An Equipment and Software for Improved Estimation of Soil Acidity

Abstract

For estimating the lime requirement (LR) in some countries it is accepted to use hydrolytic acidity suggested by Kappen, which is based on a single time extraction of hydrogen- and aluminum ion with calcium acetate. More accurate results could be achieved if we measured the total surface acidity (TSA) of soils. For this reason it is an improvement to use a direct measurement method and equipment, which is suitable to estimate the results of long-term processes and TSA, via investigating the kinetic properties of desorption. The method of measurement: A pH electrode is dipped into continuously stirred soil suspension containing background salt (e.g. KCl), and it isconnected to a computer using an amplifier and A/D converter. A computer program has been developed that controls an automatic burette, which adds the base solution into the system if pH is less than the pre-adjusted value (e.g. pH 6.5 or pH 6.8) and stops adding when pH reaches this value. For evaluation, the amount of added base vs.time data series can be used. With increasing time the amount of added base keeps to a constant (asymptotic) value. The program fits an exponential associate function on measured data, and outputs the asymptotic value connected to infinite time, which can be used to calculate LR. Supposing that there are two processes with different rates, in this case the function can be created as the addition of two first order kinetic sub-processes: The faster process that takes place on the outer surfaces features easily removable acidity, and the slower process probably describes processes within the deeper pores. The fitting error of parameters is about 0.3-1%, which means that the TSA value, based on these measured data and method can be estimated with high accuracy. The measurement is fully automated. The evaluation is based on extrapolation, so the precision of results increases with the number of measurement points and the length of measurement time. Depending on the application, a quick measurement with approximate results or a longer measurement with more precise results can be chosen.