Study on pH in water and potassium chloride for Bulgarian soils

Abstract

Soil pH is commonly measured in water pH(H₂O) or pH(KCl). The relationship between pH(H₂O) and pH(KCl) across all Bulgarian soils were investigated and results examining the effect of soil type on the relationship were presented. Several functions were used to estimate dependence between the two measures. For all soils and depths, a linear regression accounted for 95.32% of the variation, which predicts pH(KCl) very well. From the analysis of data follows that they were differentiated into three clusters.

Keywords

• Soil pH,soil database,cluster analysis

References

1. Ahem, C.R., Baker, D.E., Aitken, R.L., 1995. Models for relating pH measurements in water and calcium chloride for a wide range of pH, soil types and depths. Plant and Soil 171(1): 47-52.
2. Duignan, B., 2017. Occam’s razor. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Available at [access date: 26.03.2018]: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Occams-razor
3. Gavriloaei, T., 2012. The influence of electrolyte solutions on soil pH measurements. Revista de Chimie 63(4): 396-400.
4. Gyurov G., Artinova, N., 2015. Soil Science. Intelexpert-94 Ltd Ood Publishing House, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. 258 p. [in Bulgarian].
5. Kabakchiev I., Georgiev, B., Bojinova, P., 1985. Map of the land evaluation for crop production. N. Poushkarov Institute of Soil Science and Agroecology, Sofia, Bulgaria. [in Bulgarian].
6. Kabała, C., Musztyfaga, E., Gałka, B., Łabuńska, D., Mańczyńska, P., 2016. Conversion of soil pH 1:2.5 KCl and 1:2.5 H2O to 1:5 H2O: Conclusions for soil management, environmental monitoring, and international soil databases. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 25(2): 647-653.
7. Minasny B., McBratney, A.B., Brough, D.M., Jacquier, D., 2011. Models relating soil pH measurements in water and calcium chloride that incorporate electrolyte concentration. European Journal of Soil Science 62(5): 728-732.
8. Ninov N., Yolevski, M., Kukularov, P., 1975. Ecological characterization of experimental fields. N. Poushkarov Institute of Soil Science and Agroecology, Sofia, Bulgaria. 193p. [in Bulgarian].

9. Soil Survey Staff, 1993. Soil survey manual. Chapter 3 Examination and Description of Soil Profiles. C. Ditzler, K. Scheffe, H.C. Monger (Eds.). United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Handbook 18. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. USA. Available at [access date: 26.03.2018]: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcs142p2_054253
10. Spurway, C.H., 1941. Soil reaction (pH) preferences of plants. Michigan State University Agricultural Experiment Station. Special Bulletin Vol. 306. 36p.
11. Teoharov M., Sv. Popandova, R. Kancheva, T. Atanasova, V. Tsolova, M. Banov, P. Ivanov, E. Filcheva, R. Ilieva. 2009. Reference database for soils in Bulgaria. N. Poushkarov Institute of Soil Science and Agroecology, Poni Publishing House, Sofia, Bulgaria. 416p. [in Bulgarian].
12. Yolevski, M., 1986. Study, maintenance and enhancement of soil fertility, restoration of damaged land. Conservation and Effective Use of Soil Resources in Bulgaria, Discussion, June 27, 1985, 18-24. NRC, BPD, Sofia, Bulgaria. [in Bulgarian].
13. Yolevski, M., A. Hadzhiyanakiev, Y. Georgieva, I. Kabakchiev. 1980. Map of the soil agro-ecological regions in Bulgaria at a scale of 1:600,000. KIPP Cartography, Sofia, Bulgaria. [in Bulgarian].