Changes in soil pH and exchangeable base cations during moist soil storage

Abstract

Maintaining samples of four moorland soils of low base status from a podzol profile in a field-moist state prior to analysis is shown to result in significant changes in exchangeable cation concentrations, cation exchange capacity and pH within one month, and often larger changes on more prolonged storage. The magnitude of change depends upon the soil horizon and the determination concerned. Changes may be explained in terms of disruption of natural element biogeochemical cycling. The results suggest that in regional surveys, sample preparation and analysis must be completed within a few days of collection.