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Acid rain, cation dissolution, and sulphate retention in three tropical soils
Author(s) -
PATIL S. G.,
SARMA V. A. K.,
VanLOON G. W.
Publication year - 1989
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.1365-2389.1989.tb01256.x
Subject(s) - cation exchange capacity , dissolution , soil water , chemistry , adsorption , calcareous , organic matter , counterion , environmental chemistry , inorganic chemistry , metal , ion exchange , ionic bonding , soil science , geology , ion , paleontology , organic chemistry
SUMMARY Surface and subsurface samples of three tropical soils were examined with respect to their interaction with dilute solutions of sulphuric acid of pH 3. In calcareous clayey samples with a large cation exchange capacity the H + was replaced by an equivalent concentration of metal cations which remained in solution along with SO 2‐ 4 as counterion. In a coarse‐textured neutral soil with small cation exchange capacity, there was less chemical interaction and a major proportion of the H 2 SO 4 remained unchanged in the equilibrium solution. Another soil exhibited considerable ability to remove SO 2‐ 4 from solution and, therefore, the total ionic concentration was greatly reduced. Other samples showed behaviour which was intermediate to these three types. The ability to adsorb SO 2‐ 4 is one of the most important factors which determines the nature of the interaction of soil with dilute sulphuric acid. This ability was shown to be affected by the content of hydrous sesquioxides and organic matter in these soils.