scholarly journals Cation Exchange Capacity and Base Saturation Variation among Alberta, Canada, Moss Peats

HortScience ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet F.M. Rippy ◽  
Paul V. Nelson

Variations in moss peat cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS) can result in inconsistent initial pH in moss peat-based substrates created using standard formulas for limestone additions and can lead to subsequent drift from the initial pH in those substrates. This study was conducted to determine the extent of such variation. CEC and BS were measured in three replications on 64 moss peat samples that were selected from three mires across Alberta, Canada, to represent maximum gradients in plant species composition within six degrees of decomposition acceptable for professional peat-based substrates. CEC ranged from 108 to 162 cmol·kg−1 (meq·100 g). Averaged overall samples, BS ranged from 15% to 71% of CEC and calcium accounted for 68%, magnesium for 25%, sodium for 5%, and potassium for 1.4% of BS. CEC was positively correlated to the amount of Sphagnum fuscum (Schimp.) Klingrr. in the sample (r = 0.22). BS was positively correlated to the amount of sedge (r = 0.28). Neither CEC nor BS was influenced by degree of decomposition (r = 0.002 and r = 0.08, respectively). Moss peats with high CEC have a greater buffering capacity than those with low CEC, resulting in less pH drift. Moss peats with high BS should have a low neutralization requirement to achieve a target pH. Understanding the species composition in peat-based substrates can alleviate problems of inconsistent initial pH and subsequent pH drift.

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1124D-1124
Author(s):  
Janet F. M. Rippy ◽  
Paul V. Nelson ◽  
Ted Bilderback

Problems of inconsistent initial pH in peat moss-based substrates that are created using standard formulas for limestone additions, and pH drift from the target in those substrates may be due to variations in the CEC and BS of peat moss. This study was conducted to determine whether such variation exists. Sixty-four peat moss samples were obtained from several bogs across Alberta, Canada. Adsorbed cations on each peat moss sample were displaced with hydrochloric acid (HCl), and flushed out with three deionized water washes. The displacing/flushing solution was collected and later analyzed for concentration of bases (Ca, Mg, K, and Na) using atomic absorption spectrometry. After cations were removed, the peat moss exchange sites were saturated with barium acetate [Ba(OAc)2] to displace the H+, which were then collected by a second flushing with deionized water. This second displacing/flushing solution was titrated with measured amounts of NaOH to a phenolphthalein end point. Base saturation and CEC were calculated. There were significant variations in CEC (ranging from 108.12 to 162.25 cmol·kg-1) and BS (ranging from 13.52% to 63.97% of CEC) among the peat moss samples. Ca accounted for 78.08% of the BS. For a given peat moss, the higher the BS, the lower the neutralization requirement to achieve a target pH. Also, high CEC peat mosses may have greater buffering capacity than those with low CEC, which may result in less pH drift.


2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zigomar Menezes de Souza ◽  
José Marques Júnior ◽  
Gener Tadeu Pereira ◽  
Diogo Mazza Barbieri

Soils with small variations in relief and under the same management system present differentiated spatial variabilities of their attributes. This variability is a function of soil position in the landscape, even if the relief has little expression. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of relief shape and depth on spatial variability of soil chemical attributes in a Typic Hapludox cultivated with sugar cane at two landscape compartments. Soil samples were collected in the intercrossing points of a grid, in the traffic line, at 0-0.2 m and 0.6-0.8 m depths, comprising a set of 100 georeferenced points. The spatial variabilities of pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, cation exchange capacity and base saturation were quantified. Small relief shape variations lead to differentiated variability in soil chemical attributes as indicated by the dependence on pedoform found for chemical attributes at both 0-0.2 m and 0.6-0.8 m depths. Because of the higher variability, it is advisable to collect large number of samples in areas with concave and convex shapes. Combining relief shapes and geostatistics allows the determination of areas with different spatial variability for soil chemical attributes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-26
Author(s):  
Miodrag Tolimir ◽  
Branka Kresović ◽  
Borivoj Pejić ◽  
Katarina Gajić ◽  
Angelina Tapanarova ◽  
...  

