Thermal diffusion of water and aqueous salt solution in soils

The thermal diffusion studies of water and aqueous solutions of copper sulphate and zinc sulphate were conducted in Entisols and Inceptisols of West Bengal. The heat of transport (Q^*) values were determined at several mean temperatures, and all were found to be positive, exhibiting increase with rise in temperatures. The Q^* values have been interpreted in terms of changes in the ‘local’ degree of ordering of water molecules of the soil as compared to that in the bulk phase (i.e. outside the soil). Attempts have been made to correlate the heat of transport and heat capacity of transport (C^*) values to the characteristic ion-solvent (water) and soil-water interactions to the given soils.