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Some effects of acidification of alkaline and calcareous soils. II. —Effect on composition of soil solution under field conditions
Author(s) -
Tobia S. K.,
Pollard A. G.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740101005
Subject(s) - chemistry , magnesium , phosphate , manganese , soil ph , calcium , aluminium , alkali soil , calcium carbonate , ferrous , inorganic chemistry , calcareous , solubility , soil water , composition (language) , environmental chemistry , soil science , geology , biochemistry , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry
Plots of a soil previously treated with different proportions of calcium carbonate were acidified by additions of aluminium sulphate, ferrous sulphate or sulphuric acid and analyses of alcohol‐displaced soil solutions were made at intervals. Of the three acidifying agents used, aluminium had by far the most extensive and persistent effects on the composition of the soil solutions. Used in proportions which lowered the pH of the soil solution to approximately 6.0, aluminium sulphate diminished the amount of phosphate in the soil solution. Larger applications which brought the pH of the soil solution below 4.6 increased the phosphate concentration until at pH 3.8 it was 50‐fold that of the original soil. Simultaneously, the amount of calcium in the soil solution was reduced and that of magnesium markedly increased, the Ca/Mg ratio falling below unity after the larger applications of aluminium sulphate. Ferrous sulphate caused a temporary fall in pH, increased the magnesium and decreased the phosphate with little effect on the calcium content of the soil solution. Sulphuric acid had only a small and temporary effect on pH, increased the calcium and reduced the phosphate content of the soil solution to some extent. Aluminium sulphate brought considerable amounts of manganese but much less iron into solution. Ferrous sulphate had little effect on the manganese or aluminium levels and sulphuric acid had no appreciable action on the solubility of either of the three bases.