Distribution of different forms of acidity in some lateritic soils of Purulia district of West Bengal

Abstract

Twenty four acid soil samples collected from six blocks of Purulia district representing part of red and lateritic belt of West Bengal and Alfisols soil order were analysed to characterise their nature of acidity and their relationship with soil properties. The mean values of total acidity (TA), hydrolytic acidity (HA) and exchange acidity (EA) were 1.91, 1.53 and 0.38 cmol (p+) kg-1 which were ranged from 1.35-2.59, 1.20-1.94 and 0.15-0.65 cmol (p+) kg-1 respectively. On an average, the contribution of electrostatically bound aluminium (Al3+) and hydrogen (H+) to exchange acidity varied from 60.0-80.0 and 20.0-40.0 per cent with the mean values of 70.42 and 29.58 per cent respectively. The different types of acidity were significantly and positively correlated with organic C, clay content and CEC of soil but negatively correlated with soil reaction (pHw and pHca). They also showed significant positive correlations with each other.