Dissolution of organohetallic complexes and silica from the clay fraction of podzolic soils

Abstract

The Ae, Bhf and Bf horizons of two podzolic soils from the Appalachian and Laurentian Highlands were treated with various reagents to remove the amorphous material prior to X‐ray diffraction analysis. Treatments were Na citrate, NaOH, Tiron, DCB and modified DCB, with a lower solid:liquid ratio. Samples treated with NaOH, Tiron and DCB were subsequently extracted with citrate. The latter extraction was necessary to remove Fe₂O₃ and SiO₂ that was not solubilized in the first treatment. The effectiveness of the reagents to extract SiO₂, Al₂0₃ and Fe₂O₃ decreased in the following order:

DCB 1:1 > Tiron = DCB > citrate > NaOH

The total weight loss of the samples represented about 1.8 times the sum of the oxides and reached up to 70% of the Laurentian Bf sample. Organic matter accounted for a part of the weight loss and its removal was more complete in the less crystalline samples of the Laurentian profile. Tiron was the best reagent to improve the X‐ray diffraction patterns, closely followed by DCB 1:1 treatment.

Removal of amorphous material and organic matter resulted in a decrease of the cation exchange capacity of the clay fraction, from a maximum of 73.5 meq / 100 g in the Laurentian profile to a minimum of 3.2 meq / 100 g in the Appalachian profile.

The results suggested that in the Laurentian profile, very poorly crystallized minerals possibly contributed to a part of the extracted material.     

Individual organic compounds in water extracts from podzolic soils of the Komi Republic

The contents of organic compounds in water extracts from organic horizons of loamy soils with different water contents from the medium taiga zone of the Komi Republic were determined by gas-liquid chromatography and chromatography-mass spectrometry. The mass concentration of organic carbon in the extracts was in the range of 290?C330 mg/dm³; the mass fraction of the carbon from the identified compounds was 0.5?C1.9%. Hydrocarbons made up about 60% of the total identified compounds; acids and their derivatives composed less than 40%. Most of the acids (40?C70%) were aliphatic hydroxy acids. The tendencies in the formation of different classes of organic compounds were revealed depending on the degree of the soil hydromorphism. The acid properties of the water-soluble compounds were studied by pK spectroscopy. Five groups of compounds containing acid groups with similar pK_a values were revealed. The compounds containing groups with pK_a < 4.0 were predominant. The increase in the surface wetting favored the formation of compounds with pK_a 3.2?C4.0 and 7.4?C8.4.     

Clay minerals and base status of strongly acid soils

In Japan, as the climate is temperate and humid, almost all soils show acid reaction. Especially, a good many strongly acid soils were reported in the survey of reclaimed lands (1, 2). The great majority of strongly acid soils are mineral soils derived from Tertiary or Diluvial sediments.     

Origin and nature of halloysite in Ando soils from Towada tephra,Japan

The origin and nature of halloysite in Ando soils from Towada tephra were investigated. These soils were formed from five tephras: Towada-a (1,000 years old), Towada-b (2,000 years old), Chuseri (4,000 years old), Nanbu (8,600 years old) and Ninokura (10,000 years old).Formation of halloysite took place only in the buried soils from Nanbu and Ninokura tephras occurring in an “accumulating zone”, where thicknesses of overburden tephra deposits were mostly 2.5 m or greater and silica enrichment of the clay fractions could occur.The amounts of halloysite were greater in (1) the soils from Ninokura tephra than in those from Nanbu tephra, and greater in (2) the humus horizons as compared to the nonhumus horizons of these same soils. The mean sizes of spheroidal halloysite particles and the ratios of numbers of tubular to spheroidal forms differed with differences in soil horizons and age.High-resolution electron micrographs of glycerol-solvated spheroidal halloysite particles had lattice images of 11 Å due to (001) from the exterior to the interior and had no indications of layer separation. Moreover, the central core of spheroidal halloysite with a diameter of 150 Å showed neither layer structure nor allophane spherules.Results obtained in this study thus indicate that spheroidal and tubular forms of halloysite were formed concurrently in these Ando soils.     

