The use of the Glass Electrode in Soil Reaction and Oxidation-Reduction Potential Measurements

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Abstract
The glass electrode with an electrometer triode valve as amplifier gives accurate pH measurements on soil suspensions and on soil crumbs moist enough to wet the glass. It may be used in highly oxidising or reducing systems and in alkaline soil, but has little merit over the quinhydrone electrode where this is known to be reliable. The glass electrode forms a satisfactory reference electrode in oxidation-reduction potential measurements, as it allows both Eh and pH measurements without alteration to the system, whilst its high resistance minimises polarisation. Oxidation-reduction potentials of soils depend so closely on the pH value of the soils that they should not be considered separately. For constant pH values highly contrasted soil types may give similar oxidation-reduction potentials. After waterlogging in the laboratory for 1 or 2 days, there is a marked fall in potential for soils known from the conditions of their formation to contain organic matter capable of rapid decomposition as soon as moisture, temp., and soil reaction become favorable. In the main soil zones of European Russia, this change on waterlogging reaches its maximum in the chernozem belt.

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