SOLONETZIC SOILS AND THEIR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AS INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT CATIONS

Abstract

Laboratory study of water movement in a Solonetz soil showed that the Ap horizon had an extremely low transmission rate that was almost as low as that of the Bn horizon. The low rate of water transmission was found to make it very difficult, if not impossible, to establish the 15-atm percent reliably with the pressure membrane apparatus. The addition of Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺ and NH₄⁺ increased the rate of water movement and improved the structure of the Bn horizon of various Solonetzic soils. The addition of Na⁺ had opposite effects.