Nutrient transport to roots is basically performed by mass flow and diffusion. As the nutrients in the mobile solution (inter-aggregate solution) are depleted, they move by diffusion from the interior to the aggregate surface. This study quantified Mg, Ca, and K in effluents from aggregates of a Brazilian Rodhic Haplustox, in relation to diffusion time, using distilled water as eluate. Treatments were established in a 4 x 5 factorial scheme: four aggregate classes (2.0-1.0, 1.0-0.5, 0.5-0.25, and 0.25-0.105 mm) and five diffusion times (0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 days). The columns that corresponded to zero day received an eluate volume equal to ten times the pore volume, collected in five effluent fractions, each one with two pore-volumes. In the remaining experimental units, elutions were accomplished with two pore-volumes at intervals indicated for each diffusion time. Smaller aggregates released more Mg, Ca, and K to the inter-aggregate solution than larger ones. Eluted cation quantities increased with diffusion time, as from the second analyzed fraction.
solute nutrient; leachate; Latosols
