Extractable Al and Si compounds in pale-podzolic soils of the Central Forest Reserve: Contents and distribution along the profile and by size fractions

The profile distributions of oxalate- and pyrophosphate-soluble Al compounds and oxalate-soluble Si compounds in the main horizons of pale-podzolic soils of the Central Forest Reserve and the fractions <1. 1–5, and >5 μm have been considered. In the clay-eluvial part of soil profile, the content of these compounds is differentiated by the eluvial–illuvial type with a clear accumulation in the EL horizon compared to the AEL horizon. This distribution is largely ensured by their differentiation in the clay and fine silt fractions, while an accumulative distribution of mobile Al compounds is observed in fractions >5 μm. The high correlation between the Al and Si contents in the Tamm extracts from the clay and fine silt fractions with the (Al_ox–Al_py)/Si_ox molar ratios, which are in the range of 1–3 in the EL horizon, confirms that mobile compounds are accumulated in these fractions in the form of amorphous aluminosilicates. In the AEL and EL horizons, an additional amount of Al can pass into the oxalate solution from the fine fractions due to the dissolution of Al hydroxide interlayers of soil chlorites. The eluvial–illuvial distribution of mobile Al and Si compounds typical for Al–Fe–humus podzols within the clay-illuvial part of profiles of the soils under study can be considered as an example of superimposed evolution.     

Genetic features of soils on sorted sand deposits of different origins in the Kola Peninsula

Differences in the chemical composition of soils developed from sorted sands of different origins are revealed. The iron-illuvial podzols on rich glaciofluvial and marine sands are characterized by well-pronounced Al-Fe-humus differentiation of the Si, Al, and Fe in the soil profile. These soils are relatively similar in their bulk elemental composition. The difference between them is seen in the degree of differentiation of the soil profiles; it is stronger in the soils developed from glaciofluvial deposits. This is particularly true with respect to the oxalate-soluble iron and aluminum hydroxides. The deposits derived from the red-colored Tersk sandstone and processed by the sea (in the coastal zone of the White Sea) have the poorest chemical composition. In the soils developed from them, the differentiation of oxalate-soluble compounds is slightly pronounced (for Fe) or completely absent (for Si and Al). These soils can be classified as podzolized ferruginous red-colored psammozems (within the order of poorly developed soils) with the following horizons: O-Ce-Cf-C. The Ce horizon has the features of podzolization, and the Cf horizon has some features attesting to the illuvial accumulation of Fe. The profile of these soils inherits a reddish tint from the parent material.     

Oxalate-soluble compounds of Al, Fe, and Si in soils of cold humid regions as a function of weathering

Original and published data on the contents of X-ray amorphous oxalate-soluble compounds of Al, Fe, and Si in mesomorphic eluvial soils of cold, moderately cold, and moderately warm continental humid and semihumid regions are generalized. The groups of soils developed from mafic igneous, metamorphic, and pyroclastic rocks are considered. It is shown that the content of oxalate-soluble oxides (OSOx) in the horizons of their maximal accumulation varies from less than 1% to 20–30%; the Al_ox/Fe_ox ratio varies from 1 to 6.5. The leading factor dictating the amount and quality of the OSOx in the soils is the presence or absence of volcanic glass in the parent materials. The boundary between the soils with and without volcanic glass corresponds to the OSOx content of 5% and the Al₂O_3ox/Fe₂O_3ox ratio equal to 2. These criteria are more reliable than the Al_ox/Fe_ox ratio used by foreign soil scientists to specify Andosols (Al_ox/Fe_ox > 2). The contents of oxalate-soluble oxides of Al and Fe do not depend on the total contents of these oxides in the parent material and seem to be related to the presence of these elements in minerals with different resistance to weathering. Under the natural conditions described in this paper, the content of OSOx shows a very weak response to zonal (temperature-controlled) climatic changes and/or to changes in the degree of humidity and the continentality of the climate.     

