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The Distribution and Fixation of Potassium in the Profile of Brown Podzolic Soils and Sandy Podzols
Author(s) -
Joffe J. S.,
Kolodny L.
Publication year - 1938
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1938.036159950002000c0034x
Subject(s) - podzol , fixation (population genetics) , soil water , computer science , mathematics , library science , soil science , environmental science , sociology , demography , population
The principle of soil zonality promulgated by pedology makes it "categorically imperative" that the elements of fertility, and the level of fertility be zonal in nature. In their geographic distribution the broad units of our soils follow the principle enunciated, but the detailed features and behavior of the principal and minor elements of fertility in the various soil zones are still a "terra incognita." A knowledge of the natural distribution of any element in the profile of any soil zone is of primary importance in revealing its behavior and reactions. No matter what element of fertility is being investigated, the reference point must always be the soil profile. Failures in evaluating the chemistry of certain elements, and hence their behavior, with reference to fertility in the soil, may be traced to a lack of knowledge of these elements in the profile. The viewpoint expressed came into bold relief when the investigations on the fixation of potassium in the soils were under way at the New Jersey Station. The laboratory experiments (g), designed to get at the mechanism of potassium fixation in soils indicated that artificial complexes of phosphates of various cations, notably Fe, Al, Ca, Mg (other cations and combinations are still being investigated) are capable of fixing potassium. As the studies progressed it became clear that the phosphate ion is not the only causative agent of potassium fixation. Other complexes of the soil seem to participate in the process of potassium fixation. It was, therefore, felt that in an investigation of the various aspects of the problem of K fixation, per^ haps first in order, was the relation, if any, between the natural distribution of K in the profile and the fixation capacity of the soil material of the respective horizons. The soils chosen for the study were those on which analytical data were available (/) . In short, these soils originated on parent material of three geologic divisions, Appalachian Mountains—the Highlands, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.