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Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity (alkalinity) of a soil. Soil pH is a key characteristic that can be used to make informative analysis both qualitative and quantitatively regarding soil characteristics. [1] pH is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the activity of hydronium ions (H + or, more precisely, H 3 O + aq) in ...
Formaldehyde does not accumulate in the environment, because it is broken down within a few hours by sunlight or by bacteria present in soil or water. Humans metabolize formaldehyde quickly, converting it to formic acid. [27] [28] It nonetheless presents significant health concerns, as a contaminant.
In ecology, base-richness is the level of chemical bases in water or soil, such as calcium or magnesium ions. Many organisms prefer base-rich environments. [1] Chemical bases are alkalis, hence base-rich environments are either neutral or alkaline. Because acid-rich environments have few bases, they are dominated by environmental acids (usually ...
About 1,000 soil subgroups are defined in the United States. [6] A soil family category is a group of soils within a subgroup and describes the physical and chemical properties which affect the response of soil to agricultural management and engineering applications. The principal characteristics used to differentiate soil families include ...
Soil chemistry is the study of the chemical characteristics of soil.Soil chemistry is affected by mineral composition, organic matter and environmental factors. In the early 1870s a consulting chemist to the Royal Agricultural Society in England, named J. Thomas Way, performed many experiments on how soils exchange ions, and is considered the father of soil chemistry. [1]
Basic cations like calcium are leached from the soil as acidic rainfall flows, which allows aluminum and proton levels to increase. [3] [4] Nitric and sulfuric acids in acid rain and snow can have different effects on the acidification of forest soils, particularly seasonally in regions where a snow pack may accumulate during the winter. [5]
Water with excess H 3 O + ions is called acid (pH < 7), and water with excess OH – ions is called alkaline or rather basic (pH > 7). Soil moisture with pH < 4 is called very acid and with pH > 10 very alkaline (basic). H 2 CO 3 (carbonic acid) is unstable and produces H 2 O (water) and CO 2 (carbon dioxide gas, escaping into the
Soil bulk density, when determined at standardized moisture conditions, is an estimate of soil compaction. [3] Soil porosity consists of the void part of the soil volume and is occupied by gases or water. Soil consistency is the ability of soil materials to stick together. Soil temperature and colour are self-defining.