Abstract
Boron (B) and zinc (Zn) are essential plant-micronutrients recommended for field application where leaching losses can be significant and cause economic losses as well as contamination of shallow groundwater. Boron and Zn sorption and transport was studied using two calcareous soils, i.e. Lyallpur (clay loam) and Sultanpur (loam). Boron and Zn sorption isotherms were constructed and data was fitted to Langmuir adsorption model. In addition, B and Zn transport experiment was carried out using intact soil columns (8.4 cm dia and 28 cm length) to determine the relative characteristics of breakthrough curve and the transport parameters. The Lyallpur had slightly greater adsorption partition coefficient (kd) both for B (1.17 vs. 1.10) and Zn (21 vs. 18) than the Sultanpur. In the Lyallpur columns, B arrival was immediate but the peak concentration lower than the Sultanpur. The breakthrough of B in Sultanpur occurred after about 10 cm of cumulative drainage in both the columns, the rise in effluent concentration was fast and the peak concentration was almost one. Zinc leaching through the soil columns was very limited as only one column from Lyallpur showed Zn breakthrough in the effluent where the peak concentration ratio was only 0.05. The study demonstrates effect of soil structure on B transport and has implications for the nutrient management in field soils.
M. Mahmood-ul-Hassan,, M. Saleem Akhtar , G. Nabi . (2006) Boron and zinc sorption and transport in calcareous soils , The Journal Soil & Environment , Volume 25, Issue 1.
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