THE USE OF 65Zn FOR DETEMINING SEVERAL SOIL CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

Three experiments have been carried out to determine (1) zinc fixation capacity, (2) zinc transformation in sub merged condition, and (3) capacity factor (buffering capacity) of zinc using ⁶⁵Zn, a gamma emitter radioisotope with a 243.6 days half life. By using 65Zn it was able to show that there was difference in zinc fixation capacity of the soils used ranging from 2% - 42%. With the radioisotope it could be determine that after 24 hours the ⁶⁵Zn applied was already retained by the soil up to more than 90%. For the capacity factor of the soil data obtained revealed that it range from 270 – 2400. Some of the data obtained were, % ⁶⁵Zn fixed in soil ranged as follows for soil from : Pusakanegara (42,56%) > Bogor (42,19%) > Pasar Jumat (26,10%) > Batumerta (2.50%). For % ⁶⁵Zn found in soluble form in submerge condition after : 3 weeks (range 0.05% - 0.23%) < 2 weeks (range 0.18% - 0.40%) < 24 hours (range 0.17% - 2.44%). The lowest capacity factor was obtained by soil from Batumerta (270), followed by soil from Pasar Jumat (714) and Bogor (1000) and the highest was for soil from Pusakanegara (2400).