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Decomposition of leguminous plant roots in sand. II. —humus formation
Author(s) -
Myskow W.,
Morrison R. I.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740150305
Subject(s) - humus , chemistry , lignin , decomposition , incubation , nitrogen , composition (language) , humic acid , organic chemistry , soil water , biochemistry , biology , ecology , fertilizer , linguistics , philosophy
Humus substances formed during the decomposition of the root material of yellow lupin and white melilot in sand were isolated and examined and compared with corresponding fractions from a garden soil. Depending on their origin, the humus substances differed in their content of carbohydrate, protein, lignin‐like compounds, and also methoxyl groups. Humic acid fractions from lupin and melilot material seemed less far removed from plant material than that from garden soil. Fulvic acid fractions in comparison with humic acid fractions contained more carbohydrate, less nitrogen and no lignin‐like material. Phenolic acids and aldehydes related to lignin were found in the sand‐root mixtures in greatest amount at 20 and 30 days' incubation. Melilotic acid, a product of coumarin metabolism, was found in melilot root material only during the first 10 days of incubation. The composition of the combined amino‐acids in lupin and melilot humic acids fractions was similar to, but differed somewhat from, that of garden soil humic acid. The fulvic acid fractions contained relatively more glucosamine than the humic acid fractions. The presence of glucosamine, αϵ‐diaminopimelic acid and α‐aminoadipic acid in the fractions indicated that their nitrogen was partly of microbial origin.