Assessment of Calcimetric and Titrimetric Methods for Calcium Carbonate Estimation of Five Soil Types in Central Sudan

Abstract

Abstract: Despite the CaCO3 estimation using titration method was not reliable, but up to the present time, some soil laboratories in Sudan still used this method. The objective of this study was to compare and assess the results of calcimetric and titrimetric methods of quantitative estimation for soil calcium carbonate of different soils in Sudan. 26 soil samples from five soil profiles were collected from different climatological and ecological regions in central Sudan. CaCO3 equivalent was estimated using calcimeter and titration methods in order to find accurate, rapid and suitable method for soils of Sudan. The results revealed that there are no significant differences between calcimeter and titration methods for calcium carbonate estimation in all studied samples except in samples from Gedaref area. We concluded that when the Calcimeter method used for CaCO3 estimation, the differences between one person and another in detecting titration end point would be avoided, rapid and accurate results would be obtained compared to titration method. Additionally, time would be saved; fewer amounts of chemicals would be used. From this study, we highly recommend using calcimeter method for CaCO3 estimation for soils of Sudan