Iron Compounds and the Color of Soils in the Sakhalin Island

Numerical parameters of soil color were studied according to the CIE-L*a*b color system before and after the Tamm’s and Mehra-Jackson’s treatments; we also determined the total Fe content in the samples from the main genetic horizons of the alluvial gray-humus soil, two profiles of burozems, and two profiles of podzols in the Sakhalin Island. In the analyzed samples, the numerical color parameters L* (lightness), a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) are found to vary within 46–73, 3–11, and 8–28, respectively. A linear relationship is revealed between the numerical values of a* parameters and Fe content in the Mehra-Jackson extracts; the regression equations are derived with the determination coefficients (R²): 0.49 (typical burozem), 0.79 (podzolized burozem), 0.96 (shallow-podzolic mucky podzol), 0.98 (gray-humus gley alluvial soil). For the surface-podzolic mucky podzol contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, R² was equal to only 0.03. In the gray humus (AY) and structural-metamorphic (BM) horizons of the studied soils, a* and b* parameters decrease after their treatment with the Tamm’s reagent by 2 points on average. After the Mehra-Jackson treatment, the a* parameter decreased by 6 (AY) and 8 (BM) points; whereas b* parameter, by 10 and 15 points, respectively. In the E horizons of podzols, the Tamm’s treatment increased a* and b* parameters by 1 point; whereas the Mehra-Jackson’s treatment decreased these parameters by only 1 and 3 points, respectively. The redness (a*) decreased maximally in the lower gley horizon of the alluvial gray humus soil, i.e., by 6 (in the Tamm’s extract) and 10 points (in the Mehra-Jackson’s) extract. Yellowness (b*) decreased by 12 and 17 points, respectively. The revealed color specifics in the untreated samples and the color transformation under the impact of reagents in the studied soils and horizons may serve as an additional parameter that characterizes quantitatively the object of investigation in the reference databases.     

Primary pedogenesis in the tailings of apatite-nepheline ores on the Kola Peninsula

Primary signs of pedogenesis and soil profile formation on nepheline sands were revealed: the formation of a shallow litter layer, the accumulation of humus substances and oxalate-soluble Si and Al in the mineral horizon below the litter, and the acidification of the upper sand layer.     

Mobilization of dissolved organic matter, aluminium and iron in podzol eluvial horizons as affected by formation of metal-organic complexes and interactions with solid soil material

Interactions with dissolved organic matter (DOM) are generally believed to play a crucial role in the translocation of Al and Fe in acid sandy soils. Binding of Al and Fe to DOM affects their mobility in soils by altering sorption equilibria of charged sites on solid soil material, inducing precipitation of organo‐metallic complexes and preventing the formation of inorganic Al and Fe phases. The relative importance of the different processes, especially with respect to the translocation of Al, Fe and organic matter in podzols, remains unresolved. We determined the effect of the presence of solid soil material from the eluvial (AhE and AE, respectively) horizons of a Fimic Anthrosol and a Haplic Podzol on the metal‐to‐organic carbon (M/C) ratio in solution and the formation of dissolved organic Al and Fe complexes. Furthermore, we assessed the resulting influence on the mobilization of Al, Fe and DOM. Even under considerable metal loading, the M/C ratios and ‘free’ metal fractions in solution remained low and relatively constant, due to an apparent buffering by the solid phase and the formation of organo‐metal complexes in solution. The M/C ratios remained so low that significant precipitation of organo‐metal complexes due to saturation with metals was not found. The apparent buffering by the solid phase can be explained by a strong release of organic matter from solid soil material and adsorption of non‐complexed Al and Fe on solid organic matter upon metal addition. Adsorption of organo‐metal complexes most likely played only a minor role. The observations confirm the expected mobilization of Al, Fe and DOM in eluvial horizons and seem to indicate that even under fluctuating input of Al, Fe and DOM the soil solution will have a constant composition with respect to M/C ratios and percentage of Al and Fe present in dissolved organo‐metal complexes.     

Mechanisms controlling the mobility of dissolved organic matter, aluminium and iron in podzol B horizons

The processes governing the (im)mobilization of Al, Fe and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in podzols are still subject to debate. In this study we investigated the mechanisms of (im)mobilization of Al, Fe and organic matter in the upper and lower B horizons of two podzols from the Netherlands that are in different stages of development. We equilibrated batches of soil material from each horizon with DOM solutions obtained from the Oh horizon of the corresponding soil profiles. We determined the amount of (im)mobilized Al, Fe and DOM after addition of Al and Fe at pH 4.0 and 4.5 and initial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations of 10 mg C litre^?1 or 30 mg C litre^?1, respectively. At the combination of pH and DOC concentrations most realistic for the field situation, organic matter was retained in all horizons, the most being retained in the lower B horizon of the well‐developed soil and the least in the upper B horizon of the younger profile. Organic matter solubility seemed to be controlled mainly by precipitation as organo‐metal complexes and/or by adsorption on freshly precipitated solid Al‐ and Fe‐phases. In the lower B horizons, at pH 4.5, solubility of Al and Fe appeared to be controlled mainly by the equilibrium with secondary solid Al‐ and Fe‐phases. In the upper B horizons, the solubility of Al was controlled by adsorption processes, while Fe still precipitated as inorganic complexes as well as organic complexes in spite of the prevailing more acidic pH. Combined with a previous study of eluvial horizons from the same profiles, the results confirm the important role of organic matter in the transport of Al and Fe to create illuvial B horizons initially and subsequently deepening and differentiating them into Bh and Bs horizons.     

