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Size, Mass, and Caloric Content of Particulate Organic Matter in Old‐Field and Forest Soils
Author(s) -
Malone Charles R.,
Swartout Margaret B.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1933889
Subject(s) - soil water , organic matter , particulates , soil organic matter , environmental science , environmental chemistry , sulfate , water content , soil science , chemistry , geology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Particulate organic matter of various size fractions larger than 44 μ in diameter was extracted from old—field and forest soils by flotation in aqueous solutions of magnesium sulfate. Extracted ash—free organic material comprised about 0.6% of the dry weight of both soils and from 15—20% of all the organice matter present in the soils. Particulate organic matter less than 44 μ in size accounted for 70% of the organic matter, the remaining 10—15% being water soluble. In the old—field soil, a direct relationship existed between caloric values and particle sizes with the exception of particles between 44—105 μ in size. Relationships between size and energy content of organic particles in the forest soil were not as clearcut, since several smaller size components in the upper 10 cm of the soil had greater caloric contents than larger sizes. The data are discussed in relation to decomposition processes and heterotrophic production in soil ecosystems.