jordkemisk

Jordkemisk, or soil chemistry, is the scientific study of the chemical properties and processes that occur in soils. It investigates how minerals, organic matter, water, and dissolved ions interact to determine nutrient availability, fertility, and soil behavior. Central concepts include pH and acidity, redox potential, cation exchange capacity, nutrient sorption and desorption, and the mobility of elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and micronutrients. The composition of the soil solution is influenced by moisture, temperature, plant roots, microbial activity, and management practices, and it governs the availability of nutrients to plants and soil organisms. Weathering of primary minerals and formation of secondary minerals drive long-term changes in soil chemistry, while organic matter largely controls nutrient cycling, buffering capacity, and metal complexation.

Methods used in jordkemisk include chemical extractions to estimate plant-available nutrients, direct measurements of soil solution, and spectroscopic or microscopic techniques to characterize minerals and organic matter. Laboratory and field experiments are used to study adsorption, desorption, buffering, and nutrient dynamics under varying conditions.

Applications span agriculture, forestry, environmental monitoring, and land reclamation. Understanding jordkemisk is essential for managing soil fertility, mitigating pollution, planning lime and fertilizer strategies, and predicting responses to irrigation, climate change, and soil amendments. The field intersects with pedology, agronomy, geochemistry, and environmental science, and relies on a combination of laboratory analyses and field observations to explain how chemical processes shape soil health and ecosystem productivity.