Mineral control of carbon pools in a volcanic soil horizon

The aim of this study was to characterize carbon sequestration by mineralogical control at the scale of a volcanic soil horizon. We adapted the classical density fractionation procedure and focused on the heavy fractions (> 1.9), which we divided into eight organomineral fractions. We characterized them simultaneously through non-destructive mineralogical analyses (XRD and NMR of Al and Si) and organic carbon analyses. The results showed that the largest proportion (82.6%) of organic matter in the horizon was associated with minerals in organomineral complexes. Imogolite type materials bound 6-fold more OM than anorthoclase, and 3.5-fold more OM than iron oxides. In addition, we observed a degree of polymerization of imogolite type materials that was midway between that of allophane and Al in Al-humus complexes. In conclusion, the results of this density fractionation combined with a mineralogical approach suggested that OM in the heavy fractions could be divided into several pools depending on the nature of the minerals.     

Does Particulate Organic Matter Fraction Meet the Criteria for a Model Soil Organic Matter Pool?

There is a well-recognized need for improved fractionation methods to partition soil organic matter into functional pools. Physical separation based on particle size is widely used, yielding particulate organic matter(POM, i.e., free or "uncomplexed" organic matter 50 μm) as the most labile fraction. To evaluate whether POM meets criteria for an ideal model pool, we examined whether it is:1) unique, i.e., found only in the 50 μm fraction and 2) homogeneous, rather than a composite of different subfractions. Following ultrasonic dispersion, sand( 50 μm) along with coarse(20–50 μm) and fine(5–20 μm) silt fractions were isolated from a silt loam soil under long-term pasture at Lincoln, New Zealand. The sand and silt fractions contained 20% and 21% of total soil C, respectively.We adopted a sequential density separation procedure using sodium polytungstate with density increasing step-wise from 1.7 to 2.4 g cm~(-3) to recover organic matter(light fractions) from the sand and silt fractions. Almost all(ca. 90%) the organic matter in the sand fraction and a large proportion(ca. 60%–70%) in the silt fractions was recovered by sequential density separation. The results suggested that POM is a composite of organo-mineral complexes with varying proportions of organic and mineral materials. Part of the organic matter associated with the silt fractions shared features in common with POM. In a laboratory bio-assay, biodegradability of POM varied depending on land use(pasture arable cropping). We concluded that POM is neither homogeneous nor unique.     

A 13C-NMR study on the formation of soil organic matter from grass residues

The development of C-distribution on functional groups in soil organic matter (SOM) was investigated in whole soil samples and organomineral particle-size fractions from the 34-year-old pot experiment Hu3-Loamy marl at Rostock. CPMAS-¹³C-NMR spectra of grass roots and whole soil samples indicated the enrichment of carboxyl-C, aliphatic C and aromatic C in SOM, Only minor changes were observed in the SOM-C distribution on functional groups between 13th and 34th experimental year. The investigation of organomineral clay and silt-size fractions showed a specific retention of aliphatics in clay. The most obvious changes in organic matter composition in size-fractions were the increase of carbohydrate-C and decrease of aromatic C.     

Assessment of the mobility and time of renewal of the densimetric fractions of organic matter in chestnut soils from the ratio of stable carbon isotopes

The results of experimental studying of the organic matter status in soils using methods of granulodensimetric fractionation and the geochemistry of the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes are presented. The organic and organomineral matter in chestnut soils representing a chronoseries—stages of natural changes in the vegetation with different carbon isotope compositions—were investigated. The organomineral fractions and fractions of free organic matter were distinguished, the changes in their proportion due to the changes in the vegetation were analyzed, and the residence time of the carbon in the organic matter of the fractions was assessed.     

水旱轮作条件下土壤有机无机复合状况的研究

在黄棕壤和灰潮土上进行水旱轮作条件下土壤有机无机复合状况变化的研究表明:1.水改旱有利于促进土壤有机质与土壤矿质部分的复合,增加土壤有机无机复合量,旱改水则使游离态有机质增多。2.水改旱后,土壤所复合的腐殖质中紧结态的相对较多,同时松结态和紧结态腐殖质的易氧化部分增多,能促使结合态腐殖质的氧化更新;旱改水后,松结态腐殖质相对增多,以及松结态和紧结态腐殖质的难氧化部分增多。3.水改旱后可导致土壤腐殖质组分上的差异,即HA-B/FA-B的比值升高;HA-A/FA-A的比值下降。4.水改旱后土壤碳、氮含量除细粘粒复合体中有增加外,其他粒径复合体中的都减少了,而磷、硫含量在粗粘粒和细粘粒复合体中均有明显增加,说明水改旱有利于缩短土壤有机质以及氮、磷、硫养分的循环周期,促进其易矿化性。     

