Field-applying an inexpensive, 13C-depleted,labile carbon source to study in situ fate and short-term effects on soils

Background

Labile carbon (C_labile) limits soil microbial growth and is critical for soil functions like nitrogen (N) immobilization. Most experiments evaluating C_labile additions use laboratory incubations. We need to field-apply C_labile to fully understand its fate and effects on soils, especially at depth, but high cost and logistical difficulties hinder this approach.

Aims

Here, we evaluated the impact of adding an in situ pulse of an inexpensive and ¹³C-depleted source of C_labile—crude glycerol carbon (C_glyc), a by-product from biodiesel production—to agricultural soils under typical crop rotations in Iowa, USA.

Methods

We broadcast-applied C_glyc at three rates (0, 216, and 866 kg C ha⁻¹) in autumn after soybean harvest, tracked its fate, and measured its impact on soil C and N dynamics to four depths (0–5, 5–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm). Nineteen days later, we measured C_glyc in microbial biomass carbon (MBC), salt-extractable organic C, and potentially mineralizable C pools. We paired these measurements with nitrate N (NO₃⁻–N) and potential net N mineralization to examine short-term effects on N cycling.

Results

C_glyc was found to at least 45-cm depth with the majority in MBC (18%–23% of total C_glyc added). The δ¹³C values of the other measured C pools were too variable to accurately track the C_labile fate. NO₃⁻–N was decreased by 13%–57% with the 216 and 866 kg C ha⁻¹ rates, respectively, and was strongly related to greater microbial uptake of C_glyc (i.e., immobilization via microbial biomass). Crude glycerol application had minor effects on soil pH—the greatest rate decreased pH 0.18 units compared to the control.

Conclusions

Overall, glycerol is an inexpensive and effective way to measure in situ, C_labile dynamics with soil depth—analogous to how mobile, dissolved organic C might behave in soils—and can be applied to rapidly immobilize NO₃⁻–N.     

Soil carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes in permanent upslope pasture and downslope riparian buffers with varying vegetation

Background

Riparian buffers are primarily implemented for their water quality functions in agroecosystems. Their location in the agricultural landscape allows them to intercept and process pollutants from immediately adjacent agricultural land. Vegetated riparian buffers recycle soil organic matter, which elevates soil carbon (C), which upon processing, processes and releases carbon dioxide (CO₂). The elevated soil C and seasonally anoxic environments associated with riparian buffers promote denitrification and fermentation, further increasing soil CO₂ production.

Aim

Against this context, a replicated plot-scale experiment was established at North Wyke, UK, to measure the extent of soil CO₂ emissions in permanent pasture served by grass, willow, and woodland riparian buffers, as well as a no-buffer control.

Methods

Soil CO₂ was measured using the static chamber technique in conjunction with soil and environmental variables between June 2018 and February 2019.

Results

Cumulative soil CO₂ fluxes were in the descending order: woodland riparian buffer; 11,927.8 ± 1987.9 kg CO₂ ha^–1 > no-buffer control; 11,101.3 ± 3700.4 kg CO₂ ha^–1 > grass riparian buffer; 10,826.4 ± 2551.8 kg CO₂ ha^–1 > upslope pasture; 10,554.6 ± 879.5 kg CO₂ ha^–1 > willow riparian buffer; 9294.9 ± 1549.2 5 kg CO₂ ha^–1. There was, however, no evidence of significant differences among all treatments of the current study.

Conclusions

Despite the lack of significant differences, the results from our short-term study show that the woodland riparian buffer had relatively larger soil CO₂ emissions than the remainder of the other riparian buffers and the upslope pasture it serves. Our short-term findings may be useful in developing soil CO₂ mitigation strategies through careful selection of riparian buffer vegetation and may be useful in calibrating mechanistic models for simulating such emissions from similar agro systems.     

Carbon dynamics in subtropical forest soil: effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide enrichment and nitrogen addition

Purpose  

The levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) are rapidly increasing. Understanding carbon (C) dynamics in soil is important for assessing the soil C sequestration potential under elevated [CO₂]. Nitrogen (N) is often regarded as a limiting factor in the soil C sequestration under future CO₂ enrichment environment. However, few studies have been carried out to examine what would happen in the subtropical or tropical areas where the ambient N deposition is high. In this study, we used open-top chambers to study the effect of elevated atmospheric [CO₂] alone and together with N addition on the soil C dynamics in the first 4 years of the treatments applied in southern China.     

