350 SOILS: PBOPEBTIES AND MANAGEMENT 



tained, but the less the total quantity absorbed. Peters ^ 

 treated 100 grams of soil with 250 cubic centimeters of a 

 solution of potassium salts, and found that the potassium 

 of different salts was retained in different proportions, 

 and that the stronger solutions lost relatively less than 

 the weaker, while more potassium was removed from the 

 stronger solutions. 



Strength 



OF 



Solution 



t^ff Normal 



2^ff Normal 



Grams K2O absorbed 



Grams K2O absorbed 



KCl 



K2SO4 



K2CO4 



0.3124 

 0.3362 

 0.5747 



0.1990 

 0.2098 

 0.3134 



The same bases are not always absorbed in the same 

 proportion by different soils ; one soil may have a greater 

 absorptive power for potassium, while another may re- 

 tain relatively more ammonia. They seem to be inter- 

 changeable, as any absorbed base may be released by 

 another in solution. The absorptive power of a soil for 

 certain bases is reflected in the composition of the drainage 

 water from the soil. The composition of the drainage 

 water varies with different soils, and a soluble fertilizer 

 applied to one soil will have a different effect on the com- 

 position of the drainage water than if applied to a different 

 soil. This is well illustrated from lysimeter experiments 

 by Gerlach^ at Bromberg. Several soils were used, 



1 Peters, E. Ueber die Absorption von Kali dureh Aeker- 

 erde. Landw. Vers. Stat., Band 2, Seite 113-151. 1860 



2 Gerlach, Dr. Uber die dureli siekerwasser dem Boden 

 Entzogenen Mange Wasser und Nakrstoffe. 111. Landw. Zei- 

 tung, 30 Jahrgange, Heft 95, Seite 871-881, 1910. 



