Effect of CaCl2 on the kinetics of dissolved organic matter release from a sandy soil�

The dissolution of organic matter in soil is of fundamental relevance for the fate of organic contaminants associated with organic matter and for the microbial availability of organic matter. In this study, the kinetics of soil organic matter (SOM) dissolution from a sandy forest soil was investigated under different electrolyte conditions, using a continuous extraction method. The mathematical analysis of the concentration signal obtained from extractions with constant flow rates and after sudden flow rate changes showed that the dissolution of SOM is diffusion limited. The dissolution rate was lower during extraction with 0.01 M CaCl₂. The reaction on sudden flow rate changes was slower when extracting with 0.01 M CaCl₂ as compared to water, and the mechanism was different. These observations were explained by a gel phase developing in the swelling SOM. The lower dissolution rates found for extractions with 0.01 M CaCl₂ could indicate a more stable gel structure in the presence Ca²⁺. The development of the gel phase may be influenced by mechanical strain due to increased flow rates.     

Abiotic solubilization of soil organic matter,a less-seen aspect of dissolved organic matter production

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a small but reactive pool of the soil organic matter (SOM) that contributes to soil dynamics including the intermediary pool spanning labile to resistant SOM fractions. The solubilization of SOM (DOM production) is commonly attributed to both microbially driven and physico-chemically mediated processes, yet the extent to which these processes control DOM production is highly debated. We conducted a series of experiments using ¹³C-ryegrass residue or its extract (¹³C-ryegrass-DOM) separately under sterile and non-sterile conditions to demonstrate the importance of DOM production from microbial and physico-chemical processes. Soils with similar properties but differing in parent material were used to test the influence of mineralogy on DOM production. To test the role of the source of C for DOM production, one set of soils was leached frequently with ¹³C-ryegrass-DOM and in the other set of soils ¹³C-ryegrass residue was incorporated at the beginning of the experiment into the soil and soils were leached frequently with 0.01 mol L⁻¹ CaCl₂ solution. Leaching events for both treatments occurred at 12-d intervals over a 90-day period. The amount of dissolved organic C and N (DOC and DON) leached from residue-amended soils were consistently more than 3 times higher in sterile than non-sterile soils, decreasing with the time. Despite changes in the concentration of DOC and DON and the production of CO₂, the proportion of DOC derived from the ¹³C-ryegrass residue was largely constant during the experiment (regardless of microbial activity), with the majority (about 70%) of the DOM originating from native SOM. In ¹³C-residue-DOM treatments, after successive leaching events and regardless of the sterility conditions i) the native SOM consistently supplied at least 10% of the total leached DOM, and ii) the contribution of native SOM to DOM was 2–2.9 times greater in ¹³C-residue-DOM amended soils than control soils, suggesting the role of desorption and exchange reactions in DOM production in presence of fresh DOM input. The contribution of the native SOM to DOM resulted in higher aromaticity and humification index. Our results suggest that physico-chemical processes (e.g. exchange or dissolution reactions) can primarily control DOM production. However, microbial activity affects SOM solubilization indirectly through DOM turnover.     

Soil Organic Matter/Carbon Dynamics in Contrasting Tillage and Land Management Systems: A Case for Smallholder Farmers with Degraded and Marginal Soils

This study reveals that soil organic matter (SOM) is 58% soil organic carbon (SOC) and the processes that govern SOM dynamics include those that promote SOM synthesis from organic inputs and those that decrease SOM through decomposition. Land use is a key determinant of SOC dynamics and spatial differences in SOM. Agricultural soils can accommodate extra carbon (C) between 140 and 170 Pg C. Globally sub soils store more than half of total SOC. The SOM can increase under no-tillage management even with low crop residue input. Soil tillage induces loss of carbon in macroaggregates (>250 μm) and a gain of carbon in microaggregates (<250 μm). The stage of plant development rather than plant species determines carbon dynamics from plants to soil, and the rate depends on the plant development. However, sorption of dissolved organic matter to mineral soil influences the stabilization of dissolved organic matter.     

