A procedure for isolating soil organic matter fractions suitable for modeling.

Abstract

Fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) were obtained from three soils using alternative physical fractionation procedures, and evaluated against the requirements of model pools. The authors compared two-stage density fractionation (isolating free and intra-aggregate fractions, before and after dispersion, respectively) with particle size separation of dispersed soil. For full comparison, the organomineral fraction residual from density fractionation was also size separated. In standardizing the density-based method, the study found recovery of intra-aggregate organic matter highly sensitive to separation density as compared with the free. Recovery of the intra-aggregate was also influenced by dispersion energy.

Citation

In Rees, R.M., Ball, B.C., Campbell, C.D. and Watson, C.A. (eds) Sustainable management of soil organic matter, CAB International, UK., pp 90-95.

A procedure for isolating soil organic matter fractions suitable for modeling.

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2000