THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE ON PHOSPHORUS DIFFUSION IN COAL MINE SPOILS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Phosphorus diffusion coefficients (D) were measured as a function of water tension (.psi.) and water content (.theta.) in topsoil and spoil samples from 2 coal mine sites in western North Dakota [USA]. For all 4 soils, the observed dependence of D upon .psi. and .theta. can be well described by equations of the form D = Ae-a.psi. + B and D = K (.theta. - E)P + B. D is almost 0 for water contents below that held at 15 bars, and it increases rapidly as the water in excess of that held at 15 bars increases. For most of the measurements, D in the spoil materials is greater than in the topsoils for a given moisture tension.