Microbial mineralization of humic acid-3,4-dichloroaniline complexes

3,4-Dichloroaniline (DCA), a biodegradation intermediate of numerous herbicides, binds covalently to soil humus to form persistent complexes. Prompted by the possibility that, upon repeated treatments, xenobiotic residues may accumulate in humus, the turnover rates of intact, solvent-extracted, and hydrolyzed humic complexes of ¹⁴C-DCA were compared with that of similarly-treated soil organic matter fractions. The turnover rate of intact humic-DCA complexes was considerably faster than the average turnover of soil organic matter. Humic-DCA complexes, that had been washed in solvents to remove adsorbed DCA or hydrolyzed to break susceptible chemical bonds, had turnover rates that were equal to or slower than that of the average soil organic matter, respectively. However, the turnover rates of the solvent-washed and hydrolyzed humic-DCA complexes were similar to that of identically-treated humic acid. The evidence indicates that an extensive accumulation of DCA or similar herbicide-derived halogenated anilines in soil organic matter is unlikely.     

Interaction of heavy metals with the organic matter of an ordinary chernozem

Lead, copper, and zinc interacted with the soil organic matter when applied to an ordinary chernozem in a pot experiment. Two years after the treatment, an appreciable part of the metals applied was found in the organic substances, predominantly in a loosely bound state. These organic substances were supposed to be organomineral complexes, the formation of which resulted in the partial destruction of humic acid molecules. These processes increased the content of aliphatic structures and the share of fulvic acids and decreased the content of humic acids in the organic matter of the chernozem.     

DENSIMETRIC FRACTIONATION OF SOIL ORGANO-MINERAL COMPLEXES

A rapid, simple, and precise density fractionation of soil mineral-organic complexes, suitable for routine work, is described. Special features of the method are: low sample weight, use of glass-fibre paper to collect the lighter fractions, and use of a modified Walkley-Black procedure to determine the carbon content of the light fraction in test tubes. Density-distribution curves of organo-mineral soil complexes are shown to yield useful basic information on degradation processes of soil organic matter caused by cultivation. The results suggest that complexes between clay and organic matter tend to build up preferentially with a certain proportion between the components.     

Effects of liming on organic matter decomposition and phosphorus extractability in an acid humic Ranker soil from northwest Spain

Summary A laboratory incubation experiment was carried out over 17 weeks to determine the effect of liming on soil organic matter. The amount of lime as calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)₂] required to completely neutralise exchangeable Al was found to be five times the standard lime requirement. This large amount of lime had a limited overall effect on the short-term stability of soil organic matter, causing the release of 1300 g g^-1 of C (1.7% total soil C) above the control during the incubation. Liming may have altered the potential availability of soil organic matter and organic P, as shown by a marked reduction in the extractability of soil organic P with sodium bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide. The latter was unlikely to be due to the formation of calclium-P artefacts, and may be attributed to the combined chemical effects of added calcium hydroxide and precipitation of exchangeable Al on the nature and solubility of soil organic constituents and organomineral complexes. The addition of lime increased the degradation of added oak leaf litter by 50%, from 3.2 to 4.7 mg g^-1, as determined by CO₂ evolution. The enhanced litter degradation indicated increased microbial activity in limed soil, but this improvement had only minor effects on the stability of native organic matter. This study highlights the need for further research into the relationships between the chemical nature of organic P in soil and the physical, chemical, temporal, and agronomic factors that control its turnover and availability.     

Organic carbon stabilization in microaggregates of sod-podzolic soils depending on land use

The variations in organic matter content related to changes in land use depend on the localization and soil stabilization mechanisms. Plowing of sod-podzolic soil results in a ninefold decrease in the free organic matter content. The carbon content in organic and organomineral fractions localized in microaggregates gets 2 and 1.3 times lower, respectively. The ratio between carbon fractions in coarse and fine microaggregates increases from 2 to 3. The natural forestation of agricultural lands leads to an increase in the amount of free and aggregated organic matter and a decrease in the organomineral component of microaggregates and the ratio between carbon fractions in coarse and fine microaggregates.     

Humus Forms in Forest Soils: Concepts and Classifications

The concepts and classifications of humus forms developed since the time of scientific pedology formation are critically discussed. The concept of humus forms (types) relates to the classification of a set of topsoil organic and organomineral horizons, which reflects morphologically distinct phases of plant litter and soil organic matter decomposition, but not to the fractions of soil organic matter. Humus forms reflect various types of transformation and accumulation of organic matter in the soil. The stages of development and modern classifications of humus forms abroad are described. The taxonomy of humus forms in Russian literature and its application for the mapping and evaluation of forest soils are considered, as well as its use for the mathematical simulation of soil organic matter mineralization and humification. Prospects for the development of the classification of humus forms in combination with the basic soil classification of European Russia are discussed. A call for an understanding and a common language in soil science at the international level is underlined.     

