EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 319 



STUDIES ON THE REACTIONS BETWEEN SOILS AND VARIOUS 



CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS 



Technical Bulletin No. 51 



BY C. H. -SPURWAY, SOIDS SECTION 



TIITE PIROBLrEM 



Investigations on the solubility of soils and effects of soluble salt treat- 

 ments on the solubility of soils, rock powders and miscellaneous materials 

 have been undertaken in this laboratory and some of the results have been 

 puljlished. See Bouyoucos and McCool (1), Bouyoucos and Laudeman 

 (2), McCool and Millar (5) and Bouyoucos (3, 4). Chemical analyses of 

 several soil extracts from various treatments have been made. Spurway 

 (7) showing immediate and residuary effects from a general chemical stand- 

 point. In order to more accurately interpret the reactions between soils 

 and chemicals commonly applied as fertilizers, however, it was considered 

 necessary to extend the researches to a study of the effects of these com- 

 pounds on soils of different kinds, bearing in mind the nature of the soils 

 as well as the character of the fertilizer salts and other compounds used. 

 Accordingly a study of fixation in soils of different classes, acid and alkaline 

 to litimus paper was undertaken in an attempt to determine, if possible, 

 the nature of the reactions and soil components involved and to throw more 

 light on the phenomena of jSxation in soils and its practical significance 

 particularly with respect to the disposition of nutrient elements of applied 

 fertilizers in various soil classes. 



Whatever may be the true explanation of the processes involved in these 

 reactions it is apparent that further progress in this line of work depends 

 in a large measure on increasing our knowledge concerning the chemical 

 constitution of soils, and the practical significance of various soil components, 

 and devising methods for quantitative determinations of these components. 



IIISTORICATi 



A review of the literature concerning the effects of chemical compounds 

 on soils and various other materials particularly with respect to the phe- 

 nomena known as "adsorption"; "absorption" and "fixation and exchange 

 of bases" revealed the fact that considerable work had been done by in- 

 vestigators working along these lines. These investigations have brought 

 forth many valuable basic data establishing principles by abundant proofs, 

 together with a number of conflicting results and opinions. After studying 

 the work of many investigators pertaining to the subject at hand the author 

 was led to conclude that when conflicting results occurred they were prob- 

 ably due to the use of various substances of dissimilar chemical composition, 

 in conjunction with chemical compounds of different classes, and also to 

 the use of a diversity of methods. 



Because of the fact that reviews of this literature have been made in con- 



