Thermodynamic potassium in Iraqi ‎soils

Authors

Ahmed Al-Zubaidi, Bagdad University, IraqFollow
Shatha Al-Rubaie, Bagdad University, IraqFollow

Abstract

In order to characterize the status and behavior of potassium in Iraqi soils thermodynamically, ‎twenty eight surface soil samples were collected from different locations to represent the ‎most dominant soil groups in Itrg (put thin names) Chemical, physical and mineralogical ‎characteristics were determined. The potassium forms of soluble, exchangeable, non - ‎exchangeable, mineral and elemental were determined. Thermodynamic parameters related ‎to potassium such as ionic strength, activity coefficient of potassium, activity ratio (K⁺: Ca^{2 +} + ‎Mg^{2 +}) and the free energy of replacement (DF) of K⁺: Ca² + mg²⁺ were determined or ‎calculated. The quantity - intensity curves of K⁺ were constructed, there the buffering capacity ‎and labile pool K values were calculated from these curves. The results showed the studied ‎soil sample differed in the thermodynamic parameter values in spite pf their similarity in the ‎content of exchangeable potassium. The thermodynamic parameters were better expressing ‎the supply power of potassium in comparison with the classical parameter exchangeable ‎potassium probably due to differences in texture and mineralogical compositions. Based on ‎the values of free energy and buffering capacity of potassium, the studied soils, were ‎classified into different categories. It was concluded that the thermodynamic parameters can ‎be successfully used to describe the statue and behavior of potassium in agricultural soils. ‎Therefore it is recommended to use such parameters for soil potassium management for short ‎and long terms of cropping

Recommended Citation

Al-Zubaidi, Ahmed and Al-Rubaie, Shatha (2006) "Thermodynamic potassium in Iraqi ‎soils," Jerash for Research and Studies Journal مجلة جرش للبحوث والدراسات: Vol. 7: Iss. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/jpu/vol7/iss1/2