Title

Estimates of Soil Solution Ionic Strength and the Determination of pH in West Australian Soils

Author Info

P. J. Dolling, University of Western Australia
G. S.P. Ritchie, University of Western AustraliaFollow

Recommended Citation

Postprint version. Published in Australian Journal of Soil Research, Volume 23, Issue 2, January 1, 1985, pages 309-314.

NOTE: At the time of publication, the author G.S.P. Ritchie was not yet affiliated with Cal Poly.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1071/SR9850309.

Abstract

The average ionic strength of 20 West Australian soils was found to be 0.0048. The effects of three electrolytes (deionized water, CaCl₂ and KNO₃), three ionic strengths (0.03, 0.005 and soil ionic strength at field capacity, I_s) and two soil liquid ratios (1:5 and 1:10) on the pH of 15 soils were investigated. pH measurements in solutions of ionic strength 0.005 differed the least from measurements made at I_s. The differences that occurred in comparisons with distilled water or CaCl₂ of ionic strength 0.03 (0.01 M) were much greater (≥0.4 pH units). An extractant with an ionic strength of 0.005 may provide a more realistic measure of pH in the field than distilled water or 0.01 M CaCl₂ for West Australian soils.

Disciplines

Food Science | Nutrition

Copyright

1985 Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIRO)