Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4hhp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-02T10:51:40.741Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Studies on soil reaction: III. The determination of the hydrogenion concentration of soil suspensions by means of the hydrogen electrode

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Edward M. Crowther
Edward M. Crowther
Affiliation:
Soil Physics Department, Rothamsted Experimental Station.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

A hydrogen electrode apparatus for soils is described. Similar or adjacent soils may show considerable differences in pH value, with no changes in their degrees of buffer action, as shown in titration curves with lime water. In such cases the conventional “lime requirements” are correlated with the pH values, but no such relation holds in dissimilar soils. The pH value of a soil suspension is intimately connected with the nature and amount of the cations present. Neutral salts markedly increase the hydrogen ion concentration of both acid and slightly alkaline soils. Sodium salts, including the hydroxide, give lower hydrogenion concentrations than the corresponding potassium or calcium salts, and chlorides give lower pH values than sulphates. The degree of buffer action (slope of titration curve) is unaffected by the addition of a neutral salt. Previous extraction of a soil with water causes a considerable increase i n the pH value of its suspensions. A number of soils showed a regular increase of about 0·1 in pH. value for twofold dilution. The “salt effect” and “dilution” effect appear to be of the same type. It is recommended that the soil-water ratio of 1:5 be generally adopted. The indicator methyl red gives erroneous pH values in turbid soil suspensions owing to the absorption of the red form, which is apparently a cation capable of undergoing “base exchange” with the soil.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , April 1925 , pp. 201 - 221
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1925

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

page 201 note 1 Fisher, E. A., Journ. Agric. Sci. 11, 19–44, 45–65, 1921.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 201 note 2 Spurway, C. H., Michigan Quarterly Bulletin, 6, 93, 1924.Google Scholar

page 201 note 3 Gimingham, C. T., Journ. Agric. Sci. 13, 69–73, 1923.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 201 note 4 Clark, W. M., Determination of Hydrogen Ions, 2nd edition, Baltimore, 1922.Google Scholar

page 202 note 1 Clark, W. M., loc. cit.Google Scholar

page 202 note 2 Ylppö, A.pH Tabellen. Berlin, 1917.Google Scholar

page 204 note 1 Koehler, A. E., J. Biol. Chem. 41, 619–20, 1920.Google Scholar

page 208 note 1 Crowther, E. M., IV. This Journal, pp. 222–231.Google Scholar

page 208 note 2 Eden, T.Journ. of Ecology, 12, 267–286, 1924.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 210 note 1 Crowther, E. M., IV. This Journal, pp. 222–231.Google Scholar

page 210 note 2 Crowther, E.M. and Martin, W. S., VI. This Journal, pp. 237–255.Google Scholar

page 211 note 1 Hissink, D. J., Int. Mitt. Bod. 12, 81–172, 1922; Trans. Far. Soc. 1925.Google Scholar

page 211 note 2 Gedroiz, K. K.. Papers in translation, supplied by C. S. Scofield, U.S. Dept. of Agric.Google Scholar

page 211 note 3 Wiegner, G., Die Boden und Bodenbildung, 1920.Google Scholar

page 211 note 4 Bjerrum, N., Die Theorie der alkalimetrischen und azidimelrischen Titrierung. Stuttgart, 1914.Google Scholar

page 211 note 5 Kuster, , Z. f. anorg. Chem. 13, 135, 1897.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 215 note 1 Wiegner, G., Gallay, R. and Gessner, H., Koll. Zeits. 35, 313–323, 1924.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 216 note 1 Crowther, E. M., IV. This Journal, p. 224.Google Scholar

page 218 note 1 Salter, R. M. and Morgan, M. F., Journ. Phys. Chem. 27, 117–140, 1923.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 220 note 1 Bradfield, R., Journ. Amer. Chem. Soc. 45, 2669, 1923CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Journ. Phys. Chem. 28, 170, 1924.Google Scholar