Location and stability of a recombinant ovine prion protein in synthetic humic-like mineral complexes

Location and stability of a recombinant prion protein (recPrP) and its interaction with humic-like complexes were investigated by low-temperature ashing (LTA), thermal gravimetric (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Humic-like complexes were obtained by abiotic polymerization of catechol, one of the possible precursors of soil humic matter, through the catalysis of birnessite, a manganese oxide common in soil environment. The recPrP was immobilized in organomineral complexes via sorption or entrapment. Complexes were treated by LTA, allowing the controlled removal of organic matter layer by layer, from the external to the internal side, with minimal disturbance of mineral constituents. Thermal gravimetric and SEM analyses were performed on specimens before and after LTA treatment. Entrapped recPrP, compared with sorbed, resulted less easily accessible to LTA treatment and showed a higher thermal stability by TGA analyses. On the basis of these findings, we hypothesize that the processes leading to newly formed organic complexes can enhance prion stability in soil and thus influence the environmental diffusion of infectivity.     

Transformation of Lead Solid Fraction in the Rhizosphere of Elsholtzia splendens: The Importance of Organic Matter

The rhizosphere, enriched in organic matter, is the bottleneck of metal transfer in the soil–plant system. However, the transformation of metal fractions in the rhizosphere and the mechanisms that are involved, notably the role of organic matter, are poorly known. In this study, the solid-phase fractionation of lead (Pb) in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil of Elsholtzia splendens in a Pb-contaminated soil was investigated using a nine-step selective sequential extraction method in a pot experiment. Compared to the non-rhizosphere soil, there were measurable increases in Pb-fulvic complexes, Pb-humic complexes, organic Pb, and amorphous Pb but no significant changes in other forms of Pb in the rhizosphere soil. Pb-fulvic complexes and organic Pb, increasing from 397 to 438 mg kg^?1 and 229 to 258 mg kg^?1, respectively, showed a stronger accumulating trend than Pb-humic complexes and amorphous Pb, with an increase from 15.9 to 17.3 mg kg^?1 and 6.04 to 7.80 mg kg^?1 respectively, in the rhizosphere soil relative to non rhizosphere soil. These results may be mainly due to the enrichment of organic matter in the rhizosphere soil, resulting from root exudation and the enhanced turnover of microorganisms. The accumulation of Pb-fulvic complexes in the rhizosphere soil increases the potential phytoavailable pool, thus likely facilitating the phytoextraction of Pb in metal-contaminated soil.     

Use of a double radioactive label (<Superscript>54</Superscript>Mn and <Superscript>14</Superscript>C) in the study of organomineral manganese compounds

A fundamentally new approach to the study of natural organomineral materials was proposed. A procedure was developed for using a double carbon-metal label in the systemic study of organomineral complexes of soils and conjugated landscape objects. A significant effect of water-soluble organic ligands on the migration of manganese in soils was shown. It was found that mineral manganese compounds were transformed into organomineral ones differing in composition, solubility, and stability, and the complex of humus substances in podzolic soil was a peculiar matrix on which a complex system of organomineral compounds was developed. The input mechanism of organomineral complexes with different molecular weights (MWs) into plants was studied. Pot experiments using a root exudates sampling procedure and a double radioactive label (⁵⁴Mn and ¹⁴C) showed that the organomineral complexes of Mn with the fulvic acid fraction (MW > 10000) came intact to corn roots. The fulvic acid fraction (MW 380) and manganese ions independently passed from the soil solution into the young plants.     

Theoretical approaches to modelling the dynamics of soil organic matter

Two theoretical concepts of the formation of the soil organic matter (OM) system are considered as a methodological basis for the mathematical simulation of its dynamics. In the theory of physical protection of OM without the formation of humic substances with the physical fractionation methodolody, the main focus is on the functional parameters of the OM components separated by their mineralization rates. Here, two conceptual disadvantages are noted: (a) neglect of the specificity of OM transformation in organic soil horizons, where humified OM resistant to mineralization is formed, which cannot be explained by this theory; and (b) consideration of the soil microorganisms as a unified undifferentiated complex. In classical humification theory, a number of humification stages are considered with the respective communities of decomposer organisms that mineralize OM and transform biota products into humic substances. The silvicultural concept of humus forms was found to be effective and suitable for a wide range of natural conditions with the use of this theory for OM simulation. There is a general shortcoming to both approaches: protection theory has no parameters of recalcitrant OM formation from other fractions; in humification theory, the quantitative humification parameters under the effect of soil fauna have yet to be sufficiently substantiated. The values of the turnover time for active, intermediate, and recalcitrant OM are revised. The importance of theoretically substantiating the structural and functional organization of OM for its dynamic modelling is emphasized.     

