Reprint Abstract

     A Laboratory experiment was conducted to study the Influence of temperature and moisture on the diffusion of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) to an H-saturated resin sink in Bozeman silt toam with bulk density of 1.45 g/cm³. Diffusion of K and Ca to the resin smk was significantly (P < 0.005) influenced by temperature (5, 15, and 30°C), but that of Mg was not Soil moisture (10, 17, and 28%) significantly (P < 0.005) influenced the diffusion of all three cations. The temperature by soil moisture mteraction was significant for all three cations. The concentrations of extractable K, Ca, and Mg in four concentric soil layers, each about 1 mm in thickness, around the resin sink also were measured during the 96-hour diffusion period The concentration of each cation in each layer was significantly influenced by temperature and moisture.

Additional Index Words: exchange resin sink, extractable K, extractable Ca, and extractable Mg