Evidence of dissolved trivalent manganese in acidic forest soils

Background

Evidence of trivalent manganese (Mn³⁺) in the aqueous phase of soils is unknown so far although this strong oxidant has large environmental implications.

Aims

We aimed to modify a spectrophotometric protocol (porphyrin method) and to discriminate between Mn²⁺ and Mn³⁺ in the aqueous phase of forest soils based on kinetic modeling.

Methods

We investigated manganese speciation in 12 forest floor solutions and 41 soil solutions from an acidic forest site by adjusting pH and correcting for absorbance.

Results

The solutions showed broad ranges in pH (3.4−6.3), dissolved organic carbon (DOC, 1.78−77.1 mg C L⁻¹), and total Mn (Mn_T, 23.9−908 µg L⁻¹). For acidic solutions, a pH-buffer was added to increase the pH of the solutions to 7.5−8.0, and background absorption was corrected for colored solutions, that is, solutions high in DOC. This was done to accelerate the reaction kinetics and avoid overestimation of Mn_T concentrations. After the pH and color adjustments, the comparison of Mn_T concentrations between the porphyrin method and optical emission spectrometry showed good agreement. Trivalent Mn, which is stabilized by organic ligands, constitutes significant proportions in both forest floor solutions (10−87%) and soil solutions (0.5−74%).

Conclusions

The dissolved Mn³⁺ is present in acidic forest soils. Thus, we revise the paradigm that this species is not stable and encourage to apply the revised method to other soils.     

Differences in sorption behavior of the herbicide 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid on artificial soils as a function of soil pre-aging

Purpose

The sorption behavior of the herbicide 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) to three different artificial soil mixtures was investigated. Artificial soils serve as model systems for improving understanding of sorption phenomena.

Materials and methods

The soils consisted of quartz, ferrihydrite, illite, montmorillonite, and charcoal. In a previous study, several selected mixtures had been inoculated with organic matter, and microbial aging (incubation) had been performed for different periods of time (3, 12, and 18?months) before conducting the sorption experiments. The effect of this pre-incubation time on the sorption behavior was determined. Interaction of MCPA with soil surfaces was monitored by aqueous phase sorption experiments, using high-performance liquid chromatography/ultraviolet and in selected cases Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy.

Results and discussion

The sorption behavior showed large differences between differently aged soils; Freundlich and linear sorption model fits (with sorption constants K _f , 1/n exponents, and K _d values, respectively) were given for pH?=?3 and the unbuffered pH of ??7. The largest extent of sorption from diluted solutions was found on the surfaces with a pre-incubation time of 3?months. Sorption increased at acidic pH values.

Conclusions

Regarding the influence of aging of artificial soils, the following conclusions were drawn: young artificial soils exhibit stronger sorption at lower concentrations, with a larger K _f value than aged soils. A correlation with organic carbon content was not confirmed. Thus, the sorption characteristics of the soils are more influenced by the aging of the organic carbon than by the organic carbon content itself.     

Microbial biomass activity of a sodic Lixisol reclaimed with gypsum and clean water irrigation in urban vegetable systems of Burkina Faso

Background

Little is known about the effects of gypsum application to remediate saline–sodic soils in the tropics and the role of microbial indicators in soil reclamation.

Aims

Our study aimed at (1) remediating a highly weathered, irrigated sodic Lixisol under prolonged urban crop production by clean water and gypsum application and (2) to determine the remediation effects on soil microbial indices.

Methods

A three-factorial on-farm experiment with maize (Zea mays L.) was used to study effects on soil microbial biomass of (1) soil degradation at two levels of salinity, (2) irrigation with clean water and wastewater, and (3) the impact of added gypsum during a typical growing season.

