Application of Kinetic Models in Describing Non-exchangeable Potassium Release in Some Soils of Hamadan

Information about nonexchangeable potassium (NEK) release rate in Hamadan soils is limited. The objective of this study included an investigation of the dynamics of NEK in some soils from Hamadan Province by successive extraction with dilute citric acid over a period of 2500 h and determination of the correlation between the rate constants in this kinetic equation with soil properties. The results of this experiment showed that the initial NEK release rate was rapid which slowed down later on. The amount of NEK released after 2500 h ranged from 0.87 to 2.89 cmol kg-1. The amount of NEK released after 2500 h was significantly correlated with CEC, NEK, and soil separates. First order, parabolic diffusion law and power function equations described well the NEK release kinetics based on their highest determination coefficient and their lowest value of the standard error of the estimate. Release rate constant in the first order, parabolic diffusion law and power function equations ranged from 1.0×10-4 to 3.0×10-4, 1.7×10-4 to 10.6×10-4 and 2.75×10-1 to 4.6×10-1, respectively. In the correlation study the rate constants in the kinetic equations were correlated with some chemical properties and particle size distribution. The results of this experiment also showed that dilute citric acid can be used in the study of NEK release.