HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Heddleson, M. R. Articles by Holowaychuk, N. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Heddleson, M. R. Articles by Holowaychuk, N. Agricola Articles by Heddleson, M. R. Articles by Holowaychuk, N.

Aluminum in Soils: IV. The Role of Aluminum in Soil Acidity¹

ABSTRACT

Samples of soils representing a wide range of pH and extractable Al were treated with increments of acid and base and incubated for 3 months. The extractable Al and exchange acidity were measured. Samples were also treated with increments of AlCl₃ and measurements of extractable Al and exchange acidity again made. Various resin titrations were made in order to compare the reaction of TEA with both Al and H, and to observe the acid properties of Al ions.

An increase in both extractable Al and exchange acidity was found following treatment of soils with acid. The increase was much greater in mildly acid soils than in highly acid samples. The increase in extractable Al and exchange acidity was generally of the same order of magnitude. Acid, strongly weathered soils were found to adsorb much less Al than did neutral, less weathered soils treated with increments of AlCl₃. Apparently Al was near equilibrium in acid soils but not in mildly acid or neutral samples.

Al resin was shown to titrate similar to a weak acid while H resin titration more nearly resembled a strong acid. Titration of Al resin with KOH in absolute alcohol indicated that hydrolysis was necessary for Al to exhibit acid properties. Results show that soil acidity is composed of both H and Al and that measurement of acidity by TEA measures at least part of the Al.

¹ Published with the permission of the Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta. as Journal Article No. 64-59. Presented before Div. II, Soil Science Society of America, Aug. 6, 1958, at Lafayette, Ind.

² Assistant Professor and Professors, respectively, Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta. and the Ohio State University.

Received for publication September 28, 1959. Accepted for publication October 26, 1959.