Abstract
Zinc adsorption was studied in ten soils varying in texture or calcareousness of Punjab. Adsorption process was
executed by equilibrating 2.5g soil in 25 ml of 0.01M CaCl2 solution containing 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 70, and 120
mg Zn L-1. Sorption data were fitted to Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models. The data were best fitted in
both linearized Freundlich and Langmuir equations as evidenced by higher correlation coefficient values ranging
from 0.87 to 0.98. High clay contents ranging from 8 to 32 % and CaCO3 4.46 to 10.6 % promoted an increase in
the amount of adsorbed Zinc in these soils. Adsorption of Zn increased with the increasing level of Zn and also
increased with increase in clay, and CaCO3 contents. The maximum adsorption of Zn was observed in the Kotli
whereas, the minimum in the Shahdra soil series.