Sesquioxidic components of selected Taiwan soils

Twenty two surface soils, representing six parent materials and four soil groups, were sampled in Taiwan for the present study.Except in the soil derived from volcanic ash, the sesquioxidic components and relatively easily extractable Si were present only in small amounts in the NaOAc and H₂O₂- NaOAc extractable fractions. In addition to Fe, both Si and Al were present in the dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate extracts in considerable amounts, indicating that Si and Al were either present separately or in association with Fe in the sesquioxidic fractions of the soils. The amounts of Si, Al and Fe extracted by the dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate and boiling KOH treatments differed from sample to sample, indicating that they are important variables in the nature of the soils studied.The amounts of the ammonium oxalate-extractable Al and Fe, representing the noncrystalline sesquioxidic products of relatively recent weathering, also differed with parent materials and pedogenic processes. The statistical data indicate that the ammonium oxalate-extractable Al and Fe are related to the contents of organic matter but not to acidity and the contents of clay. The percentage distribution of the extractable Al in the > 2 μm fractions of the selected soil samples ranged from 22.0 to 52.5% and that of the extractable Fe from 11.1 to 38.1%, indicating that the active non-crystalline Al and Fe components in the non-clay fractions deserve close attention in the study of pedogenesis and other soil physicochemical reactions in relation to soil fertility and environmental protection.     

Composition and Characteristics of Organo—Mineral Complexes of Red Soils in South China

The objective of the present study is to reveal the composition and characteristics of organo-mineral complexes in red soils (red soil,lateritic red soil and latosol) of south China in terms of chemical dissolution and fractional peptization methos.In the combined humus,most of the extractable humus could dissolve in 0.1 M NaOH extractant and belonged to active humus (H1),and there was only a small amount of humus which could be further dissolved in 0.1 M Na4P2O7 extractant at pH 13 and was stably combined humus (H2).The H1/H2 ratio ranged from 3.3 to 33.8 in red soils,and the proportions of both H1 and total extractable organic carbon (H1 H2) in total soil organic carbon and the ratios of H1 to H2 and H1 to (H1 H2) were all higher in lateritic red soil and latosol than in red soil.The differences of combined humus composition in various red soils were directly related to the content of Fe and Al oxides.In organo-mineral complexes,the ratio of Na-dispersed fraction (G1) to Na-ground-dispersed fraction (G2) was generally smaller than 1 for red soils,but there was a higher G1/G2 ratio in red soil than in lateritic red soil and latosol.G1 fraction had a higher content of fulvic acid (FA),but G2 fraction had a higher content of humic acid (HA).The ratios of H1 to H2 and HA to FA were higher in G2 than in G1.The differences in the composition and activity of humus between G1 and G2 fractions were related to the content of free Fe and Al oxides.The quantities of complex Fe and Al,the Fe/C and Al/C atomic ratios were higher in G2 than in G1,and the ratio of Al/C was much higher than that of Fe/C.It may be deduced that aluminum plays a more important role than iron in the formation process of organo-mineral complexes in red soils.     

Distribution of total and extractable forms of iron,manganese, and aluminum in development of rice soils of saga polder lands

The distribution of pedogenic oxides of Fe, Mn, and Al was described for rice soils of Saga polder lands and its relationship to soil development with time was investigated. The distribution of Mn largely parallelled that of Fe and in response to the soil development their accumulation occurred in the B horizons of the profiles. Manganese was the clement most susceptible to downward movement, which lad to a pronounced lowering of extractable Mn content in the surface horizons in well-developed soil morphology. By contrast, this is not the case for Al which, in general, had little change in extractable Al and a slight increase in total Al with depth as the time increased. Apparently the distribution of Mn was largely governed by the extent of reduction processes, whereas in the Al distribution clay migration may be a principal controlling factor. The distribution of Fe may be due chiefly to the reduction processes, with some contribution from the clay migration.     