Dissolved organic matter and its parent organic matter in grass upland soil horizons studied by analytical pyrolysis techniques

We have sought to understand the molecular mechanisms by which dissolved organic matter (DOM) forms and soil organic matter (SOM) degrades in upland peaty gley soil under grass. Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (Py-MS) and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) were applied to characterize the DOM collected from lysimeters and its parent SOM. The macromolecular organic matter in the litter and fermentation (Lf) horizon of the soil consists primarily of little decomposed lignocellulose from grass, whereas the humus (Oh) horizon is characterized by an accumulation of selectively decomposed lignocellulose material, microbial metabolites and bound fatty acids. The mineral horizon produced a relative enrichment of furan structures derived from microbial reworking of plant polysaccharides but virtually no lignin signals. A series of exceptional long chain C₄₃ to C₅₃ fatty acids with odd over even predominance, probably derived from mycobacteria, were also identified in the Oh horizon. Side-chain oxidation and shortening, increase of carboxyl functionality and selective removal of syringyl (S) > guaiacyl (G) > p-hydroxyphenyl (P) lignin units were the main reactions when lignin degraded. Compared with SOM, the DOM shows a large accumulation of more oxidized lignin and aromatic structures, especially those containing carboxylic and dicarboxylic acid functionalities and with shorter side-chain length. The polysaccharide-type compounds in the DOM were more modified (greater abundance of furan structures in pyrolysis products), and had significantly lower molecular weight and more diverse polymeric structures than did those in soils. Increased temperature and rainfall appeared to result in greater relative abundance of lignin degradation products and aromatic compounds in DOM.     

短期增温及减少降雨对杉木人工林土壤DOM的数量及其光谱学特征的影响

本文选取我国中亚热带杉木人工林土壤进行短期增温以及减少50%降雨试验,利用光谱技术研究增温及减少降雨对土壤可溶性有机质(DOM)数量和结构的影响。试验设对照(CT)、增温(W,土壤温度增高5℃)、减少降雨(P,自然降雨量减少50%)、增温与减少降雨交互作用(WP)4种处理。结果表明:1)增温增加了土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)数量,使DOM的芳香性指数和腐殖化指数减小,结构变得简单易于分解;0~10 cm土层的土壤DOM含有较多的烷烃,酯类物质较少;10~20 cm土层的DOM则含有较多的碳水化合物。2)减少降雨使土壤水分相对减少,土壤DOC的数量降低。0~10 cm土层土壤DOM的芳香性指数和腐殖化程度降低,DOM含有大量的烷烃;而10~20 cm土层土壤DOM的芳香性指数和腐殖化指数升高,碳水化合物少。减少降雨处理使土壤可溶性有机氮(DON)数量增加。3)增温和减少降雨的交互作用增加了DOC和DON的数量,降低了DOM的芳香化程度和腐殖化程度;使0~10 cm土层的DOM含有较多的碳水化合物,而10~20 cm土层的DOM碳水化合物较少。4)对于0~10 cm土壤,增温对土壤DOM的数量及结构的作用最强;随着土壤深度增加到10~20 cm,减少降雨的作用逐渐明显,其对DOM结构的影响也达到显著水平。温度及降水对DOM的数量及化学结构的变化具有重要意义,该研究结果可以为阐释全球气候变化背景下土壤DOM的动态周转及预测未来森林土壤碳氮的变化趋势提供科学依据。     

土壤中溶解性有机质及其对污染物吸附和解吸行为的影响

溶解性有机质（DOM）已成为环境科学、生态学和土壤科学等学科的研究热点。DOM对重金属、养分和有机污染物的环境化学行为有很大影响,因此开展DOM与污染物（或养分）之间相互作用的研究,具有重要的理论与实践意义。本文系统地评述了DOM的来源、组成、分级及其对土壤中污染物吸附一解吸行为的影响。尽管关于土壤中DOM的研究还不完善,许多工作也只是刚刚开始,至今对土壤中DOM的性质、组成和分类方法等问题都不是很清楚,但现有的结果已经表明,DOM是土壤圈中一种十分活跃的重要化学组分,它对土壤中化学物质的溶解、吸附、解吸、吸收、迁移和生物毒性等行为均有显著的影响。     

Properties of dissolved organic matter related to soil organic matter quality and nitrogen additions in Norway spruce forest floors

The quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is highly variable and little information is available on the relation of DOM quality to the structure and composition of its parent soil organic matter (SOM). The effect of increasing N inputs to forest soils on the structure and composition of both SOM and DOM also remains largely unclear. Here we studied the release of DOM, its specific UV absorption and two humification indices (HIX) derived from fluorescence spectra from Oa material of 15 North- and Central-European Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands. The Oa material was incubated aerobically at 15 °C and water holding capacity over a period of 10 months and extracted monthly with an artificial throughfall solution. Soil respiration was determined weekly. The influence of mineral N inputs on composition of DOM and on respiration rates was investigated on periodically NH₄NO₃-treated Oa samples of eight selected sites. Release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from untreated Oa material samples ranged from 0.0 to 58.6 μg C day⁻¹ g C⁻¹ and increased with increasing C-to-N ratio. One HIX and UV absorption of DOM were negatively correlated to the degree of oxidation of lignin-derived compounds and positively to the C-to-N ratio and – HIX only – to the aromatic C content of SOM. Mineral N addition had no distinct effect on respiration rates. In six of eight samples the N-treatment caused an increase in specific UV absorption or one HIX of DOM. However, these effects were not statistically significant. Addition of mineral N did not affect the rates of DOM release. Our results show that properties of SOM largely determine the amount and quality of DOM in forest floors. Changes of DOM quality due to mineral N additions are likely, but we cannot confirm significant changes of DOM release.     

Effect of undesalted dissolved organic matter from composts on persistence, adsorption, and mobility of cyhalofop herbicide in soils

The effect of undesalted dissolved organic matter (DOM) extracted from composts on the degradation, adsorption, and mobility of cyhalofop herbicide in soils was studied. A paddy-field sediment poor in organic matter (OM), an OM-rich forest soil, and DOM from agroindustrial or municipal waste compost were used. DOM increased the cyhalofop-acid but not the cyhalofop-butyl solubility in water. The degradation of cyhalofop-butyl in the sediment was slow, giving cyhalofop-acid as the only metabolite, whereas in forest soil, the process was faster, and three byproducts were detected. Soil pretreatment with DOM did not modify the degradation pattern but only reduced the adsorption of cyhalofop-butyl by soil, whereas it increased the adsorption of cyhalofop-acid. Among the cationic components of DOM solutions, the potassium ion seems to be related to the increased adsorption of the cyhalofop-acid in both OM-poor and OM-rich soils, yielding reversible complexes with the former and favoring hydrophobic interactions with the latter.     

Organic matter retention in an upland humic podzol; the effects of pH and solute type

This paper discusses the effects of different horizons and soil solution compositions on dissolved organic matter retention in a moorland podzol and compares the results with previous studies of forest podzols. Adsorption isotherms were constructed for each of the major horizons of a freely draining, upland, moorland, humic podzol from north-east Scotland, to investigate processes of retention and release of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Carbon retention of a range of solute types was studied, and phthalate was chosen as a model compound to measure carbon retention at three different pH values (3, 4.5 and 6). Retention and release of DOM was related to chemical, physical and mineralogical characteristics of the different soil horizons. All the mineral horizons retained DOM, with the Bs horizon most retentive. Solution pH did not significantly affect DOM retention in the O and A horizons. At pH 3 and 4.5 organic matter was weakly retained in the Bhs horizon, but strongly retained in the Bs and the Cx horizons. At pH 6 reversal of surface charge occurred in the Bs and Cx horizons resulting in the release of similar amounts of organic matter to that released from the O horizon at the same pH. The results demonstrate how podzols act as a ‘valve’ in controlling the input of dissolved organic compounds into surface and ground water, and how sensitive the controlling mechanisms are to pH change.     

Soil‐carbon preservation through habitat constraints and biological limitations on decomposer activity

We review recent experimental results on the role of soil biota in stabilizing or destabilizing soil organic matter (SOM). Specifically, we analyze how the differential substrate utilization of the various decomposer organisms contributes to a decorrelation of chemical stability, residence time, and carbon (C) age of organic substrates. Along soil depth profiles, a mismatch of C allocation and abundance of decomposer organisms is consistently observed, revealing that a relevant proportion of soil C is not subjected to efficient decomposition. Results from recent field and laboratory experiments suggest that (1) bacterial utilization of labile carbon compounds is limited by short‐distance transport processes and, therefore, can take place deep in the soil under conditions of effective local diffusion or convection. In contrast, (2) fungal utilization of phenolic substrates, including lignin, appears to be restricted to the upper soil layer due to the requirement for oxygen of the enzymatic reaction involved. (3) Carbon of any age is utilized by soil microorganisms, and microbial C is recycled in the microbial food web. Due to stoichiometric requirements of their metabolism, (4) soil animals tend to reduce the C concentration of SOM disproportionally, until it reaches a threshold level. The reviewed investigations provide new and quantitative evidence that different soil C pools underlie divergent biological constraints of decomposition. The specialization of decomposers towards different substrates and microhabitats leads to a relatively longer persistence of virtually all kinds of organic substrates in the nonpreferred soil spaces. We therefore propose to direct future research explicitly towards such biologically nonpreferred areas where decomposition rates are slow, or where decomposition is frequently interrupted, in order to assess the potential for long‐term preservation of C in the soil.     

