Electro-chemical charge characteristics of surface-subsurface region of selected soils in the tropics

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the relation between soil chemical, mineralogical properties and surface charge characteristics of selected tropical soils in West Bengal, India. The objectives of this study were to analyse the electro-chemical charge characteristics of surface-subsurface soils in accordance with point of zero charge (PZC) and pH-dependent charge. Subsoil’s generally have higher PZC than corresponding surface horizons and pH-dependent surface charges are maximum in upper layer than that of other. Relatively lower value of PZC (or pH₀) along the depth, mostly affected by organic matter, clay content free Fe and Al oxides. Result shows that PZC (or pH₀) values decrease with increasing organic matter content and increase with increase in sesquioxides content. The PZC of the charge-pH curves in Diamond Harbour soil (DH) (0-45cm) was on the acid side of the zero point titration indicate that the samples possess permanent negative charge and in Raigunj soil (RG) (30-45cm) was on basic side possess slight permanent positive charge. Amount of surface charge reduces along the depth (subsurface region) than corresponding surface region except in RG (30-45cm) due to considerable increase in positive charges by presence of various electrolyte or synthetic hematite as α-Fe₂O₃. PZC has the strong negative correlation with pH-dependent charge (r= -0.85707*) that supports the superiority of the present study. Regression value also supports the strong dependency of electrochemical surface charge on PZC and organic matter content of corresponding soil layers (R²= 0.971474).

Keywords

• Electro-chemical charge,surface-subsurface,soils,tropics

References

1. Anda, M., Shamshuddin, J. C., Fauziah, I., Omar, S.R.S., 2008. Mineralogy and factors controlling charge development of three Oxisols developed from different parent materials. Geoderma 143(1-2): 153–167.
2. Barale, M., Mansour, C., Carrette, F., Pavageau, E.M., Catalette, H., Lefèvre, G., Pavageau, E.M., Fedoroff, M. Cote, G., 2008. Characterization of the surface charge of oxide particles of PWR primary water circuits from 5 to 320 °C. Journal of Nuclear Materials 381(3): 302–308.
3. Bertsch, P.M., Bloom, P.R., 1996. Aluminum. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3 - Chemical Methods. Sparks, D.L., Page, A.L., Helmke, P.A., Loeppert, R.H., Soltanpour, P.N., Tabatabai, M.A., Johnston, C.T., Sumner, M.E. (Eds.). American Society of Agronomy Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, USA. pp. 517-550.
4. Bolan, N.S., Barrow, N.J., 1984. Modelling the effect of adsorption of phosphate and other anions on the surface charge of variable charge oxides. European Journal of Soil Science 35(2): 273–281.
5. Chapman, H.D., 1965. Cation exchange capacity. In: Methods of soil analysis Part 2 Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Black, C.A. (Ed.). Agronomy No. 9. American Society of Agronomy (ASA) – Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), Madison, Wisconsin, USA. pp. 891–901.
6. Clarke, F.E., 1950. Determination of chloride in water - Improved colorimetric and titrimetric methods. Analytical Chemistry 22(4): 553-555.
7. Fahrenhorst, C., Botschek, J., Skowronek, A., Ferraz, J., 1999. Application of gypsum and lime to increase cation adsorption of a Geric Ferralsol in the Brazilian Amazon region. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 162(1): 41–47.
8. Gallez, A., Juo, A.S.R., Herbillon, A., Moormann, F.R., 1975. Clay mineralogy of selected soils in southern Nigeria. Soil Science Society of America Journal 39(3): 577-585.

