Sulphate Sorption-Desorption Characteristics in Relation to Properties of Some Acid Soils

A study was undertaken to relate sulphate sorption and desorption characteristics of four acid soils viz. Oxic Haplustalf, Typic Haplomox, Aerie Haplaquept and Typic Haplustalf with the soil properties. The sorption capacity of soils varied widely among the soils and Typic Haplomox showed the maximum sulphate sorption capacity followed by Typie Haplustalf, Oxic Haplustalfand Aerie Haplaquept. Such differences in the sulphate sorption capacity of the soils were attributed to differences in their soil pH and concentrations of amorphous and crystalline Fe and AI, organic carbon and native water and phosphate extractable sulphate pools. Desorption study showed that sulphate desorbed varied widely among the four soils and the mean recovery was the highest in Aeric Haplaquept followed by Typic Haplustalf, Typic Haplomox and Oxic Haplustalf.