Rates of calcium carbonate removal from soils.

Mean annual rates of calcium carbonate removal from soils in a subarctic climate estimated from data on two chronosequences of calcareous storm ridges, appeared to be relatively constant through time. Concentrations of dissolved calcium carbonate in the soil solution in the study sites calculated fr...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Soil Science
Main Authors: van Breemen, N., Protz, R.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 1988
Subjects:
Online Access:https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/rates-of-calcium-carbonate-removal-from-soils
https://doi.org/10.4141/cjss88-042
Description
Summary:Mean annual rates of calcium carbonate removal from soils in a subarctic climate estimated from data on two chronosequences of calcareous storm ridges, appeared to be relatively constant through time. Concentrations of dissolved calcium carbonate in the soil solution in the study sites calculated from the rates of weathering of CaCO3 and of water drainage are in the range expected for equilibrium with calcite. The same conclusion could be drawn from published studies elsewhere. Over a wide range of conditions, the dissolution rate of calcite appears to be high enough to maintain equilibrium concentrations in water percolating calcareous soils and rocks. Consequently, the rate of calcium carbonate weathering can be predicted from (1) the solubility of CaCO3 and (2) the water drainage rate. Key words: Calcium carbonate weathering, soil chronosequence, subarctic soils