9. Gee, G.W., Bauder, J.W., 1986. Particle-size Analysis. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2, Chemical and Microbiological Properties, A.L. Page, R.H. Miller, D.R. Keeney (Eds.), 2nd Edition. Agronomy Monograph No. 9, American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America. Madison, Wisconsin, USA. pp. 383-411.
10. Hou, T., Xu, R., Tiwari, D., Zhao, A., 2007. Interaction between electrical double layers of soil colloids and Fe/Al oxides in suspensions. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 310(2): 670–674.
11. Keng, J.C.W., Uehara, G., 1973. Chemistry, mineralogy and taxonomy of Oxisols and Ultisols. Soil and Crop Science Society of Florida Proceedings 33: 119-126.
12. Khan, S.K., Kar, S., 2018. Surface charge is a function of organic carbon content and mineralogical compositions of soil. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 7(1): 59-63.
13. Li, S.Z., Xu, R.K., 2008. Electrical double layers' interaction between oppositely charged particles as related to surface charge density and ionic strength. Colloids and Surfaces A 326(3): 157–161.
14. Mekaru, T., Uehara, G., 1972. Anion adsorption in Ferruginous tropical soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 36(2): 296-300.
15. Metrological Department, 2018. Government of India, Regional Metrological Centre, Kolkata
16. Naidu, R., Syers, J.K., Tillman, R.W., Kirkman, J.H., 1990. Effect of liming and added phosphate on charge characteristics of acid soils. European Journal of Soil Science 41(1): 157–164.
17. Naidu, R., Bolans, N.S., Kookana, R.S., Tiller, K.G., 1994. Ionic‐strength and pH effects on the sorption of cadmium and the surface charge of soils. European Journal of Soil Science 45(4): 419–429.
18. National Soil Survey Center, 1996. Soil Survey Laboratory Methods Manual. U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Soil Survey Center, Soil Survey Laboratory. Soil Survey Investigation No. 42. Version J.
19. Nelson, D.W., Sommers, L.E., 1982. Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Page, A.L, Miller, R.H., Keeney, D.R. (Eds.). 2nd Edition. Agronomy Monograph, vol. 9. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI, USA. pp. 539-579.
20. Parks, G.A., 1967. Aqueous surface chemistry of oxides and complex oxide minerals.Isoelectric point and zero point of charge: in Eqilibrium concepts in Natural water system. Advances in Chemistry 67: 121-160.
21. Parks, G.A., de Bruyn, P.L., 1962. The zero point of charge of oxides. Journal of Physical Chemistry 66(6): 967-973.
22. Phillips, I.R., Sheehan, K.J., 2005. Importance of surface charge characteristics when selecting soils for wastewater re-use. Australian Journal of Soil Research 43(8): 915–927.
23. Qafoku, N.P., van Ranst, E., Noble, A., Baert, G., 2004. Variable charge soils: their mineralogy, chemistry and management. Advances in Agronomy 84: 159–215.
24. Sharami, S.M., Forghani, A., Akbarzadeh, A., Ramezanpour, H., 2010. Mineralogical characteristics and related surface charge fluctuations of some selected soils of temperate regions of northern Iran, Clay Minerals 45(3): 327–348.
25. Sparks, D.L., 1996. Methods of soil analysis Part 3 Chemical methods. Soil Science Society of America. Book Series No. 5. ASA, SSSA, Madison, WI, USA.
26. Sposito, G., 1981. The operational definition of the zero point of charge in soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 45(2): 292-297.
27. Sumner, M.E., Davidtz, J.C., 1965. Positive and negative charges in some Natal Soils. South African Journal of Agricultural Science 8(4): 1045-1050.
28. Uehara, G., Gillman, G.P., 1981. The Mineralogy, chemistry and physics of tropical soils with variable charge clays. Boulder, Colorado. Westview Press, Boulder, Colo, USA,
29. van Raij, B., Peech, M., 1972. Electrochemical properties of some oxisols and alfisols of the tropics. Soil Science Society of America Journal 36(4): 587-593.
30. Xu, R., Zhao, A., Ji, G., 2003. Effect of low-molecular-weight organic anions on surface charge of variable charge soils. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 264(2): 322–326.
31. Zhang, X.N., Zhao, A.Z., 1997. Surface charge. In: Chemistry of variable charge soils. Yu, T.R. (Ed.). Oxford University Press, New York, USA. pp. 17–63.