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Investigation on the Stabilization of the Humus in Mollisols
Author(s) -
Tsutsuki Kiyoshi,
Suzuki Chikage,
Kuwatsuka Shozo,
BeckerHeidmann Peter,
Scharpenseel HansWilhelm
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
zeitschrift für pflanzenernährung und bodenkunde
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 0044-3263
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.19881510204
Subject(s) - humus , humic acid , mollisol , organic matter , chemistry , environmental chemistry , total organic carbon , fulvic acid , clay minerals , carbon fibers , soil science , soil water , geology , mineralogy , organic chemistry , materials science , fertilizer , composite material , composite number
Soil organic matter in Mollisols is often preserved for an extremely long period (e.g. > 3000 years). We confirmed that the stable organic matter in Mollisols is the medium to coarse sized (0.2–2.0 μm) clay‐humus complex with humic acid combined with calcium as the main organic constituent. The argillic horizon contained relatively large amounts of clay‐humus complexes and had relatively high carbon contents, humic acid/fulvic acid ratios and degrees of humification of humic acid. Medium clay and coarse clay fractions preserved the organic carbon most efficiently. Highly humified humic acid could be detected even in the uppermost part of the Ah horizon and was probably stabilized in lower horizons by forming a complex with clay fractions.