Charge characteristics and exchangeable cation status of Korean Ultisols and Alfisols and Thai Ultisols and Oxisols

The charge characteristics of A₁ or Ap and B₂ horizon samples of total 23 Ultisols, Alfisols and Oxisols in Korea and Thailand were studied by measuring the retention of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^? at different pH values (4–8) and NH₄NO₃ concentrations (0.1–0.005 m ). The magnitude of their negative charge (σ^?; meq/100g) was dependent on pH and NH₄NO₃ concentration (C; m ) as represented by a regression equation: log σ^?=apH +blogC +c. The values of the coefficient a (0.04–0.226), b (0.03–0.264) and c (–0.676–1.262) were correlated with the kinds of the soil and horizon and with the region where the soil exists. The retention of NO₃^? was less than 1 and 2–3 meq/100 g for the A₁ or Ap and B₂ horizon samples, respectively. The sum of exchangeable base and Al (‘effective’ CEC) was close to and higher than the magnitude of permanent charge (=σ^? measured at pH = 4.3 and at C = 0.005 m ) for one-third and two-thirds of samples, respectively. A σ^? value of 16 meq/100 g clay at pH = 7 and C = 0.01 m was found appropriate to separate the B₂ horizons of Thai Ultisols and Oxisols from those of Korean Ultisols and Alfisols. Korean Alfisols and Ultisols and Thai Ultisols were distinguished from each other on the status of exchangeable base and Al