Division of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, University College of Agriculture, Calcutta University, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta, 700 019.
Three soil series of Ganga basin catchment (Inceptisols) having gradients in soil physical and chemical properties were studied to relate SO42- sorption and desorption to soil properties. The sorption capacity of soils varied widely and followed the order: Charudihi > Punsia > Baisarhi series. The sulphate sorption isotherm followed both Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The amounts of sulphate extracted by KH2PO4 (500 mg P L−1) varied considerably among the soils and increased with increasing amounts of sulphate sorbed. The fraction of added sulphate recovered by the extractant depended upon sulphate sorption capacity (b).
Sulphate sorption capacity, sulphate affinity constant, sulphate maximum buffering capacity, Inceptisols
