A correlative study of the chemical and physical properties of a group of natural soils of Israel

Abstract

Data on the chemical and physical properties, i.e., cation exchange capacity, organic matter content, CaCO 3 content, clay, silt and sand percentages, moisture content at the hygroscopic, 15 atm, 1/3 atm. and saturated paste states and specific surface area, of a group of soil samples from various locations, representing the main soil types of Israel, were subjected to statistical analysis in order to determine the correlation between pairs of properties, and to formulate quantitative regression equations for the properties that are significantly correlated. Cation exchange capacity was highly correlated with clay content. Organic matter and CaCO 3 usually showed small correlation coefficients with the other properties included in the study. The mechanical composition was correlated with both the physical and the chemical properties. The various moisture content “constants” were significantly correlated among themselves and with the chemical properties of the soil. Specific surface area was found to be a valuable characteristic of soils. Because of its simplicity, as well as its prediction value, it is suggested as a key determination for use in the quantitative characterization of soils.