Enrichment of trace elements from long-range aerosol transport in sandy podzolic soils of southwest France

Total content of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), was determined to a depth of about 1 m in the horizons of three representative podzolic soils (i.e., wet moor, dry moor, and dune soil) developed on the coarse sands of the Atlantic face of southwest France. In the aged soils (wet moor and dry moor), Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, were highly concentrated in the B horizons whereas Cd accumulated in the litter. An estimate of metal balance was made in the soil profiles, comparing the total amount of metal recovered in the A-B horizons to the amount of indigenous metal determined in a rock matter (C) layer of a similar depth as the A-B horizons. Substantial long-term enrichment of the whole upper part of the profile (A-B horizons) of three representative sites was found for Cd (0.1–0.6 kg ha^?1), Cu (3–12 kg ha^?1), Ni (1–7 kg ha^?1), Pb (20–26 kg ha^?1), and, to a lesser extent, for Co, Mn, and Zn. Since the experimental site was remote from industrial, urban and agricultural activities, the increase in soil metal content was apparently caused by the deposition of metallic aerosols via long-range transport. Total long-term inputs are estimated for average values of Cd (0.6 kg ha^?1), Cr (5 kg ha^?1), Cu (12 kg ha^?1), Ni (7 kg ha^?1), Pb (25 kg ha^?1) and Zn (6 kg ha^?1) for the 1 m depth. Several Atlantic areas of Europe are probably affected by a similar metal input.     

Acidity of KCl extracts from organic horizons of podzolic soils: Sources and possible equilibria

Samples from the organic horizons of taiga podzolic soils of the Komi Republic were studied, and the possible equilibria established in the soil-KCl solution system (c = 1 mol/l) at the determination of the exchangeable acidity by the Sokolov method were examined. It was shown that the exchangeable acidity was due to aluminum(III) ions in 6% of the samples with pH_KCl≤4 and due to the H⁺ ions formed during the dissociation of water-soluble organic acids in the other samples. A group of samples from the horizons in which Fe³⁺ ions could appreciably contribute to the soil acidity was discriminated.     

Micromycetes in podzolic and bog-podzolic soils in the middle taiga subzone of northeastern European Russia

The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the mycobiota in podzolic and bog-podzolic soils were studied in the middle taiga subzone (the Republic of Komi). The complex of micromycetes was found to include 73 species of 18 genera from the Zygomycota and Ascomycota orders and from the formal class of anamorphic fungi. The latter has the following specific features: many forms of sterile mycelium, the predominance of Penicillium species (25), the constant presence of Mucor and Trichoderma species, and single Aspergillus species. With increasing moisture in the sequence of the podzolic, surface-gleyic podzolic, peaty podzolic-gleyic, and peat podzolic-gley soils, the dominant soil fungi are preserved, but the species composition of the micromycete complexes becomes poorer due to the removal of rare species. In the podzolic and bog-podzolic soils, fungi absolutely predominate in the microbial biomass. They accounted for more than 99% of the total biomass, 1–6% of the latter is the biomass of spores, and more than 94% falls on mycelium. In these soils, the reserves of bacterial biomass, as compared to those of fungi, are lower by two orders of magnitude.     

Effects of forest liming on the nutrient status of podzolic soils in Finland

The results of 40 long-term liming experiments in Scots pine and Norway spruce stands on mineral soil sites of varying fertility are reviewed in this paper. Limestone was broadcast at a dose of 2 t ha^?1 at the end of the 1950s and sampling was carried out at the end of the 1970s. Liming resulted in considerable accumulation (10 to 50% increase) of organic matter in the humus layer, but no changes in the mineral soil. The C/N ratio of the humus increased on the most productive sites. Liming brought about a long-term decrease in acidity of the humus layer on all site types, as well as a decrease in the mineral soil (0 to 10 cm) of the least productive ones. There was also a corresponding increase in base saturation. There was considerable accumulation of B and Mn in the humus layer. Sulphur was found to have been immobilized to a considerable extent in the humus layer, presumably as Al sulfate. Liming at fairly low doses (e.g. 2 t ha^?1) thus seems to be sufficient to counteract any future increases in soil acidification without bringing about any adverse effects (apart from perhaps B levels) on the nutrient status of the soil.     