The impact of long-term (> 100 yr) irrigation on soil chemical properties was studied on eight plots in the Beli Drim river valley in Kosovo and Metohija near Klina, Serbia. For these studies, soil samples from shallow profiles were collected from only one or two depth zones of the Ah horizon; and from moderately deep and deep profiles, from two to three depth zones for the purpose of comparing irrigated field and non-irrigated meadow lands. Water from the Beli Drim River and surface gravity systems (irrigation furrows or border strip irrigation) were used for irrigation. Chemical variables included determination of pH-H2O, content of CaCO3, content of humus, hydrolytic acidity, sum of basic cations, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation. On irrigated soils, the results of chemical analysis showed on average a small increase in pH-H2O (0.07 pH units), as well as a significant decrease in humus content (2.00-4.75%), sum of basic cations (4.98-12.98%) and cation exchange capacity (12.8%) compared to the non-irrigated land of the study area. Long-term irrigation had no effect on hydrolytic acidity and base saturation in the Ah horizon of the investigated lands. Namely, the mentioned variations in the chemical properties of the investigated soils show that slight processes of reduction in the humus content and reduction of the content of base cations occured. Data on the chemical properties of the investigated soils indicate that the destructive processes of reduction in the humus content and leaching of base cations must be controlled in order to achieve a stable sustainable system of high productivity and prevent their further deterioration.


1961 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
JS Russell

Changes in the cation exchange complex are one of the secondary effects arising out of the increasing organic matter content of soils, due to the influence of phosphorus fertilizers on leguminous pastures. Analysis of solonetzic soils from the long-term Kybybolite P plots indicates that there is a close relation between organic matter increase and increases in cation exchange capacity. For each increase of 0.1 % soil nitrogen, there has been a corresponding increase of 3.48 m-equiv.jl00 g in cation exchange capacity. Associated with these changes there have been increases in the level of exchangeable calcium and exchangeable hydrogen. Changes in exchangeable calcium appear related to the amount and form of fertilizer or amendment applied. Where little calcium has been added, the increase in cation exchange capacity has been satisfied almost entirely by hydrogen, and base saturation has decreased. There appears to have been little upward movement of metal cations from the lower horizons to the surface by plants, possibly owing to the species involved, or to the intractable nature of the B horizon. The possible effects of changes in the cation exchange complex on plant growth are discussed. Also, the possibility of maintaining base saturation on infertile soils where cation exchange capacity is being increased, is examined.


2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Zake ◽  
J. Y. Z. Kitungulu ◽  
H. Busurwa ◽  
F. Kyewaze

Wetlands are not wastelands but wealth lands, which are widely distributed throughout Uganda currently covering 11% of the total land area. They are accessible to a large proportion of the population. As the country's population grows, people increasingly convert wetlands for other land uses such as farming, settlement among others thus making it difficult to enforce legislation for their protection, sustainable management and utilization. Their profound importance to both humans and wildlife calls for a concerted effort to ensure their sustainable utilization and attempts should be made to promote sustainable development of such wetlands with adequate considerations being given to human and environmental requirements. This study was therefore carried out to determine the effect of drainage on organic matter levels and on soil chemical changes in wetland soils in eastern Uganda around the Lake Victoria basin. Secondly, to assess potential lime requirements for drained wetland soils in eastern Uganda around the Lake Victoria basin, this would reflect on wetland soil buffering capacity. In green house studies it was found that drainage of wetland soils led to a reduction of organic matter relative to soil structure and where sulfur and iron were present in large amounts, drainage caused decrease in soil pH to moderately acidic levels; but in cases where exchangeable bases were present in large amounts there was an increase in soil pH. Lime requirements were greater where the amount of clay, organic matter and cation exchange capacity were high. Consequently, such wetland soils had a high buffering capacity. It was concluded that wetland soils should be characterized in terms of potential of acidification, level of organic matter, nutrient content, cation exchange capacity, soil texture and levels of trace elements. Decisions to drain or not to drain should depend on these parameters and other socio-economic considerations for the area.


1961 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 755 ◽  
Author(s):  
CJ Asher ◽  
PG Ozanne

The cation exchange capacity (C.E.C.) of the roots of 20 plant species was measured by a rapid technique not involving toxic reagents or harmful temperatures. Significant differences between the root C.E.C. of various species were found, and with three exceptions, legumes > herbs > grasses. Nitrogen supply had little effect on the legumes and herbs, but significantly increased the C.E.C. of two grasses. The concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in the tops of plants utilizing rock phosphate were each positively correlated with root C.E.C. The concentration of phosphorus was not greater in the tops of plants with relatively large root systems.


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