Evaluation of an ultrasonic dispersion procedure to isolate primary organomineral complexes from soils

Soil organic matter can be intimately associated with mineral particles of various sizes. For structural studies, soil organic matter can be isolated in particle size fractions after complete dispersion of the aggregates by ultrasonication. The ultrasonic dispersion energy necessary for complete dispersion was investigated in three A and two B horizons originating from four soils differing in pedogenesis (Gleysol, Phaeozem, Podzol, Alisol), organic C (4.2–34.5 g kg^–1) and clay content (24–294 g kg^–1). Calorimetric calibration of five probe-type ultrasonifiers revealed that the actual energy output from an instrument can depart widely from its nominal output, and that this discrepancy varies from instrument to instrument. Calorimetric calibration is therefore essential for consistency and comparisons between laboratories. Between 450 and 500 J ml^–1 of ultrasonic dispersion energy was enough to disperse completely all samples investigated. The particle size distributions obtained were close to those from standard analysis, except for smaller yields (–20 to –80 g kg^–1) of sand size fractions, which suggests that dispersion by ultrasound is more effective. Based on total C, C:N ratio and distribution of dissolved C, no detachment of soil organic matter from primary organomineral complexes and no redistribution between particle size fractions could be detected in the range 30–590 J ml^–1 of dispersion energy.     

西班牙西北部大西洋硅质土的形成—高精度Al和Fe分级研究

Atlantic rankers belong to the group of ＂cryptopodzolic rankers＂, which are ubiquitous in the mountainous cool/temperate humid regions of Western Europe. The rankers of Galicia （NW Spain） formed by thousands of years of colluviation. The preponderance of Al-stabilised organic matter （OM） masks the horizonation and polycyclic character （i.e., stratification） of these soils. Cryptopodzolic rankers are generally thought to be the outcome of podzolisation. This soil type is part of the recent discussion on how to classify soils developed from nonvolcanic parent material having andic properties.
To better understand the formation processes of these soils, the Al and Fe fractionation of four typical Atlantic rankers were studied by selective dissolution in acid NH4-oxalate, Na-pyrophosphate and the chlorides of K, La and Cu. A high-resolution sampling approach allowed us to investigate the soils in greater detail than simply sampling by horizon. The rankers studied display a distribution of Fe- and AI-OM complexes that is typical of cryptopodzolic soils. However, these organomineral associations were probably immobile due to the high Al saturation. We argue that the soils owe their characteristic chemical status to external factors rather than to translocation of organomineral associations： variations in AI-OM concentrations could be linked to changes in weathering/leaching intensity and colluviation rates caused by anthropogenic disturbances or changes in regional climate regime.     

SOM fractionation methods: Relevance to functional pools and to stabilization mechanisms

Soil organic matter (SOM) consists of various functional pools that are stabilized by specific mechanisms and have certain turnover rates. For the development of mechanistic models that predict changes in SOM storage, these pools have to be quantified and characterized. In the past, numerous fractionation schemes have been developed to separate and analyse such SOM fractions. In this review, the SOM fractions obtained with such operational fractionation procedures are described in terms of their pool sizes, chemical properties, and turnover rates. The main objective of this review is to evaluate these operationally defined fractions with respect to their suitability to describe functional SOM pools that could be used to parameterize SOM turnover models. Fractionation procedures include (1) physical separation of SOM into aggregate, particle size, and density fractions and fractions according to their magnetic susceptibility, and (2) various wet chemical procedures that fractionate SOM according to solubility, hydrolysability, and resistance to oxidation or by destruction of the mineral phase. Furthermore, combinations of fractionation methods are evaluated.The active SOM pool with turnover rates <10 years may best be represented by the soil microbial biomass and the light fraction (<1.6-2 g cm⁻³) obtained by density fractionation (if black carbon contents are considered). Most chemical and physical fractionations as well as combinations of methods yield SOM fractions that are not homogeneous in terms of turnover rates. It has proven to be particularly difficult to isolate functional fractions that represent the passive model pools in which the majority of soil SOM is stabilized. The available fractionation methods do not correspond to specific stabilization mechanisms and hence do not describe functional SOM pools. Another problem is that comprehensive data for turnover rates and data for whole soil profiles are only now becoming available, especially for new fractionation methods. Such information as well as the use of specific markers and compound-specific isotope analysis may be important for future differentiation and evaluation of functional SOM fractions.     

土壤有机质周转计算机模拟原理

土壤有机质变化与土壤肥力和大气CO2 变化有密切的关系 ,建立土壤有机质周转计算机模型并进行模拟是预测土壤有机质长期变化的重要手段。本文简要回顾了土壤有机质周转计算机模拟模型的发展和现有主要模型 (如RothC、CENTURY等 )的特点和应用范围 ,着重讨论了建模基本原理 ,包括模型结构和过程、主要因子选择、模拟和预测能力的检验和评估方法等 ,并分析了目前所存在的问题。