THE LIME POTENTIAL – PERCENT BASE SATURATION RELATIONS OF ACID SURFACE HORIZONS OF MINERAL AND ORGANIC SOILS

Abstract

Values of the lime potential, corrected for the varying magnitude of the ionic product (Al) (OH) 3 , and the degree of base saturation based on the cations extracted with NaCl from acid Ah and Ap horizons of mineral soils and from surface samples of mucks and peats, agreed closely with the curve calculated for the titration of Al bentonite with Ca(OH) 2 . The peat and muck samples, although strongly acid, had percent base saturation values over 88% owing to the low values of the ionic product (Al) (OH) 3 in the aqueous extracts of these organic soils.