Effect of water quality on exchange phase — solution phase behavior of three soils

Abstract

The effect of total electrolyte concentration (TEC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of water on ESR-SAR relationships of clay (Typic Haplustert), clay loam (Vertic Haplustept) and silt loam (Lithic Haplorthent) soils was studied in a laboratory experiment. Twenty four solutions, encompassing four TEC levels viz., 5, 10, 20, and 50 mmolc l—1 and six SAR levels viz., 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mmol1/2l—1/2 were synthesized to equilibrate the soil samples using pure chloride salts of calcium, magnesium, and sodium at Mg:Ca = 1:2. SAR of equilibrium solution decreased as compared to the equilibrating solution and more so in waters of low salt concentration and high SAR. At low electrolyte concentration, high SAR values were not attained in the equilibrium solution because of addition of calcium and magnesium from the mineral dissolution and from the exchange phase. Irrespective of TEC, exchangeable sodium in all the soils increased by about 4.5 to 5-fold and irrespective of SAR, it increased by about 1.4- to 1.8-fold. A positive interaction of TEC and SAR influenced the ESP build-up and CEC played a major role in the visual disparity in sodication of these soils. At higher TEC levels, considerable increase in ESP was observed when it was corrected for anion exclusion and more so in silt loam followed by clay loam and clay soils. The values for Gapons' constant were in the range 0.0110—0.0176, 0.0142—0.0246, and 0.0189—0.0344 mmol—1/2l1/2 in clay, clay loam, and silt loam soils, respectively. Increase in TEC from 5 to 50 mmolc l—1 resulted in 5.84, 8.33, and 9.77 % decrease in Gapons' constant of clay, clay loam, and silt loam soils, respectively. The soils exhibited differential affinity for Ca2+, Mg2+ or Na+ under different quality waters. Regression coefficients of ESR-SAR relationship were lower for low TEC as compared with high TEC waters. The exchange equilibrium was strongly affected by TEC of the solution phase. Variation in soil pH was gradual with respect to TEC and SAR of equilibrating solution and no sharp change was observed. Soluble salt concentration was doubled upon equilibration with low salt waters at all SAR levels in all the soils. However, the salt concentration remained unchanged upon equilibration with high salt waters. Considering pH 8.5 a boundary between soil salinity and sodicity, ESP values attained at TEC 5 mmolc l—1 were 7.34, 8.02, and 14.32 for clay, clay loam, and silt loam soils, respectively.