*Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
Department of Soils and Agricultural Chemistry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, 751003
Breakthrough curves of Ca2+ stemming from leaching of CaCO3 amended acid lateritic soil (Typic Haplustult) were studied in the laboratory before conducting a leaching experiment in the field. The results obtained with soil columns and undisturbed cores revealed that the Ca2+ recovered in the leachate when CaCO2 (powder) was mixed with the soil was three times compared with that when it was dusted on the surface. On a small field plot under saturation, CaCO3 (powder) was dusted and leaching with tube-well water continued for 12 hours. Concentration of Ca2+ in soil solution was determined in samples collected periodically. The amount of calcium recovered at 25 cm depth was equivalent to about 150 kg CaCO3/ha and at 55 cm it was 100kg/ha following the percolation of 28cm of water.
Breakihrough curve, Ultisol, calcium displacement, leachate, percolation
