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Abstract
A Palexerult soil from the Pliocene raña formations in northern Spain was used to conduct acidity correction tests with limestone, gypsum rock and sugar foam waste under laboratory conditions. The soil was reconstructed in methacrylate columns that were studied over a five-month period. The pH and exchangeable bases in the leachates, obtained by applying an amount of water equivalent to the mean rainfall of the area from which the soil was collected, were measured under laboratory conditions along a five-month period. At the end of these tests, three different samples (one from the A horizon and two from as many different depths in the AB horizon) were used to determine the pH in water and KCl, as well as the exchangeable bases and aluminum (Al), effective cation-exchange-capacity (CECe) and available phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). Data were statistically analyzed by using a multivariate linear general (MLG) model with two factors (treatment type and sampled soil sub-horizon). The results revealed limestone and sugar foam waste to be more effective than gypsum in suppressing Al3+ toxicity in the A horizon; in fact, they provided the best VeAl values and Al/Ca ratios, and also the greatest pH increases. By contrast, gypsum rock proved more efficient in the sub-surface horizons. All treatments, but particularly that with gypsum, decreased the exchangeable potassium content. This amendment caused no magnesium losses as it contained large amounts of it in its composition; however, it resulted in substantial losses of Fe and Mn (particularly through leaching from the A horizon) as a result of the increased acidity produced. Sugar foam waste performed similarly to limestone as regards corrective capacity.