INCREASE IN NEUTRAL SALT EXTRACTABLE CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY OF SOME ACID SOILS AS AFFECTED BY CaSO4 APPLICATIONS

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Abstract
The equilibration of acid soils, a Sombric Ferro-Humic Podzol (CSSC-2) from British Columbia, an Orthic Ferro-Humic Podzol (CSSC-19) from Quebec and two horizons of a Dystric Brunisol (SSD-330, SSD-331) from British Columbia, with CaSO4 solution demonstrated that SO4 ions reacted with components of these soils. These reactions increased soil pH, ion activity product (Al)(OH)3 and neutral salt extractable exchangeable cations. The increase in pH and ionic activity product (Al)(OH)3 were noticeable on a single equilibration; however, increase in neutral salt extractable cations was only observed after subsequent equilibrations. After three equilibrations, the sums of NaCl extractable cations were 6.56, 11.99, 5.62 and 4.31 meq/100 g for soil samples CSSC-2, CSSC-19, SSD-330 and SSD-331, respectively. The corresponding values for the unequilibrated soils were 5.20, 7.49, 4.30 and 2.50 meq/100 g. On further equilibration there was no increase in total extractable cations for sample CSSC-2; however, for the other three samples there were increases which became progressively smaller. The reaction of SO4 ions with aluminum hydroxy clay complexes seems to be the mechanism for the increase of negative sites. Key words: Cation exchange capacity, CaSO4, acid soils