Extraction of water‐soluble organic matter from mineral horizons of forest soils

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is involved in many important biogeochemical processes in soil. As its collection is laborious, very often water‐soluble organic matter (WSOM) obtained by extracting organic or mineral soil horizons with a dilute salt solution has been used as a substitute of DOM. We extracted WSOM (measured as water‐soluble organic C, WSOC) from seven mineral horizons of three forest soils from North‐Rhine Westphalia, Germany, with demineralized H₂O, 0.01 M CaCl₂, and 0.5 M K₂SO₄. We investigated the quantitative and qualitative effects of the extractants on WSOM and compared it with DOM collected with ceramic suction cups from the same horizons. The amounts of WSOC extracted differed significantly between both the extractants and the horizons. With two exceptions, K₂SO₄ extracted the largest amounts of WSOC (up to 126 mg C kg^–1) followed by H₂O followed by CaCl₂. The H₂O extracts revealed by far the highest molar UV absorptivities at 254 nm (up to 5834 L mol^–1 cm^–1) compared to the salt solutions which is attributed to solubilization of highly aromatic compounds. The amounts of WSOC extracted did not depend on the amounts of Fe and Al oxides as well as on soil organic C and pH. Water‐soluble organic matter extracted by K₂SO₄ bore the largest similarity to DOM due to relatively analogue molar absorptivities. Therefore, we recommend to use this extractant when trying to obtain a substitute for DOM, but as WSOM extraction is a rate‐limited process, the suitability of extraction procedures to obtain a surrogate of DOM remains ambiguous.     

Challenges in modelling dissolved organic matter dynamics in agricultural soil using DAISY

Because dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role is terrestrial C-, N- and P-balances and transport of these three components to aquatic environments, there is a need to include it in models. This paper presents the concept of the newly developed DOM modules implemented in the DAISY model with focus on the quantification of DOM sorption/desorption and microbial-driven DOM turnover. The kinetics of DOM sorption/desorption is described by the deviation of the actual DOM concentration in solution from the equilibrium concentration, C_eq. The C_eq is soil specific and estimated from pedotransfer functions taking into account the soil content of organic matter, Al and Fe oxides. The turnover of several organic matter pools including one DOM pool are described by first-order kinetics.The DOM module was tested at field scale for three soil treatments applied after cultivating grass–clover swards. Suction cups were installed at depths 30, 60 and 90 cm and soil solution was sampled for quantification of dissolved organic C (DOC) and dissolved organic N (DON). In the topsoil, the observed fluctuations in DOC were successfully simulated when the sorption/desorption rate coefficient k was low. In the subsoil, the observed concentrations of DOC were steadier and the best simulations were obtained using a high k. The model shows that DOC and DON concentrations are levelled out in the subsoils due to soil buffering. The steady concentration levels were based on the C_eq for each horizon and the kinetic concept for sorption/desorption of DOC appeared a viable approach. If C_eq was successfully estimated by the pedotransfer function it was possible to simulate the DOC concentration in the subsoil. In spite of difficulties in describing the DOC dynamics of the topsoil, the DOM module simulates the subsoil concentration level of DOC well, and also—but with more uncertainty—the DON concentration level.     

Hydrophobicity of organic matter in arable soils: influence of management

The affinity of soil organic matter for water influences resistance to microbial degradation, the rate of wetting and adsorption processes. Such properties play key roles in organic matter and microbial biomass dynamics, aggregate stability, water infiltration, leaching of organic and inorganic pollutants, chemical composition and the dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM). The hydrophobicity of the organic matter as a function of management have been studied in two soils with contrasting textures using diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT). The results show that agricultural management clearly influences the amount of aliphatic C-H units and implicitly the hydrophobicity of the soil organic matter. A decrease of organic C due to management is accompanied by a decrease of hydrophobicity as well as of soil microbial activity and aggregate stability. The hydrophobicity index is a sensitive quantity to characterize the‘quality’ of soil organic matter. DRIFT spectroscopy proves to be a rapid and reliable technique to determine quantitatively the hydrophobicity of soil organic matter.     

