A Study of the Properties of Molybdenum in Everglades Peat

Abstract

AbstractAnalyses of samples of Everglades peat from the vicinity of Lake Apopka, Fla., showed a tenfold variation in total molybdenum between fields, while the water‐extractable molybdenum varied from 0.017 to 2.60 ppm. on the basis of the weight of oven‐dry peat. The water‐extractable fraction was found in appreciable quantity at all depths. Subsequent leaching with other extracting solutions used in sequence on the same samples, showed the following range of values expressed as ppm. Mo of the oven‐dry peat: one sequence 0.017 to 1.10 using borax in the rate of 50 pounds per acre in water, and 0.22 to 0.37 in the leachate following addition of superphosphate at the rate of a ton per acre; another sequence 0.03 to 0.07 ppm. removed by neutral N NH4Ac, followed by 0.044 to 0.120 ppm. removed in the leachate using 0.05% hydroquinone in 50% alcohol, and finally 2.5 to 10 ppm. with 1 N NH4OH. Several materials were added to the peat on pasture areas, the rates being 750 pounds per acre each for kaolin, vermiculite fines, ball clay, colloidal phosphate, bauxite and attapulgite; 500 pounds per acre of a Krilium‐9 formulation and of sulfur powder; 200 pounds per acre of Krilium‐931 formulation; and 150 pounds of a manganese source material (Nu‐M) and of a copper source material (Tribasic copper sulfate). Of these materials attapulgite, Krilium, and bauxite reduced the water‐extractable and ammonium hydroxide‐extractable molybdenum in the peat and also significantly reduced the molybdenum content of the herbage. Attapulgite and perhaps bauxite offered a longer lasting and less expensive measure of controlling molybdenum availability than the sulfur or the Krilium formulations.