Pedogenic and biogenic alkaline‐extracted silicon distributions along a temperate land‐use gradient

The primary source of dissolved silicon (Si: DSi) is the weathering of silicate minerals. In recent years, it has been shown that Si cycling through vegetation creates a more soluble Si pool in the soil, as amorphous Si (ASi) deposits in plants (phytoliths) are returned to the soil through litter. Amorphous Si accumulation in soils depends on a number of factors, including land use. In addition to the biogenic ASi fraction, soils contain other non‐biogenic amorphous and sorbed Si fractions that could contribute significantly to DSi export to rivers, but hitherto these Si fractions have been difficult to separate from each other with traditionally applied extraction methods. The objective of this paper is to understand better how land use affects the distribution of the different extractable Si fractions. We re‐analysed samples from the land‐use gradient studied previously by Clymans et al. ( 2011 ) with a continuous Si and aluminium (Al) extraction technique. Different extractable Si fractions of biogenic or pedogenic origin were successfully separated on the basis of their dissolution in alkaline solutions (Na₂CO₃ and NaOH) and Si:Al ratios. We show that forests store almost all alkaline extractable Si (AlkExSi) in the pedogenic fraction while the importance of phytoliths increases with human disturbance to become the dominant fraction in the AlkExSi pool at the arable site. The pedogenic AlkExSi pool is also more reactive than the phytolith‐bound Si. Conversely, pastures and croplands tend to preserve phytoliths in the soil, which are less reactive, decreasing the potential of DSi export relative to forested ecosystems.     

Dynamics of acid-soluble iron compounds in soddy-podzolic soils of the southern Komi Republic

The content of total iron and its contents in the Tamm, Mehra-Jackson, and 1 N H₂SO₄ extracts were determined for arable and forest soddy-podzolic soils with different degrees of gleyzation. The seasonal dynamics of the acid-soluble iron compounds in the soils were studied. It was found that the amount of iron extractable by 1 N H₂SO₄ was smaller than that passing into the Tamm and Mehra-Jackson solutions. The seasonal variation of the acid-soluble iron compounds in the humid years was significantly higher than in the dry years; it depended on the hydrological conditions of the year of observations and the soil density and degree of gleyzation. The temperature conditions of the year of observations had a lower effect on the content of the acid-soluble iron. The profile distributions of the acid-soluble and total iron depended on the vertical and lateral migration of water, as well as the meso- and microrelief conditions. An increase in the content of acid-soluble iron was observed under the decreased temperature in the spring and fall. The mobilization of iron under the effect of podzolization was activated during the period of the summer rains. In the third year of the agricultural development, the content of acid-soluble iron in the soils slightly decreased, which could be indicative of a decrease in the content of iron involved in the biological cycle under the development and drainage conditions. An exception was provided by the arable soils on the toeslope, where the content of acid-soluble iron was higher than that in the forest soils occupying analogous positions in the relief.     

Mobile iron, aluminium and carbon in sandy coastal podzols of Fraser Island, Australia: a quantitative analysis

In this paper podzols of free-draining sands in south-eastern Queensland are examined. The 14 profiles represent a chronosequence from young incipient podzols, to ancient ‘giant podzols’ of Pleistocene age, with a spodic horizon at a depth of 8–10 m. Carbon, Fe and Al were determined in pyrophosphate, and Fe, Al and Si in oxalate extracts. The resulting profile distributions were modelled by three expressions, fitted for each attribute, which accounted for surface accumulation, B horizon development and a phase (B/C horizon) of constant composition with depth. The parameters may be used to characterize soil profiles. They show that there is a tendency for the accumulation of carbon in the B horizon to be reflected by Fe and particularly A1 accumulation, which supports the proposition that carbon is directly associated with the transport of A1 and Fe. A feature of many of these soils is a deeply weathered surface with little tendency for commensurate development of an illuvial horizon. Rates of removal of Fe and Al from the A horizon were obtained by comparison of the depths of leaching with age estimates based on geomorphology, and they indicate a non-linear rate of increase in the thickness of the A horizon.     

