Abstract
Plastic columns containing a calcareous clay loam soil parent material with and without ground aspen leaves at the surface were maintained under different drainage conditions for 32 months. Distilled water was added at regular intervals. Results of redox potential (Eh) measurements at four depths, leachate analysis and analysis of the soil material are presented.With water table to the surface and a layer of surface leaves, low Eh readings and appreciable iron movement resulted. In a column with fluctuating water table and surface leaves, raising the water table brought about a decrease in the Eh of the soil below the water table. Height of water table had no effect on the Eh of a column which had no leaves at the surface. In columns where the soil material was mixed with quartz sand, leaching brought about marked downward movement of silt and clay size particles. Apart from the removal of soluble salts, there was little measurable change in columns which had no admixture of sand.

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