LaMotte CALCIUM CHLORIDE MODULE A User Manual

CALCIUM & CHLORIDE • MODULE A

COLOR CHART

FOR SOIL MICRONUTRIENTS KIT · CODE 5938-02

QUANTITY CONTENTS CODE

5 mL *Chloride Test Solution *5111-S
30 mL *Calcium Test Solution *5108PS-G
1 Color Chart, Calcium in Soil 1303
1 Color Chart, Chloride in Soil 1304
2 Test Tubes, 1-8 mL, plastic, w/caps 0755
2 Test Tubes, plastic, fi ltrate 0749
1 Spoon, 0.5 g 0698
1 Funnel, plastic 0459
1 Filter Paper, 100/pk 0465
2 Pipets, transfer, plastic 0364
4 Test Tubes, glass 0242
1 Pipet, plain w/cap 0392
1 Pipet, plain, plastic 0352
1 Demineralizer Bottle 1151

*WARNING: Reagents marked with an * are considered to be potential health hazards.
To view or print a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for these reagents go to
www.lamotte.com. To obtain a printed copy, contact LaMotte by e-mail, phone or fax.

To order individual reagents or test kit components, use the specifi ed code number.
The Demineralizer Bottle will be the source of all the deionized water in these tests.

Read the Demineralizer Bottle Instructions before proceeding.

WARNING! This set contains chemicals

that may be harmful if misued. Read

cautions on individual containers

carefully. Not to be used by children

except under adult supervision.

CHLORIDE IN SOIL TEST

1. Fill a 1-8 mL test tube (0755) to line 5 with deionized water from the Demineralizer
Bottle (1151).

2. Use the 0.5 g spoon (0698) to add four level measures of soil. Cap and shake for
one minute.

3. Fold a piece of fi lter paper (0465) in half. Fold in half again. Holding pointed end
down, squeeze corners together to form a cone. Insert into funnel (0459).

4. Filter soil suspension through fi lter paper. The clear soil extract is used for the
test.

5. Use a transfer pipet (0364) to add 5 drops of the extract to a test tube (0242).

6. Use the dropping pipet (0352) to add one drop of *Chloride Test Solution (5111).
Gently swirl to mix.

7. Hold test tube about one-half inch above the black background in the center of
the Chloride Color Chart (1304). Viewing down through the tube, match sample
turbidity to a turbidity standard. Record as ppm Chloride.

INTERPRETATION OF CHLORIDE TEST RESULTS

Chlorides are present in small amounts in practically all soils. Large amounts of
chlorides in soil may be toxic to growing plants, and may produce stunted plants.

REPLACEABLE CALCIUM IN SOIL TEST

1. Fill a 1-8 mL test tube (0755) to line 7 with *Universal Extracting Solution
(5173PS).

2. Use the 0.5 g spoon (0698) to add four level measures of soil. Cap and shake for
one minute.
NOTE: When adding samples with high concentrations of carbonates to *Universal
Extracting Solution (5173PS), swirl tube to mix for 30 seconds before capping to
allow gases to escape.

3. Fold a piece of fi lter paper (0465) in half. Fold in half again. Holding pointed end
down, squeeze corners together to form a cone. Insert into funnel (0459).

4. Filter soil suspension through fi lter paper. The clear soil extract is used for the
test.

5. Use a transfer pipet (0364) to add 5 drops of the extract to a turbidity test tube
(0242).

6. Use the pipet with the screw cap (0392) to add one drop of Calcium Test Solution
(5108PS). Gently swirl to mix.

7. Hold test tube about one-half inch above the black background in the center of
the Calcium Color Chart (1303). Viewing down through the tube, match sample
turbidity to a turbidity standard. Record as ppm Calcium.

INTERPRETATION OF REPLACEABLE CALCIUM TEST RESULTS

A lack of calcium in the soil rarely limits plant growth, but it helps to provide a
favorable equilibrium between the various constituents in the soil which affect fertility.
If there is a defi ciency in the replaceable calcium in the soil, the base exchange
capacity is incompletely satisfi ed, resulting in acid soil. Valuable biological processes
are dependent upon the important stabilizing effect of calcium in the soil, and without
its benefi cial effects the nitrifi cation process would bring about a highly injurious acid
condition.

Well-limed soils, those that are not naturally in need of lime, contain an abundance
of replaceable calcium. Hence, this test can be used to confi rm and supplement the
interpretation of soil acidity measurements.

The amounts of calcium that are extracted from soil by the leaching solution provide
a measure of the amount of calcium contained in the base exchange complex. Soils
low in humus and clay give higher values than soils that have a high percentage of
colliodal clay and organic matter, unless the latter are strongly acid and, consequently,
have most of their calcium replaced by hydrogen-ions.

Normal sandy soils should give 500 ppm calcium; clay soils 1000 ppm; and humus
soils, such as peats and forest mold, 500 ppm. Lower results indicate that much of the
active calcium of the soil has been replaced by hydrogen or other ions, as in acid or
highly alkaline soils.

LaMOTTE COMPANY

Helping People Solve Analytical Challenges

®

PO Box 329 • Chestertown • Maryland • 21620 • USA

800-344-3100 • 410-778-3100 (Outside U.S.A.) • Fax [phone]

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