Radioactivity of the granitic soils in the middle district of tottori prefecture

The greater part of the middle district of Tottori Prefecture is formed of biotite granite, hornblende andesite, augite andesite and hornblende andesitic volcanic detritus. The granite occurs in the region streching to the north-east from the border between both Tottori and Okayama Prefecture. In this granite area, there can be seen many dikes of aplite and micropegmatite. These granitic rocks, and the soils derived from them have higher radioactivity than other rocks and soils. In this district, there are radioactive hot springs-Sekigane, Misasa, Shikano and Hamamura, and, recently uranium ore was found at Ogamo and Ningyotoge. A study was made on the radioactivity of the soils derived from the granitic rocks, andesite and tertiary shale, of the ashes from plants grown on these soils, and on the extraction of thorium X in the soils.     

Effects of drying and wetting on extractable aluminum in strongly acid soils and in aluminum-saturated clays

A number of field-moist strongly acid soils, NaObr-treated soils, and Al-saturated clays were subjected to drying and wetting treatments in the laboratory. Oven drying of samples resulted in decreases in extractable Al and increases in extractable H from field-moist soils containing more than 12 mequiv./100 g exchange acidity and from Al-saturated clays, and wetting the samples resulted in the reverse. However, when field-moist soil samples containing less than 7 mequiv./100 g exchange acidity were oven dried, both the extractable Al and extractable H tended to increase. Removing organic matter with NaOBr from a soil sample low in exchange acidity resulted in a change from an increase to a decrease in extractable Al upon oven drying. In all cases, the extractable Al and extractable H contents fluctuated cyclically with repeated drying and wetting. The cause for the observed changes was attributed to Al hydrolysis, with additional influence from soil acidity buffering, Al interlayer formation, and inorganic and organic matter dissolution.     

Chemical and mineralogical characteristics of podzolic soils of the central forest reserve in the area of karst sinkholes

A specific feature of the soil developing near the edge of a sinkhole in comparison with the soil at a distance of 10 m from the sinkhole is the presence of calcareous horizon from the depth of 116 cm. The soil near the edge of the sinkhole is also characterized by the increased contents of exchangeable calcium and oxalatesoluble iron in the litter layers and in the AE horizon. This may be explained by a more active biological uptake of these elements under conditions of a shallow occurrence of carbonates. With respect to pH values; the contents and distribution of humus and exchangeable potassium, sodium, hydrogen, and aluminum; the mineralogical composition of the clay and fine silt fractions; and the distribution of oxalatesoluble iron compounds in the soil profiles, palepodzolic soils of the Central Forest State Biospheric Nature Reserve developing in karst areas do not differ from similar soils beyond karst areas.     

Changes in the temperature regime of podzolic soils in the course of natural forest restoration after clearcutting

The results of temperature monitoring in podzolic soils under the middle-taiga bilberry spruce forest and secondary mixed forest of the Komi Republic performed in 2008–2014 are presented. The changes in characteristics of soil temperature in the litter horizon and in the mineral horizons at the depths of 20 and 50 cm are outlined. It is shown that soil temperature regimes differ under the native spruce forest, young growth, and middle-aged secondary mixed forest. The soils of secondary phytocenoses are warmed up to a greater depth and are characterized by the higher heat supply. The differences are seen in a number of temperature parameters, such as the accumulated temperatures above 5°C and above 10°C at the depths of 20 and 50 cm. The most significant differences between the studied plots manifest themselves in the values of temperature amplitudes during the warm season. Maximum values of daily temperature amplitudes were obtained on the plot under young growth, whereas the soil under the middle-aged mixed forest was characterized by minimum values of daily temperature amplitudes.     

