RELEASE OF NONEXCHANGEABLE POTASSIUM FROM A HIGHLY WEATHERED, FORESTED QUARTZIPSAMMENT

Hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite (HIV) is a ubiquitous secondary mineral of the southeastern lower Coastal Plain and is now known to be associated with nonexchangeable K in these soils. Oxalate has also been shown to exist in millimolar quantities in these soil solutions. The objective of this study was to test the effect oxalate has on the potential solubility of K in a forested Quartzipsamment containing appreciable HIV in the < 50-μm fraction, but no other detectable K-bearing minerals. Samples were prepared, chemically extracted, and extracting solutions analysed for K release. -from Authors