Effects of soil acidification on chemical and mineralogical properties of a limed soil

Journal Article · · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1987.03615995005100030012x· OSTI ID:6078411

Lietzke, D A; Peterson, D V

Two soil acidulents were compared for their effects on soil chemical and mineralogical properties. Aluminum sulfate (Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/ x 18 H/sub 2/O) powder was applied at rates of 0.13, 0.26, 0.52, and 1.05 kg m/sup -3/ (7.5, 15.0, 30.0, and 60.0 g per pot, respectively). Elemental S powder was added at rates of 0.03, 0.06, 0.13, and 0.26 kg m/sup -3/ (1.9, 3.8, 7.5, and 15.0 g per pot, respectively). Sawdust was incorporated into the soil at rates of 0, 20, 40, and 60 m/sup 3/ m/sup -3/ (% by volume). The soil used in this experiment was a previously limed sandy loam surface from a Typic Hapludult with an initial pH of 6.2. On a mass basis, approximately eight times as much Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/) x 18 H/sub 2/O as elemental S was needed to cause a two-unit decrease in soil pH. The acidity produced by S maintained low pH longer than Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/ x 18 H/sub 2/O. Extractable levels of Ca and Mg in the highest acidulent treatments were approximately double that of the controls at the conclusion of the experiment. This is a probable response to lime particles from a previous liming being dissolved by acids. Extractable K, because of destruction of illitic clay minerals, was significantly higher in the S treatments than in the Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/ treatments or controls. Extractable Al levels were greater than the controls only at higher rates of both acidulents. Extractable Al levels at a given pH were higher in the Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/-treated soils than in those treated with S. Destruction of clay minerals, including gibbsite, kaolinite, and hydroxy interlayered vermiculite were evident in the highest S treatment, even though both the Ca/Mg and K/NH/sub 4/ cation exchange capacity values increased when compared to the controls. Aluminum sulfate had little effect on clay mineral stability when compared to the controls, and may have increased the heat stability of K saturated hydroxy interlayered vermiculite.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
• OSTI ID: 6078411
• Journal Information: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Vol. 51:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALUMINIUM
LEACHING
CALCIUM
LOAM
ACIDIFICATION
MAGNESIUM
POTASSIUM
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ALUMINIUM SULFATES
CATIONS
CLAYS
ION EXCHANGE
PH VALUE
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SULFUR
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
IONS
METALS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
WATER CHEMISTRY
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)