Results

At the high-degradation site, the 0.5 M K₂SO₄ extractable carbon (C) content was 40% higher than at the low-degradation site. In addition, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were 20% lower than at the low-degradation site, while fungal ergosterol was even 40% lower, leading to a 33% lower ergosterol/MBC ratio. Wastewater irrigation increased MBN but decreased ergosterol content at the low-degradation site while having no effect at the high-degradation site. Gypsum amendment led to higher MBN at the low-degradation site but to lower MBN at the high-degradation site. Gypsum amendment always increased the ergosterol content whereby this increase was stronger at the low-degradation site, especially in combination with wastewater irrigation.

Conclusions

From a microbial perspective, high soil degradation levels should be avoided by treatment of a saline–sodic wastewater prior to its use for irrigation rather than relying on future remediation strategies of affected field sites.     

Contribution of humic substances as a sink and source of carbon in tropical floodplain lagoons

Purpose

We evaluated the decay of humic (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) in order to discuss the contribution of these substances as a sink and source of carbon in a tropical lagoon.

Materials and methods

Experiments were conducted under aerobic and anaerobic conditions using FA and HA isolated from decomposition of Oxycaryum cubense submitted to 10 and 60 days of degradation. HA and FA were added to water samples from a tropical floodplain oxbow system, the Infernão Lagoon. The mineralization chambers were incubated in the dark at 21.0 °C. The carbon balance, electrical conductivity, pH, and optical density were measured over 95 days.

Results and discussion

The results from the carbon budget were fitted with a first-order kinetics model. The mineralization of refractory fractions predominated for both FA and HA. Overall, although the mineralization pathway yields varied according to the type of resource and oxygen availability, the mineralization half-lives were quite similar (49 to 64 days), suggesting a similar microbial catabolism efficiency during the decay of humic substances. The short-term routes are represented by biochemical oxidations, and the immobilization and labile fractions (varying from 0 to 30%) of FA and HA supported these processes. A yield varying from 61.0 to 91.3% represents a carbon source degradation in the middle term (ca. 2 months) considering the ecosystem.

Conclusions

In tropical floodplain lagoons, there are three carbon routes: (i) the IN₁, representing a short-term pathway (hours to days) in the carbon transformation and (ii) IN₃, a middle-term carbon source from HA and FA mineralization to the water column and subsequently to the atmosphere. A third route (IN₂) supported the heterotrophic metabolism of the lagoon acting as a transitory sink of carbon.

     

Reducing CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions from waterlogged paddy soil with biochar

Purpose  

A potential means to diminish increasing levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere is the use of pyrolysis to convert biomass into biochar, which stabilizes the carbon (C) that is then applied to soil. Before biochar can be used on a large scale, especially in agricultural soils, its effects on the soil system need to be assessed. This is especially important in rice paddy soils that release large amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.     

A critical assessment of soil amendments (slaked lime/acidic fertilizer) for the phytomanagement of moderately contaminated shooting range soils

Purpose  

The effects of the addition of an acidic fertilizer solution and/or slaked lime (5.5 g Ca(OH)₂ kg⁻¹) on a slightly acidic shooting range soil (pH 6.1, % organic carbon 5.4) with moderate metal (e.g., 620 mg kg⁻¹ Pb) and metalloid (17 mg kg⁻¹ Sb) concentrations on metal and Sb solubility and plant accumulation were investigated.     

Photosynthesis acclimation,leaf nitrogen concentration,and growth of four tree species over 3 years in response to elevated carbon dioxide and nitrogen treatment in subtropical China

Purpose  

Up to date, most studies about the plant photosynthetic acclimation responses to elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration have been performed in temperate areas, which are often N limited under natural conditions and with low ambient N deposition. It is unclear whether photosynthetic downregulation is alleviated with increased N availability, for example, from increased N deposition due to fossil fuel combustion in the tropics and subtropics. Awareness of plant photosynthetic responses to elevated CO₂ concentration will contribute to the better understanding and prediction of future forest productivity under global change.     

Link between black carbon and resistant desorption of PAHs on soil and sediment

Purpose  

The effects of black carbon (BC) on resistant desorption of organic pollutants in soil and sediment were evaluated to further understand the mechanisms for the resistant desorption and to find a more accurate desorption model which can improve risk assessment and management of ubiquitous soil/sediment contamination.     

