CERTAIN EQUILIBRIUM ION RATIOS FOR A SOLONETZIC SOIL.

A method is described for determining the true equilibrium soil solution for a saline soil adjusted to various moisture contents by interpolation of ion ratios in solution before and after equilibration. Over the moisture range studied, equilibrium values were different at each moisture content. The ionic strengths of the equilibrium solutions were considered to be too high for calculation of activity coefficient and therefore concentration ratios were used instead of activity ratios. The ionic strength and ion ratios for the soil equilibrium solutions changed gradually over the moisture range 35 to 100 per cent, but abruptly over the lower moisture range (5 to 35 per cent). The expression log(Na)-½ log(Ca) is regarded as being particularly important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]