Relationships between the Ratio of Plant-Available Phosphorus (P-AL) to Total Phosphorus and Soil Properties

Abstract

The relationships between the ratio of plant-available phosphorus (P-AL) to total P and soil properties were examined in 52 samples of mineral soils collected from different parts of Norway. The ratio P-AL/total P in the soils was used as a measurement of a soil's capacity to bind P in sparsely soluble forms and of the possibility for plants to utilize added P. Simple regression analysis showed that the ratio P-AL/total P was correlated with clay (r= ?0.60???, significant at the 0.1% probability level), Tamm acid oxalate extractable Fe (r= ?0.63???), and Tamm acid oxalate extractable Al (r-= ?0.44???), but not with organic C and pH. Variation of Fe, Al and clay content could explain 50% of the variation of the ratio of P-Al/total P. Partial correlation coefficients showed that Fe was the most important factor explaining the variation of the ratio of P-AL/total P.     

Soil aluminum and iron fractions and their relationships with P immobilization and other soil properties in andisols of costa rica and panama

Abstract

The immobilization of P is a significant fertility limitation of Andisols in Central America. It is believed that soil Al and Fe fractions have an important influence on P availability. This study was conducted to obtain information on the various forms of Al and Fe in ten pedons derived from volcanic ash in Panama and Costa Rica. Correlations between these Al and Fe fractions and P immobilization were measured by different methods.

The Al and Fe fractions, extracted by acid ammonium oxalate, 4M KOH, sodium pyrophosphate and dithionite‐citrate, were determined, and the correlations between these fractions, P immobilization, and other soil properties made.

It was observed that oxalate extractable Al correlated significantly with P immobilization, which had values of over 85% by the New Zealand method and 96% by the isotherm method. The Al concentration corresponding to this immobilization was over 2%. The difference between oxalate extractable Al and pyrophosphate extractable Al (inorganic Al fraction) correlated with P immobilization also. The pyrophosphate extractable Al fraction had the lowest concentrations and did not correlate with P immobilization. The NaF‐pH and dithionite‐citrate extractable Al correlated significantly with P immobilization.

Oxalate extractable Fe correlated with the P retained by the isotherm method, but dithionite‐citrate extractable Fe was negatively correlation with P immobilized. No correlations were found between the pyrophosphate extractable Fe and other soil properties.     

氮、磷、钾肥与酚对漂洗水稻土硅、铝、铁的活化效应

本研究以四川盆地西缘茶区漂洗水稻土为供试土壤,采用浸提试验探讨尿素（N）、磷酸二氢钙（P）、硫酸钾（K）和邻苯二酚（Phy）对其硅、铝、铁的活化效应（以浸提液硅、铝、铁的浓度表征）,结果表明: 1）各种处理浸提液均以硅的浓度最大,铝次之,铁最小,即活化效应为硅＞铝＞铁; 2）浸提液硅的浓度为NPK+Phy＞NPK P＞Phy＞K CK N处理,说明磷肥通过磷酸根的配位吸附对其活化产生最重要的影响,同时酚类物质也通过弱酸作用促进其活化; 3）浸提液铝的浓度为NPK+Phy＞Phy＞P NPK K N CK处理,说明酚类物质通过与游离铝形成可溶性络合物而对其活化起突出作用,同时磷肥中的钙离子和钾肥中的钾离子也能将强酸性供试土壤中大量交换性铝离子交换而活化; 4）浸提液铁的浓度为NPK+Phy＞Phy＞K P NPK CK N处理,说明酚类物质通过络合溶铁、还原溶铁等作用对其活化做出重大贡献,同时钾肥中的钾离子和磷肥中的钙离子也将土壤胶体吸附的亚铁离子交换而活化; 5）尿素对漂洗水稻土硅、铝、铁均无显著活化效应。综上所述,磷、钾肥和酚类物质是漂洗水稻土中硅、铝、铁活化的重要影响因素。     

Mobilization of aluminium, iron and silicon by Picea abies and ectomycorrhizas in a forest soil