Seasonal changes in the transformation and transportation of uracyl,glycine, and glucose in soils of podzolic type

The behavior of water-soluble organic compounds arriving in forest litter significantly varies between the warm and cold seasons. Their rapid mineralization occurs in the summer: the removal of introduced compounds from the forest litter and their inclusion into humus substances are almost absent. At the input of water-soluble organic compounds to forest litter during the cold period, the mineralization processes decrease; they recommence only in the next warm period. However, the initial compounds have undergone some transformations by this time, which significantly increases their microbiological stability and decreases their migration capacity. The labeled compounds introduced in the fall are fixed within the forest litter and predominantly enter into the microbial and fungal biomass. Transformed labeled compounds enter into the humus-accumulative A1 horizon due to migration followed by their inclusion into the mineral-humus component of this horizon. Assessing the role of migration in the development of the humus-accumulative horizon in podzolic soils shows the secondary role of migration processes. The major role is played by the formation of the humus-accumulative horizon in accordance with the classical concepts of the soddy process.     

Comparative analysis of the composition of water extracts and soil solutions from peat gleyic podzolic soils of the Central Forest State Biosphere Reserve

The composition of soil solutions obtained by vacuum filtration from peat gleyic podzolic soils of the Central Forest State Biosphere Reserve under field conditions was determined. It was found that the composition and properties of the soil solutions reliably differ from those of the water extracts. The natural solutions are characterized by higher concentrations of metals (primarily of Na, K, Ca, and Cu), an increased content of the hydrophobic fraction of water-soluble substances, an order of magnitude lower carbon content, and lower values of the actual and potential acidity.     

Litter decomposition reduces either N2O or NO production in strongly acidic coniferous and broad-leaved forest soils under anaerobic conditions

Purpose

The beneficial effect to the environment of nitrate (NO₃ ^?) removal by denitrification depends on the partitioning of its end products into nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitric oxide (NO), and dinitrogen (N₂). However, in subtropical China, acidic forest mineral soils are characterized by negligible denitrification capacity and thus reactive forms of N could not be effectively converted to inert N₂, resulting in a negative environmental consequence. In this study, the influences of C input from litter decomposition on denitrification rate and its gaseous products under anoxic conditions in the acidic coniferous and broad-leaved forest soils in subtropical China were investigated using the acetylene (C₂H₂) blockage technique in the laboratory.

Materials and methods

The coniferous and broad-leaved forest soils with and without litter addition were incubated under anaerobic conditions for 244 h. There were three treatments for each forest soil including addition of 0.5 and 1% corresponding litter (gram of litter per gram of soil) and the control without addition of litter.

Results and discussion

The results showed that litter addition into the broad-leaved forest soil had no effect on average rates of denitrification (calculated as the sum of NO, N₂O, and N₂), whereas in the coniferous forest soil, the addition resulted in a significant increase in average denitrification rate. In the broad-leaved forest soil, both rates of litter addition decreased the production of NO but increased the production of N₂, and high rates of litter addition into the coniferous forest soil promoted the reduction of N₂O to N₂.

Conclusions

Increased decomposition of litter in the forest soils could effectively reduce N₂O and NO production through denitrification under anaerobic conditions.     

The retention of nitrate in acid soils from the tropics

Abstract. In most soils of temperate regions nitrate is not held on soil surfaces and moves freely in solution. But when soils carry positive charges, nitrate is held as an exchangeable anion. As a result, leaching of nitrate is delayed relative to the movement of water. The delay can be predicted provided the anion exchange capacity (AEC) can be measured and the concentration of counter-anions is known. For soils with variable charge, the AEC varies with both pH and ionic strength, and the effective AEC should be determined under conditions similar to those in soil solution. A simple leaching method is described which satisfies this requirement. Delays in the leaching of nitrate measured in columns of repacked soil were strongly related to the AEC.     

