On the components of soil humic acids (part 9)

The carbohydrates in soil organic matter seem to be derived from undecomposed or partially decomposed plant and microbial residues, In soil, these carbohydrates exist chiefly in such from as polysaccharide hemicellulose, and their polyuronide has been the chief object of investigation^1)-3). In various soil, the polyuronide is found in a large quantity in fulvic fraction of soil organic matter and has been considered as important in connection with the physical structure of soil^4),5). According to Lynch ⁵⁾, the carbohydrate content of humic acid is markedly smaller than that of fulvic acid. His work also indicates that a' considerable change is noted in the content and composition of the carbohydrate in humic acid because of the addition of some organic substances to the soils, or of the cultivation of virgin soils. Further, some investigators⁷⁾ believe that uronic acid is introduced into the aromatic structure of the humic acid by changing into pentose and furan. Accordingly, it seems that the role of carbohydrate in the formation of soil humic acid should not be overlooked.