Weathering of soil minerals is a key determinant of ground and surface water quality and is also important in pedogenic and rhizosphere processes. The relative importance of biotic and abiotic studies in mineral weathering, however, is poorly understood. We investigated the impact of Picea abies seedlings, an ectomycorrhizal fungus and humic acid on the solubilization of aluminium (Al), iron (Fe) and silicon (Si) in an E horizon forest soil over 10 months. Elemental budgets were constructed based upon losses in drainage water, accumulation in plants and changes in the pools of exchangeable ions. Plants and mycorrhizas or both had a significant effect on the total amounts of Al, Fe and Si mobilized from the soil. Significantly larger amounts of Al and Fe were recovered in plants than those lost in drainage water, whereas the opposite trend was true for Si. The continual addition of dissolved organic matter to the soil in the form of humic acid had an effect only on mobilization of Fe, which increased due to larger plant uptake and an increase in the exchangeable pool. The mobilization of Fe and Si were positively correlated with hyphal length, soil respiration and concentrations of oxalate in the soil solution, and mobilization of Al was strongly correlated with plant weight. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that most fungal hyphae were associated with mineral surfaces with little occupation of cracks and micropores within mineral grains. Evidently ectomycorrhizas have important impacts on mineral dissolution and the chemistry of forest soils.     

Optimum conditions for extraction of Al,Fe, and Si from soils with acid oxalate

Abstract

Acid oxalate reagent was used at various concentrations, pH values, shaking times, and soil to solution ratios to find the optimum conditions for the extraction of Al, Fe, and Si from short‐range‐order materials in soils and stream‐bed deposits. The optimum conditions vary with the nature of the soil sample and its components. For most soils maximum amounts of Al, Fe, and Si were extracted with 0.15M acid oxalate reagent at pH 3.0 with a soil to solution ratio of 1:100 and shaking for 4 h in the dark at 20°C. Soils with more than 5% oxalate‐extractable Al or Fe require a 0.20M oxalate solution at pH 3.0 with a soil to solution ratio of 1:200.

Allophane is extracted by acid oxalate reagent after shaking for 2 h and it may be estimated from the 4 h oxalate‐extractable Si values. Ferrihydrite is extracted after shaking for 4 h, and it may be estimated from the oxalate‐extractable Fe values. Either sodium oxalate or ammonium oxalate may be used     

Genesis of light-colored acid eluvial horizons in soil profiles

General ideas concerning the formation of light-colored acid eluvial horizons in soil profiles are considered. In Russia, the current concept is related to the polygenetic origin of these horizons due to processes of acid hydrolysis, lessivage, and gley. Based on the original and literature data summarized by the author, the conclusion was drawn that the acid hydrolysis cannot provide the reduction of Fe (III) to Fe (II) under aerobic conditions or its further transfer to the soil solution. Lessivage, which governs the formation of light-colored acid eluvial horizons, is not an obligatory factor, as its features are often absent in the profile of these soils. Under conditions of a stagnant-percolative water regime, gley may be considered to be the only process responsible for the eluviation of Fe, Mn, and Al and removal of iron hydroxide and iron oxide coatings from mineral grains, resulting in an increase in the relative Si content and the appearance of a whitish color. This factor is the only cause for the formation of light-colored eluvial (podzolic) horizons. Therefore, they are monogenetic in origin.     

Forms of Iron and Their Association with Soil Properties in Four Soil Taxonomic Orders of Arid and Semi‐arid Soils of Punjab,India

Profiles of arid and semi‐arid zones soils of Punjab, northwestern India, were investigated for different forms of iron (Fe): total Fe, diethylenetriamine penta‐acetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Fe, soil solution plus exchangeable Fe, Fe adsorbed onto inorganic sites and oxide surfaces, and Fe bound by organic sites. Irrespective of the different fractions of Fe present, its content was higher in the fine‐textured Alfisols and Inceptisols than in the coarse‐textured Entisols and Aridisols. Lower content of total Fe was observed in the surface horizon and then increased in the subsurface horizons, whereas no set pattern was observed in Entisols. Also, irrespective of the soil orders, the contents of different forms of Fe were higher in the surface horizon and then decreased by depth. None of the forms of Fe exhibited any consistent pattern of distribution.

Organic matter and the content of clay and silt fractions had a strong bearing on the distribution of forms of Fe. Based on a linear coefficient of correlation, the soil solution plus exchangeable Fe adsorbed onto inorganic sites and DTPA‐extractable Fe increased with increase in soil organic carbon but decreased with increase in soil pH and calcium carbonate content. Total Fe increased with increase in cation exchange capacity (CEC) and clay and silt content. The results also revealed that there was equilibrium in different fractions of this element. Among the different Fe forms, Fe bound by organic sites, water‐soluble plus exchangeable Fe, and Fe adsorbed onto oxides (amorphous surfaces) were positively correlated with the DTPA‐extractable Fe. Though some forms are interrelated, none of the forms had any relationship with the total Fe.