Carbon flux from decomposing 13C-labeled transgenic and nontransgenic parental rice straw in paddy soil

Purpose

Genetic modification of Bt rice may affect straw decomposition and soil carbon pool under flood conditions. This study aims to assess the effects of cry gene transformation in rice on the residue decomposition and fate of C from residues under flooded conditions.

Materials and methods

A decomposition experiment was set up using ¹³C-enriched rice straws from transgenic and nontransgenic Bt rice to evaluate the soil C dynamics and CH₄ or CO₂ emission rates in the root and non-root zones. The concentrations and stable carbon isotope compositions of the soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), CH₄, and CO₂ of the root and non-root zones were determined from 7 to 110 days after rice straw incorporation.

Results and discussion

Rice straw incorporation into soil significantly increased the SOC, DOC, and MBC concentrations and the CH₄ and CO₂ emission rates. The percentage of ¹³C-SOC remaining in the root zone was significantly lower than that in the non-root zone with rice straw decomposition. The DOC and MBC concentrations significantly increased in both the root and non-root zones between 0 and 80 days after rice straw incorporation. However, no significant differences were found after Bts (Bt rice straw added into soil) and Cks (nontransgenic Bt rice straw added into soil) incorporation in the root and non-root zones. This result may be attributed to the priming effects of sufficient oxygen and nutrients on straw degradation in the root zone.

Conclusions

Bt gene insertion did not affect the SOC, DOC, and MBC concentrations and the CH₄ and CO₂ emission rates in both the root and non-root zones. However, rice straw incorporation and root exudation significantly increased the SOC, DOC, and MBC concentrations and the CH₄ and CO₂ emission rates.     

Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of CENTURY-modeled SOC dynamics in upland soils under different climate-soil-management conditions: a case study in China

Purpose

Process-based models such as CENTURY have been extensively validated for simulating soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics at the homogeneous plot scale. However, considerable uncertainty may exist when upscaling a simulation from the plot scale to a larger scale because of variation in the model inputs. The objectives of this study were to assess the uncertainty of CENTURY-modeled SOC and to identify the most influential model inputs in various upland regions of China.

Materials and methods

Global sensitivity analysis was used to explore the sensitivity of CENTURY-modeled SOC to seven key model inputs. The uncertainties of the SOC simulated using various model inputs and climate-soil-management conditions were evaluated at 21 long-term monitoring sites located across upland areas in China.

Results and discussion

The identified sensitive model inputs differed among regions and periods due to diverse climate-soil-management conditions; nevertheless, initial SOC content (SOC_i), soil clay content, and crop residue removal rate (Residue_rr) were the most influential inputs. The site-to-region upscaling uncertainties remained moderately large (±42.7, ±49.4, and ±69.3 % at the 90, 95, and 100 % confidence levels, respectively) when currently available observation data were used. Therefore, the collection of detailed information on soil properties and crop residue removal, particularly legacy soil data such as the SOC_i and clay content, is important for reducing the uncertainties in SOC modeling.

Conclusions

Data on SOC_i, Residue_rr, and clay content need to be collected prior to other input data to reduce input-related uncertainty and thus to provide more reliable SOC assessment at the regional or national scale in China.

     

A phototrophy-driven microbial food web in a rice soil

Purpose  

Light is a major driver of primary productivity in most ecosystems on Earth. Phototrophic microorganisms harvest light to synthesize organic biomass for sustaining the global energy and carbon flow. However, the bottom-up model of phototrophic microorganisms as primary production and food source for higher trophic levels remains unclear in the terrestrial environment.     

Development of an express method for measuring soil nitrate,phosphate, potassium,and pH for future in-field application

Background

In practical farming, there is often a need for short-term availability of information on the soil nutrient status.

Aims

To develop a new express method for the extraction of major plant-available nutrients and measurement of soil nutrients. In future, this method shall serve for in-field measurements of soil samples with an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET).

Methods

Various extraction conditions such as type of extractant, soil-to-solution ratio, time, and intensity were investigated on a broad selection of dried soil samples in the laboratory. Based on 83 field-moist soil samples with varying clay contents, these conditions were compared to standard laboratory methods.

