ON THE METHOD OF DETERMINING GYPSUM REQUIREMENT OF SOILS

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Abstract
Laboratory studies were performed to see the effect of initial soil moisture content, method of placement (spread on the soil surface or mixed in the entire soil), and nature of amendment (gypsum or calcium chloride) on the extent of precipitation of soluble carbonates and changes in soil properties of a highly sodic soil upon leaching. The results showed that when gypsum or calcium chloride were mixed in the entire soil, all the soluble carbonates were precipitated but only a small portion of the soluble carbonates were precipitated when the soil was leached after surface application of the amendment. For this reason also, the exchangeable calcium content and the soil hydraulic conductivity were improved to a greater extent in the case of surface application treatment when the amount of amendment applied was reduced to half compared to the treatment where the amendment was mixed in the entire soil. The results have been discussed to suggest that for the determination of gypsum requirement of soils containing soluble carbonates, the latter should be eliminated by washing with 20 ml of 60 percent ethanol prior to the determination by following Schoonover's procedure. Laboratory studies were performed to see the effect of initial soil moisture content, method of placement (spread on the soil surface or mixed in the entire soil), and nature of amendment (gypsum or calcium chloride) on the extent of precipitation of soluble carbonates and changes in soil properties of a highly sodic soil upon leaching. The results showed that when gypsum or calcium chloride were mixed in the entire soil, all the soluble carbonates were precipitated but only a small portion of the soluble carbonates were precipitated when the soil was leached after surface application of the amendment. For this reason also, the exchangeable calcium content and the soil hydraulic conductivity were improved to a greater extent in the case of surface application treatment when the amount of amendment applied was reduced to half compared to the treatment where the amendment was mixed in the entire soil. The results have been discussed to suggest that for the determination of gypsum requirement of soils containing soluble carbonates, the latter should be eliminated by washing with 20 ml of 60 percent ethanol prior to the determination by following Schoonover's procedure. © Williams & Wilkins 1975. All Rights Reserved.

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