THE EFFECT OF ORGANIC MATTER ON THE BULK AND TRUE DENSITIES OF SOME UNCULTIVATED PODZOLIC SOILS

Organic matter content was found to have a dominant effect on both the bulk and true densities of soil in the organic and eluvial horizons of the podzolic soils examined. The soils were stone-free, structureless, and of similar texture. The effects of organic matter on bulk density were described by the equation: A similar equation was devised for true density. Use of these equations indicated that, in the soils examined, total pore space could be predicted from organic matter content measured as per cent loss on ignition.