Results

With increasing extraction time, the nutrient concentrations increased. When the soil-to-solution ratio was reduced, a greater share of nutrients was extracted, independent of soil type. H₂O and 0.01 M CaCl₂ and standard calcium-acetate-lactate (CAL) solution proved to be too weak in the short period to reach the ISFET sensor measurement range. Higher concentrated CAL solutions performed much better. Finally, a 5-min CaCl₂ extraction followed by the removal of an aliquot for the determination of soil pH and NO₃⁻ was found to be effective. The remaining solution was then mixed with 0.20 M CAL solution for the analysis of H₂PO₄⁻ and K⁺ at 10 min of extra extraction time. This extraction method showed very good correlations with the values based on the German laboratory reference methods for pH (R² = 0.91) and for nitrate (R² = 0.95). For phosphorus and potassium, we obtained an R² of 0.70 and 0.81, respectively, for all soils. When soils were grouped according to clay content higher correlations were found.

Conclusions

A new express method based on a wet-chemical approach with a soil preparation procedure was successfully developed and validated. This seems to be a valuable basis for future in-field measurements via ISFET.     

Litter decomposition in peatlands is promoted by mixed plants

Purpose

The carbon sink function of peatlands is primarily driven by a higher production than decomposition of the litter Sphagnum mosses. The observed increase of vascular plants in peatlands could alter the decomposition rate and the carbon (C) cycle through a litter mixing effect, which is still poorly studied. Here, we examine the litter mixing effect of a peat moss (Sphagnum fallax) and two vascular plants (Pinus uncinata and Eriophorum vaginatum) in the field and laboratory-based experiment.

Materials and methods

During the laboratory incubation, mass loss, CO₂ production, and dissolved organic carbon concentration were periodically monitored during 51 days. The collected data were then processed in a C dynamics model. The calculated enzymatic activity was correlated to the measured β-glucosidase activity in the litter. In the field experiment, mass loss and CO₂ production from litter bags were annually measured for 3 years.

Results and discussion

Both laboratory and field experiments clearly show that the litter mixture, i.e., Sphagnum-Pinus-Eriophorum, had a synergistic effect on decomposition by enhancing the mass loss. Such enhanced mass loss increased the water extractable C and CO₂ production in the litter mixture during the laboratory experiment. The synergistic effect was mainly controlled by the Sphagnum-Eriophorum mixture that significantly enhanced both mass loss and CO₂ production. Although the β-glucosidase activity is often considered as a major driver of decomposition, mixing the litters did not cause any increase of the activity of this exo-enzyme in the laboratory experiment suggesting that other enzymes can play an important role in the observed effect.

Conclusions

Mixing litters of graminoid and Sphagnum species led to a synergistic effect on litter decomposition. In a context of vegetation dynamics in response to environmental change, such a mixing effect could alter the C dynamics at a larger scale. Identifying the key mechanisms responsible for the synergistic effect on litter decomposition, with a specific focus on the enzymatic activities, is crucial to better predict the capacity of peatlands to act as C sinks.

     

Quantification of vertical solid matter transfers in soils during pedogenesis by a multi-tracer approach

Purpose

Vertical transfer of solid matter in soils (bioturbation and translocation) is responsible for changes in soil properties over time through the redistribution of most of the soil constituents with depth. Such transfers are, however, still poorly quantified.

Materials and methods

In this study, we examine matter transfer in four eutric Luvisols through an isotopic approach based on ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹⁰Pb_(xs), and meteoric ¹⁰Be. These isotopes differ with respect to chemical behavior, input histories, and half-lives, which allows us to explore a large time range. Their vertical distributions were modeled by a diffusion-advection equation with depth-dependent parameters. We estimated a set of advection and diffusion coefficients able to simulate all isotope depth distributions and validated the resulting model by comparing the depth distribution of organic carbon (including ^12/13C and ¹⁴C isotopes) and of the 0–2-μm particles with the data.

Results and discussion

We showed that (i) the model satisfactorily reproduces the organic carbon, ¹³C, and ¹⁴C depth distributions, indicating that organic carbon content and age can be explained by transport without invoking depth-dependent decay rates; (ii) translocation partly explains the 0–2-μm particle accumulation in the Bt horizon; and (iii) estimates of diffusion coefficients that quantify the soil mixing rate by bioturbation are significantly higher for the studied plots than those obtained by ecological studies.

