LaMotte CALCIUM CHLORIDE SOIL TESTS MODULE A User Manual

CAL CIUM & CHLO RIDE

WARNING! This set contains chemicals

that may be harmful if misused. Read

cautions on individual containers

carefully. Not to be used by children

except under adult supervision

SOIL TESTS

MODULE A

MODEL AM-32 · CODE 5938-01

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, filtrate 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 specified code
number.

The Demineralizer Bottle will be the source of all the deionized water in
these tests. Read the Demineralizer Bottle Instructions before
proceeding.

CHLO RIDE 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 filter 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 filter 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.

IN TER PRE TA TION OF CHLO RIDE TEST RE SULTS

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.

RE PLACE ABLE CAL CIUM 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 filter 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 filter 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.

IN TER PRE TA TION OF RE PLACE ABLE CAL CIUM TEST RE SULTS

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 deficiency in the replaceable
calcium in the soil, the base exchange capacity is incompletely satisfied,
resulting in acid soil. Valuable biological processes are dependent upon
the important stabilizing effect of calcium in the soil, and without its
beneficial effects the nitrification 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
confirm 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 COM PANY

Helping Peo ple Solve An a lyt i cal Challenges

PO Box 329 • Chestertown • Mary land • 21620 • USA

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

Visit us on the web at www.lamotte.com

®

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