546 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XI, No. ii 
One per cent of sodium carbonate was added to a portion of the third 
layer of silt-loam soil taken from the closed containers and \he second 
layer of sand, respectively. They were then moistened and let stand 
for five days in closed containers. At the end of this period the parts 
per million of the bases calcium and magnesium in the extracts were 
determined, the results obtained being given in Table XVI. It is notable 
that the addition of the sodium carbonate resulted in an appreciable de¬ 
crease in the amount of these readily soluble bases, probably changing 
them from the chlorids to the carbonates. 
TabIvE XVI.— Changes in the composition of the soil solution induced by the addition of 
sodium carbonate 
Soils. 
Iron and aluminium. 
Calcium. 
Magnesium. 
Before add¬ 
ing sodium 
carbonate. 
After add¬ 
ing sodium 
carbonate. 
Before add¬ 
ing sodium 
carbonate. 
Alter add¬ 
ing sodium 
carbonate. 
Before add¬ 
ing sodium 
carbonate. 
After add¬ 
ing sodium 
carbonate. 
Silt loam. 
Trace. 
... do.... 
P . p. m. 
70. 00 
102. 00 
P. p. m. 
60. 50 
61. 90 
P. p. m. 
16. 66 
27. 76 
P, p. tn. 
14 - 43 
6. 20 
P. p. m. 
6-55 
2. 79 
Sand. 
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS 
We have presented experimental data which show that soluble salts 
are translocated from regions of high to those of lower concentration 
in moist soils when inclosed in sealed containers; and in case of silt 
loam in the open containers upward movement is very rapid and the 
downward translocation is marked, the water movement evidently 
decreasing the downward translocation. We are at loss to account for 
the contradictory report of Muntz and Gaudechon, unless the methods 
employed failed to detect the changes that may have taken place in 
the nitrate content of the soil. In case of the potassium chlorid, the 
lack of movement reported may have been and probably was due to the 
retention of the potassium by the soil, other bases being forced into the 
solution. 
As stated in the introduction, such movements are to be expected, 
especially if the moisture coats the soil particles in the form of films, in 
view of the fact that diffusion of salts take place in solution, but on the 
other hand the movement may not be and probably is not due wholly 
to diffusion. It does not seem untenable to assume that the reactions 
which take place when salts are added to the soil play their r 61 e. A given 
base coming in contact with a particle or a group of particles may be 
held and others liberated, adjacent particles may not be satisfied, so far 
as one or more of these bases are concerned, and by removing them from 
solution may aid in the translocation of soluble material in the soil. 
