Reactions of sewage farm soils to different irrigation solutions in a column experiment. 1. Solid phase physicochemical properties

Physicochemical properties of two sandy soils taken from a present and from a former sewage farm were studied during a 2.5 years column experiment, in which lime and irrigation water of various compositions were applied. The amount of exchangeable bases and base saturation percentage in both soils c hanged markedly during the experiment. These changes were governed by chang es in soil pH. The specific surface area as well as the cation exchange cap acity were closely related to the organic carbon content in the soil profil e. The surface charge density of both soils was roughly equal and independe nt of the soil depth.