The acid-base buffer capacity of podzolic soils and its changes under the impact of treatment with the Mehra-Jackson and Tamm reagents

The acid-base buffer capacity before and after the treatment with the Mehra-Jackson and Tamm reagents was assessed by continuous potentiometric titration for the main genetic horizons of two profiles of podzolic soils in the Central Forest State Reserve. The total buffer capacity was calculated in the pH range from the initial titration point (ITP) to 3 for the acid titration and from the ITP to 10 for the base titration, as well as the buffer capacities in the pH intervals of 0.25. It was found that both treatments abruptly decreased the base buffer capacity, which reached 70–90% in the E horizons. The high direct linear correlation of the difference between the total base buffer capacities before and after each treatment with the content of Fe in the Tamm extract was revealed. From the results obtained, a conclusion was drawn that finely dispersed Fe hydroxides were the main solid-phase constituents ensuring the base buffer capacity, and the deprotonation of hydroxyl groups on the surface of Fe hydroxides was the essential buffer reaction during the base titration.     

The genesis,classification, and melioration of gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils in the north of the forest-steppe zone of European Russia

Chernozem-like soils with light-colored acid eluvial horizons are widespread in the forest-steppe zone of European Russia. Their formation is related to gleying under the conditions of a stagnant-percolative water regime on leached rocks. It is closely associated with the evolution of salinized soils (Gedroits’s scheme). However, these soils have not been included in the soil classifications of the Soviet Union and Russia. Based on the principles of substantial-genetic classification, one of the authors of this article [3–5, 10] referred them to gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils, which are considered as an individual genetic soil type. With respect to agroecological aspects, they are different from the leached chernozems in their low productivity and difficulty of tillage. This article covers the problems of genesis, classification, and melioration of gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils in the north of the forest-steppe zone of European Russia and their possible association with dark-colored podbels.     

Sorptive interaction between goethite and strongly reducing organic substances from anaerobic decomposition of green manures

Strongly reducing organic substances (SROS) and iron oxides exist widely in soils and sediments and have been implicated in many soil and sediment processes. In the present work, the sorptive interaction between goethite and SROS derived from anaerobic decomposition of green manures was investigated by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Both green manures, Astragalus sinicus (Astragalus) and Vicia varia (Vicia) were chosen to be anaerobically decomposed by the mixed microorganisms isolated from paddy soils for 30 d to prepare different SROS. Goethite used in experiments was synthesized in laboratory. The anaerobic incubation solutions from green manures at different incubation time were arranged to react with goethite, in which SROS concentration and Fe(II) species were analyzed. The anaerobic decomposition of Astragalus generally produced SROS more in amount but weaker in reducibility than that of Vicia in the same incubation time. The available SROS from Astragalus that could interact with goethite was 0.69 ± 0.04, 0.84 ± 0.04 and 1.09 ± 0.03 cmol kg⁻¹ as incubated for 10, 15 and 30 d, respectively, for Vicia, it was 0.12 ± 0.03, 0.46 ± 0.02 and 0.70 ± 0.02 cmol kg⁻¹. One of the fates of SROS as they interacted with goethite was oxidation. The amounts of oxidizable SROS from Astragalus decreased over increasing incubation time from 0.51 ± 0.05 cmol kg⁻¹ at day 10 to 0.39 ± 0.04 cmol kg⁻¹ at day 30, but for Vicia, it increased with the highest reaching to 0.58 ± 0.04 cmol kg⁻¹ at day 30. Another fate of these substances was sorption by goethite. The SROS from Astragalus were sorbed more readily than those from Vicia, and closely depended upon the incubation time, whereas for those from Vicia, the corresponding values were remarkably less and apparently unchangeable with incubation time. The extent of goethite dissolution induced by the anaerobic solution from Vicia was greater than that from Astragalus, showing its higher reactivity.