Release of Calcium and Magnesium in Arid Zone Soils of Punjab and its Description using Different Mathematical Models

In a laboratory experiment, the release of Ca+Mg was studied involving a Typic Calciorthid and Typic Ustochrept samples collected from arid and semiarid tracts of Punjab in northwest India. The release of Ca+Mg from dissolution of minerals and exchange sites increased with increasing salt concentration and equilibrium time resulting in the decrease in sodium adsorption ratio of equilibrating solution. Release of Ca+Mg was higher from Typic Calciorthid. The total amount of Ca+Mg released from dissolution of soil minerals could be described by the parabolic diffusion law, first order and power function kinetic models. The instantaneous rate of Ca+Mg release rate was lower in Typic Ustochrept and increased with increase in NaCl concentration.