Low‐molecular‐weight organic acids enhance desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil

The impact of low‐molecular‐weight organic acids (LMWOAs) on desorption of phenanthrene and pyrene as representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a contaminated soil was investigated by using a laboratory batch experiment. Three LMWOAs were used in this study and were citric, oxalic and malic acids. The LMWOAs in aqueous solution promoted desorption of PAHs from soil significantly and demonstrated an increasing trend as the concentration of LMWOAs increased. When compared with desorption of phenanthrene and pyrene from soil to water, the addition of LMWOAs enhanced desorption of test PAHs by up to 285 and 299%, respectively. Among the three LMWOAs studied, citric acid demonstrated the greatest efficiency in promoting PAH desorption from soil. Solutions of LMWOA continuously promoted PAH removal from soil during the multiple cycles of desorption. Overall, the experimental results suggest that LMWOAs in aqueous solution could disrupt soil organic matter (SOM)–metal cation–mineral linkages in soils, resulting in the release of SOM from soil and simultaneous increase of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in solution. The loss of SOM from soil and increase of DOC in solution are responsible for the enhanced PAH desorption from soil. The positive correlation between DOC in solution and desorbed PAHs from soil suggests that the loss of SOM from soil plays an important role in LMWOA‐enhanced desorption of PAHs from soil.     

Efficiency of diethylaminoethyl cellulose in the isolation of dissolved organic matter from forest soil solutions

Abstract

Diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DEAE cellulose), a weak anion exchange resin, has been used to isolate dissolved organic matter (DOM) from soil solutions collected from three different soil types, to investigate the amount of DOM isolated from soil solutions of various origin, and the extent to which inorganic ions are isolated together with DOM. The concentration of DOM in the various soil solutions ranged from 2.5 to 32.8 mg#lbL^‐1 DOC. More than 80% of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was usually isolated with DEAE cellulose. High concentrations of aluminum (Al) and sulfate (SO₄ ^2‐) in the soil solutions have reduced DOC recovery. More than 90% of potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), and magnesium (Mg²⁺), were removed during the isolation procedure, but 10 to 20% of Al and 30 to 40% of iron (Fe) were isolated together with the DOC, probably due to strong complexation to DOM. The advantages of using DEAE cellulose were that the use of strong acids and bases was limited and that pH adjustments of the sample, leading to chemical modification of DOM, was not required.     

Carbon isotopes of water‐extractable organic carbon in a depth profile of forest soil imply a dynamic relationship with soil carbon

Although considerable research has been conducted on the importance of recent litter compared with older soil organic matter as sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in forest soils, a more thorough evaluation of this mechanism is necessary. We studied water‐extractable organic carbon (WEOC) in a soil profile under a cool‐temperate beech forest by analysing the isotopic composition (¹³C and ¹⁴C) of WEOC and its fractions after separation on a DAX‐8 resin. With depth, WEOC became more enriched in ¹³C, which reflects the increasing proportion of the hydrophilic, isotopically heavier fraction. The ¹⁴C content in WEOC and its fractions decreased with depth, paralleling the ¹⁴C trend in soil organic matter (SOM). These results indicate a dynamic equilibrium of WEOC and soil organic carbon. The dominant process maintaining the WEOC pool in the mineral soil appears to be the microbial release of water‐soluble compounds from the SOM, which alters in time‐scales of decades to centuries.     

Carbon storage in low‐alpine grassland soils: effects of different grazing intensities of sheep

Grazing in outlying fields has a long history and is important in local communities worldwide. During the last few decades, grazing pressure has both decreased and increased in alpine ecosystems, but little is known about the effects on soil carbon storage. As part of a sheep grazing experiment with three sheep stocking rates of no sheep (control), 25 and 80 sheep km^?2, we tested effects of grazing on soil organic carbon storage, the form of soil organic matter (SOM) and its lability (potential carbon mineralization) in organic horizons of low‐alpine grasslands in southern Norway. After 7 years of grazing, the greatest sheep density reduced soil organic carbon concentration (% SOC) and carbon stocks at equivalent soil mass as compared with the control. In contrast, the low stocking rate caused no change or a slight increase. The form of SOM, expressed as ratios of particulate organic carbon to soil organic carbon, was only slightly affected by grazing, with a small decrease and moderate increase at the greater and smaller stocking rate, respectively. The lability of SOM was not affected by grazing directly, but was significantly related to the mineral content of the O‐horizons. In general, there were large differences between the plant communities of snowbed and willow‐shrub for several soil attributes. We concluded that 7 years of grazing had limited impacts on stocks, form and lability of SOM.     

