A Simple Titrimetric Method for Determination of Inorganic Carbon in Soils

Abstract

A simple method of determining inorganic carbon in soils is described. The soil sample is treated with 2M HCl at room temperature for 16–24 hours in a stoppered bottle containing 2M KOH in a small beaker, and the CO₂ released from carbonates by this treatment is determined by titration of the KOH solution with standard HCl. The method is accurate and precise, and tests reported indicate that it is not subject to interference by organic soil consituents. It gives quantitative results with carbonate standards, and its results with soils agree closely with those obtained by the methods proposed by Allison and by Anderson and Harris.