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Distribution pattern of total lipids and lipid fractions in forest humus
Author(s) -
Ziegler Frank,
Zech Wolfgang
Publication year - 1989
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.19891520304
Subject(s) - humus , chemistry , litter , lipid accumulation , decomposition , organic matter , environmental chemistry , botany , biochemistry , soil water , organic chemistry , biology , ecology
Mull, moder, and mor humus profiles were investigated for their total lipid contents and the behaviour of lipid‐phosphorus and of five neutral lipid classes identified by HPTLC. The quantitative distribution of total and neutral lipids among the humus types is, besides by natural differences between the various parent litter materials, mainly controlled by soil physicochemical properties. In particular strongly acidic conditions, i.e. conditions corresponding to a reduced biological activity, inhibit significantly the decomposition of lipid compounds in (moder and) mor humus. A feature of the lipid depth functions is the input of microbial and root litter‐derived lipid material in the fermentation layers and a considerable lipid accumulation in the A horizons, probably at least partly due to mechanical transport processes. Phospholipids show no distinct variation dependent on the humus type, as far as the organic layers are concerned. But obviously, lipid‐P in the mineral, soil is closely correlated with, and therefore is a valuable measure for, the overall biological activity increasing from mor to moder and mull humus.