The determination of the potential acidity (H + Al) of soil samples by the calcium acetate 0.5 mol L-1 pH 7.0 method (conventional method) is most used in Brazilian laboratories. Other methods, which are more practical for routine analyses, have been tested with success for various soil groups, but not for those located in the northeast of the State of Pará. With this objective, twenty-seven representative soil samples were analyzed by the conventional Ca(OAc)2 method. The pH of equilibrium in the calcium acetate-soil suspension was determined before titration and the obtained values related to the H + Al contents by the Ca(OAc)2 method. The pH in the equilibrium suspension of agitated soil samples was also determined with the SMP buffer solution and the values related to the potential acidity obtained by the Ca(OAc)2 method. The quadratic model was best fit for both situations. Results showed an elevated relation between the amount of H + Al estimated by the calcium acetate method and the pH of the acetate-soil suspension or the pH SMP. The higher amplitude of the data found for the pH SMP qualifies this method as more precise for the quantification of potential acidity in those soils.
soil reaction; potential acidity; chemical soil analysis