Interactions between organic and inorganic components in particle-size fractions separated from four soils

• Published in: Soil Science Society of America journal Vol. 56; no. 4
• Main Authors: Schnitzer, M. (Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada), Kodama, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.1992
• Subjects: ANALISIS DEL SUELO; ANALYSE DE SOL; AZOTE; CARBONE; CARBONO; COMPOSE MINERAL; COMPUESTOS INORGANICOS; FRACCIONES DEL SUELO; FRACTION DU SOL; GROSSEUR DES PARTICULES; MATERIA ORGANICA; MATIERE ORGANIQUE; MINERALOGIA; MINERALOGIE; NITROGENO; PROPIEDADES FISICO-QUIMICAS SUELO; PROPRIETE PHYSICOCHIMIQUE DU SOL; SOL; SUELO; TAMANO DE LA PARTICULA; TECHNIQUE ANALYTIQUE; TECNICAS ANALITICAS
• DOI: 10.2136/sssaj1992.03615995005600040015x
• ISSN: 0361-5995

Little information is available in the literature on the mechanism(s) of interaction of organic matter (OM) and inorganic crystalline and noncrystalline components in particle-size tractions. To obtain a better understanding of this subject, five particle-size fractions, ranging from coarse silts to fine clays, were separated from two soils from eastern Canada (Armadale and Bainsville) and from two prairie soils (Melfort and Regina). Each size fraction was characterized by chemical and mineralogical methods. Humic acids (HAs), fulvic acids (FAs), and humins were found to accumulate in size fractions ranging from medium silts to coarse clays, while aliphatics were concentrated in fractions from medium silts to fine days. Amino acid tended to be in clay fractions of the two prairie soils, but accumulated in the silt fractions separated from the two soils from eastern Canada. Except for one soil, NH3-N accumulated in the fine silt and finer fractions, which were rich in expandable phyllosilicates. In general, amounts of OM, aliphatics, and NH3-N tended to accumulate in fractions rich in noncrystalline inorganics. Noncrystalline inorganics separated from the two prairie soils were rich in Si, which appeared to contribute to the preferential accumulation of humin, HA, and neutral amino acids. On the other hand, noncrystalline components from the two soils from eastern Canada were rich in Al, which may have been associated with the accumulation of NH3-N and acidic amino acids in these soils. The pH-dependent charges of noncrystalline inorganics way also have contributed to the accumulation of OM