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NON‐EXCHANGEABLE AMMONIUM IN SOILS OF ISRAEL AND ITS RELATION TO CLAY AND PARENT MATERIALS
Author(s) -
FEIGIN A.,
YAALON D. H.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1974.tb01134.x
Subject(s) - soil water , ammonium , illite , clay minerals , ammonium oxalate , montmorillonite , chemistry , kaolinite , aeolian processes , dolomite , environmental chemistry , soil science , mineralogy , geology , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , geomorphology
Summary The occurrence of non‐exchangeable ammonium in the main soil groups of Israel and its relation to various factors were determined in 129 samples from thirty‐one profiles. In arid and semiarid soils the level ranged from 0·18‐0·53 me/100 g, with most values falling between 0·25 and 0·40 me/100 g. In the sub‐humid Mediterranean region the values ranged between 0·04 and 1·0 me/100 g, with most of them falling between 0·14 and 0·65 me/100 g. In most cases the percentage of non‐exchangeable ammonium‐N in the total soil nitrogen was in the range of 2–25 per cent. The clay fraction is a significant factor influencing the amount of non‐exchangeable ammonium in the soils tested. The relatively low amounts of non‐exchangeable ammonium found are consistent with the predominant clay mineral in most of the soils being montmorillonite. A good correlation was obtained with the content of illite, which is the main carrier of the non‐exchangeable ammonium. The mean non‐exchangeable K/non‐exchangeable NH, ratio in the Israeli soil clays was 17. In soils derived from or affected by aeolian dust, the level of non‐exchangeable ammonium calculated for the clay fraction spans that of aeolian dust and is, in general, higher than in soils developed from limestone, dolomite, marl, tuff, or basalt.