Soil reaction

Soil reaction

Soil reaction is one of the most important physiological characteristics of the soil solution. The presence and development of micro- organisms and higher plants depend upon the chemical environment of soil. There fore study of soil reaction is important in soil science.

There are three types of soil reactions: 1. Acidic 2. Alkaline and 3. Neutral

1. Acidic: It is common in region where precipitation is high. The high precipitation leaches appreciable amounts of exchangeable bases from the surface layers of the soils so that the exchange complex is dominated by H ions. Acid soils, therefore, occur widely in humid regions and affect the growth of plants markedly.

2. Alkaline: Alkali soils occur when there is comparatively high degree of base saturation. Salts like carbonates of calcium, magnesium and sodium also give a preponderance of OH ions over H ions in the soil solution. When salts of strong base such as sodium carbonate go into soil solution and hydrolyze, consequently they give rise to alkalinity. The reaction is as follows:
Na2CO3 -----à 2Na + + CO3=
2Na+ + CO3= + 2HOH -----à 2Na+ + 2OH - + H2CO3
since sodium hydroxide dissociates to a greater degree than the carbonic acid, OH ions dominate and give rise to alkalinity. This may be as high as 9 or 10. These soils most commonly occur in arid and semi-arid regions.

3. Neutral: Neutral soils occur in regions where H ions just balance OH ions.

Soil pH: The reaction of a solution represents the degree of acidity or basicity caused by the relative concentration of H ions (acidity) or OH ions present in it. Acidity is due to the excess of H ions over OH ions, and alkalinity is due to the excess of OH ions over H ions. A neutral reaction is produced by an equal activity of H and OH ions. According to the theory of dissociation, the activity is due to the dissociation or ionization of compounds into ions.

Current Category » Introduction to Soil Science