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Ion Distribution, Moisture Content and Density of Soil Columns Measured with Gamma Radiation
Author(s) -
Shalhevet J.,
Yaron B.
Publication year - 1967
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/sssaj1967.03615995003100020005x
Subject(s) - water content , attenuation , tracer , moisture , ion , wetting , chemistry , bulk density , soil science , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , soil water , environmental chemistry , environmental science , composite material , geology , geotechnical engineering , physics , optics , nuclear physics , organic chemistry
Anion distribution in soil columns was measured nondestructively by using a radioactive tracer, 60 Co (CN) 6 3‐ . The breakthrough curves of Cl ‐ and 60 Co (CN) 6 3‐ were very similar, indicating the possible use of the 60 Co complex ion as a qualitative model for anion movement. The external measurement of gamma activity was compared to measurements of 1:1 water extracts of the sectioned columns. The gamma activity of the tracer was measured along uniformly packed soil columns through a few drying and wetting cycles. Drying was done with a stream of warmed air that passed around and through the perforated soil columns. Moisture content and density of the soil in the columns were measured simultaneously by the gamma attenuation method. An equation, the parameters of which were determined empirically, giving density as a linear function of moisture content, may be introduced into the attenuation equation to correct for the variation of density with moisture content.