Use of X-ray fluorescence in calcium and potassium determination in soils

Abstract

Ca and K content of sand fraction and whole soil of eight pedons representing soils found on successively higher landscape north of Piracicaba River in São Pedro region were studied. Some of the conclutions that can be drawn from the K and Ca data are: - It Kas found that with the exception of Pedon 1 and 3 the contents of both K and Ca are very low. The higher contents of K found in these soils indicate that materials on surface I and III hawe undesgone less weathering and can be considered to have been exposed to weathered more recently. - The sand fraction of all soils, with the exception of Pedon 3, has a very low content of both Ca and K and hence has low content, if any, of weatherable minerals. - Pedons 6, 7 and 8 although they contain appreciabele clay, have wery low content of K and Ca in the soil.