A Study on Measurement of Forest Soil Redox Potential

Abstract

Redox potential has principal influences on formation and attribute of soils and it is necessary to research the measurement of soil redox potential. The self-made potentiometer and two indigenous FJA-5 potentiometers were employed to measure the Eh values of fir forest soils in situ, which lied in Savage Sea Beauty Spot in Sichuan Province. Simultaneously fresh soils in situ were collected and made into suspensions with various soil-water ratios and standing time to measure Eh values. The results demonstrated that the total tendency of Eh values measured by the self-made potentiometer was gradually falling with soil-water ratios increasing and standing time prolonging. There is a great difference between Eh values measured in laboratory and in situ. Only in situ may the measured Eh values show realistic oxidation-reduction conditions and formation characteristics of forest soil. The self-made potentiometer has a preferable performance than indigenous FJA-5 potentiometers and it can be applied to measuring forest soil Eh in situ.