Conclusions

This study presents a model capable of satisfactorily reproducing the isotopic profiles of several tracers and simulating the distribution of organic carbon and the translocation of 0–2-μm particles.

     

Temporal dynamics of iron-rich, tropical soil organic carbon pools after land-use change from forest to sugarcane

Background, aim, and scope  

Land-use change can significantly influence carbon (C) storage and fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems. Soil–plant systems can act as sinks or sources of atmospheric CO₂ depending on formation and decomposition rates of soil organic matter. Therefore, changes in tropical soil C pools could have significant impacts on the global C cycle. This study aims to evaluate the impacts of long-term sugarcane cultivation on soil aggregation and organic matter, and to quantify temporal dynamics of soil organic matter in cultivated sugarcane plantation soils previously under a tropical natural secondary forest.     

Greenhouse gas emissions from Silphium perfoliatum and silage maize cropping on Stagnosols

Background

The sustainability of bioenergy is strongly affected by direct field-derived greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and indirect emissions form land-use change. Marginal land in low mountain ranges is suitable for feedstock production due to small impact on indirect land-use change. However, these sites are vulnerable to high N₂O emissions because of their fine soil texture and hydrology.

Aims

The perennial cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) might outperform silage maize (Zea mays L.) on cold, wet low mountain ranges sites regarding yield and ecosystem services. The aim of this study was to assess whether the cultivation of cup plant also provides GHG mitigation potential compared to the cultivation of maize.

Methods

A t-year field experiment was conducted in a low mountain range region in western Germany to compare area and yield-scaled GHG emissions from cup plant and maize fields. GHG emissions were quantified using the closed chamber method.

Results

Cup plant fields emitted an average of 3.6 ± 4.3 kg N₂O-N ha^–1 year^–1 (–85%) less than maize fields. This corresponded to 74.0 ± 94.1 g CO_2-eq kWh^–1 (–78%) less emissions per produced electrical power. However, cup plant had a significantly lower productivity per hectare (–34%) and per unit of applied nitrogen (–32%) than maize.

Conclusion

Cup plant as a feedstock reduces direct field-derived GHG emissions compared to maize but, due to lower yields cup plant, likely increases emissions associated with land-use changes. Therefore, the increased sustainability of bioenergy from biogas by replacing maize with cup plant is heavily dependent on the performance of maize at these sites and on the ecosystem services of cup plant in addition to GHG savings.     

Comparison of five methods to determine the cation exchange capacity of soil

Background

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a routinely measured soil fertility indicator. The standard NH₄OAc (pH 7) extraction procedure is time-consuming and overestimates actual CEC values of variable charge soils. Unbuffered extractants have been developed to measure the effective CEC (eCEC), but they differ in the type of index cation and extraction procedures.

Aim

This study was set up to systematically compare CEC values and exchangeable cation concentrations among different procedures and evaluate their practical aspects.

Methods

Five procedures were compared for (e)CEC, that is, silver thiourea (AgTU), cobalt(III) hexamine (Cohex), compulsive exchange (CE, i.e., BaCl₂/MgSO₄), BaCl₂ (sum of cations in single-extract), and NH₄OAc (pH 7). We applied these methods to a set of 25 samples of clay minerals, peat, or samples from soils with contrasting properties.

Results

The CEC values correlated well among methods (R² = 0.92–0.98). Median ratios of eCEC (AgTU as well as CE) to the corresponding eCEC (Cohex) value were 1.0, showing good agreement between eCEC methods, but NH₄OAc exceeded Cohex values (ratios up to 2.5 in acid soil). For BaCl₂-extracteable cations, the ratio ranged from low (<1.0) in acid soils (acid cations not measured) to high (>1.0) in high-pH soil (dissolution of carbonates). Multiple-extraction methods (CE and NH₄OAc) yielded more variation and increased labor.

Conclusions

The chemical properties of the sample cause method-specific interactions with chemical components of extractants. We found the Cohex method with ICP-MS detection to be the most efficient and cost-effective technique for determination of eCEC and exchangeable cations.