Studies on the Mobility of Some Anions in Soils as Measured by Soil Thin Layer Chromatography

Mobility of some anions, viz. carbonate, sulphide, phosphate and molybdate was studied in three soils using soil thin layer chromatography. The effects of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition by 30% H₂O₂ soil pH,size of the soil particles and cation saturation of soils was observed. The mobility (R₁ value) of anions in soil followed the order: sulphide> molybdate> carbonate> phosphate in Hirapur fine sandy loam (Hfsl) and Basiaram silt loam (Bsil) soils. Whilst, in Itwa silt loam (Isil) soil, the sulphide mobility reduced. The decomposition of SOM, size of the soil particles, soil pH and exchageable cations have been found to alter the R₁ values of all the anions-significamly. The resultswere explained on the basis of solubility and their adsorption characteristics over all colloids.