Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, 751003
*Corresponding author
Effect of pH and lime on sulphate adsorption was investigated in five Alfisols of Orissa. Sulphate adsorption decreased with increase in equilibrium pH of the SO42− solutions added. Distribution coefficient of SO42−-S decreased sharply with increase in equilibrium pH indicating that the SO42− adsorption in these soils was highly pH-dependent. Liming the soils by Woodruff's buffer method increased the pH in different soils ranging between 7.3 and 8.1 and caused a drastic reduction in SO42− adsorption varying from 60 to 93.5% in different soils. There were significant reductions in Freundlich K, Langmuir adsorption maxima, equilibrium buffering capacity and maximum buffering capacity of the soils after liming.
Alfisols, liming, sulphate, adsorption, distribution coefficient of SO42−-S, Freundlich and Langmuir constants, equilibrium buffering capacity, maximum buffering capacity
