion keeps recurring.
What Happens in Dispersive Soils
In sodic clay soils, the soil does not hold together when it gets wet.
Instead of settling, fine clay breaks apart and stays floating in the water. The ground turns muddy and unstable, often described as a “quicksand” effect. This blocks air and water movement, weakens the soil, and leads to erosion.
A simple jar test shows this clearly:
• Healthy clay settles and clears
• Dispersive clay turns the water cloudy
Why Sodic Soils Go Hard and Fail
Sodium makes clay particles push away from each other.
When this happens:
• Fine clay moves with water
• Pores in the soil get blocked
• The surface seals over
• Water can no longer soak in
As the soil dries, the surface sets hard and crusted. When it gets wet again, it turns back into mud. This wet–dry failure cycle is why sodic soils are so difficult to manage without the right treatment.
How Sodic Soils Damage Land and Structures
Sodic and dispersive clays cause ongoing problems wherever water is involved.
They commonly lead to:
• Water pooling and runoff because water cannot soak in
• Hard, crusted surfaces that stop seeds and turf establishing
• Hidden problem layers that block roots below the surface
• Erosion under the ground, causing drains, channels, and edges to fail
• Repeat repair work in farms, turf, and civil areas
If the soil behaviour is not fixed, these problems keep coming back.
Why Gypsum and Other Treatments Often Fail
Gypsum on Its Own
Gypsum has been used for years to treat sodic soils. In theory, it helps replace sodium in clay. In practice, it often falls short.
The main issues:
• It needs to be worked into the soil to function properly
• Hard, compacted clay stops it moving downward
• Very high application rates are needed
• It usually only affects the top layer, not the problem clay below
Without proper water movement, gypsum stays on the surface. Time, money, and material are often wasted.
Gypsum can still be useful — but only when the soil allows it to move and work properly.
Polymers and Soil Binders
Some soil products act like temporary glues, holding particles together for a short time.
Their limits:
• Effects do not last
• Mostly work only at the surface
• Too costly or impractical for large areas
• Inconsistent results across different soils
They may improve appearance briefly, but they do not stop clay from failing when water returns.
The Real Problem with Conventional Fixes
Most treatments do not stop clay from:
• Breaking apart in water
• Blocking soil pores
• Moving as mud through the soil
That is why erosion, crusting, waterlogging, and failure keep returning.
The FUTURE SOIL® Solution
FUTURE SOIL® is designed to fix sodic and dispersive soils by changing how clay behaves when it gets wet.
Instead of masking symptoms, FUTURE SOIL®:
• Keeps clay particles together
• Restores water movement through the soil
• Reduces sealing, crusting, and erosion
• Makes other inputs like gypsum work properly
The result is soil that becomes stable, workable, and reliable.
FUTURE SOIL® CLAY BREAKER
CLAY BREAKER is purpose-built to fix sodic and dispersive clay soils.
Use it when soil:
• Seals over and sheds water
• Turns muddy when wet
• Sets hard after drying
• Restricts roots and drainage
What CLAY BREAKER Does
• Corrects sodic clay behaviour
• Restores infiltration and drainage
• Reduces surface sealing and hard-setting
• Helps water and amendments move deeper
• Improves soil performance over time
CLAY BREAKER fixes the cause, not just the symptoms.
What This Means for You
After using FUTURE SOIL® CLAY BREAKER:
• Water soaks in instead of running off
• Ground stays firmer under traffic
• Less erosion and wash-out
• More even plant and turf growth
The soil becomes easier to manage and more predictable.
Where FUTURE SOIL® CLAY BREAKER Is Used
• Farms and cropping land
• Sports turf and golf courses
• Lawns and landscaping
• Drains, channels, and irrigation areas
• Earthworks and rehabilitation sites
Anywhere sodic or dispersive clay causes trouble, CLAY BREAKER is the fix.
Simple Application
1. Identify the problem soil (jar test or known history)
2. Apply CLAY BREAKER with water, irrigation, or spray
3. Let water carry it into the soil
4. Monitor improvement over wet–dry cycles
5. Combine with gypsum or organics if desired for even better results
Common Questions
What is dispersive soil?
Clay that turns muddy in water instead of holding together.
Why does sodic soil go hard?
Fine clay blocks pores, seals the surface, then sets hard when dry.
Is gypsum enough?
Often no. FUTURE SOIL® helps gypsum move and work properly.
Is it safe to use?
Yes. FUTURE SOIL® products are designed for use in agriculture, turf, and land rehabilitation when used as directed.