MICRODIFFUSION METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF SMALL AMOUNT OF CARBONATE IN NONCALCAREOUS SOILS - DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION

Generally in areas with a humid climate, soils do not contain carbonates of Ca and Mg and the ionic concentration in the soil solution is relatively low. Even in such areas, however, soluble and sparingly soluble salts tend to accumulate in greenhouse soils due to intensive fertilizer application and near complete cut off of precipitation. The accumulation of the salts often results in unbalanced base status and high osmotic pressure of the soil solution, which may damage crops. Therefore, monitoring exchangeable base status and ionic composition of soil solution and regulation of fertilizer application based on the analytical data are needed to sustain high yield and high quality of horticultural crops. © 1995 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.