Tracer Diffusion of Potassium in Some Alfisols, Inceptisols and Entisols

Tracer diffusion studies were conducted to obtain the porous diffusion coefficient (D_p) of potassium (K) in four surface soils of different orders, having contrasting soil properties. The half-cell technique was used for obtaining the D_p values. The effect of a number of factors such as soil water content, bulk density and temperature on K diffusion were examined. Diffusion coefficient values increased in all the soils with increase in soil water content, bulk density and temperature. The tracer: background ratio and the supporting background electrolyte were also observed to exert significant effect in nearly all the cases. The findings have.been interpreted in terms of the interactions of diffusing potassium ions with the ‘local’ diffusion environment.