POTASSIUM DETERMINATION BY SLURRY TECHNIQUE

A variety of soil types (lime, clay, sandy-clay-loam, stream-deposits, and sandstone) were analysed by the slurry technique. The samples wer e dried, homogenized, ground, sieved, weighed, suspended in nitric aci d solution and calibrated against aqueous standards. The results obtai ned by this technique were then compared with those from digested samp les of the same soil. In order to establish optimum conditions for the slurry method, the following variables were studied: slurry concentra tion, acid concentration, aspiration rate, time and temperature of the ultrasonic agitation bath. The results have shown that only for soils with a high content of silicon oxide are there significant difference s between the two methods.