Solubility,partitioning, and activity of copper‐contaminated soils in a semiarid region

We studied the fate of Cu in contaminated semiarid soils from two areas with different mining activities in central Chile. Several regression models were evaluated to use soil physicochemical characteristics to predict solubility, partitioning, and activity of Cu. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the type of Cu mining compound (smelter dust versus tailing sand) can be another important variable determining the bioavailability of Cu. In the studied neutral to alkaline soils, soil organic matter (SOM) enhanced Cu solubility most probably through the formation of organic complexes with dissolved organic C (DOC). As a consequence, Cu solubility and partitioning were better explained by DOC concentration than by SOM content. On the other hand, Cu activity was mainly related to soil pH and was not affected by DOC. Although we found differences between the two study areas, Cu solubility and partitioning might not be as dependent upon the origin of the Cu mining compound as upon other physiochemical characteristics that influence the concentration and characteristics of DOC. Total Cu, pH, and DOC would be the most important variables to consider on Cu solubility, however, data about the nature of SOM may certainly improve the prediction models. Thus, multiple binding site models between Cu and DOC should be studied to improve predictions of Cu solubility.     

Soil organic matter beyond molecular structure Part I: Macromolecular and supramolecular characteristics

This contribution reviews and discusses structural aspects of soil organic matter (SOM) and humic substances (HS) with special respect to the macromolecular and the supramolecular view. It can be concluded that (1) dissolved humic acids behave as supramolecular associations of relatively small molecules with an enormous flexibility of reaction of environmental conditions, (2) multivalent cations may increase the apparent molecular weight by the formation of coordinative crosslinks in dissolved and undissolved natural organic matter (NOM), (3) sorption nonlinearity in solid humic acids and SOM may be due to polymer properties of NOM, (4) sorbates affect sorbent characteristics of SOM, and (5) hysteresis and conditioning effects in SOM can up to now best be explained with the polymer analogy. A distinct polydispersivity of SOM over a wide range of molecular masses is to be assumed. The supramolecular and the macromolecular models were derived from humic acids with different composition and on the basis of different sample states. Although the supramolecular model has not explicitely been shown for unfractionated DOM, the combination of all discussed studies suggests supramolecular as well as macromolecular characteristics of NOM. Neither macromolecules nor small molecules can be fully excluded in solid and dissolved SOM. Microregions with different properties provide different types of sorption sites. SOM is suggested to be regarded as amorphous material. This point of view is not restricted to high molecular masses and may supplement our understanding of SOM by the model of physical aging.     

The Weathering of Mineral Soil by Natural Soil Solutions

Chemical weathering is an important neutralisation process and sourceof cations in forest soil. The presence of dissolved organic matter in the soil solution can have a considerable influence on weathering release. The aim of this study is to compare the weathering potentialof natural soil solutions, collected from Norway spruce, Scots pine and birch sites, to release Al, Ca, Mg, K, Na, and Si from the fine fraction in the C horizon of a podzol. Residual organic matter in the mineral soil was removed with H₂O₂. The <0.06 mm fraction of the mineral soil was suspended in soil solution, collected from the three sites, for 11 days with continuous agitation. Ultrapure water was used as a control. The pH of the suspensions was maintained at 5.4 by bubbling with CO₂. The initial mean DOC concentrations in the soil solutions were 65, 56 and 40 mg L^-1 for the spruce, pine and birch sites, respectively. The presence of DOM in the soil solution did not significantly enhance the capacity to weather mineral soil material, and no systematic differences were found between the three sites. However, Al release from the mineral soil was slightly higher in the soil solutions containing DOM compared to the control solution with no DOM. The proportions of DOM fractions capable of enhancing weathering were comparable with those reported in earlier studies. The weathering of metals was found to be primarily due to pH-driven processes. The lack of considerable weathering enhancement by DOM could be due to the fact that the cation-binding sites of the organic ligands were already saturated by e.g. Al and Fe in the soil solution derived from these podzolic, Al- and Fe-rich soils.