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Matter Composition (matter + composition)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Earth and Environmental Science75%

Kinds of Matter Composition

  • organic matter composition
    		•

    Selected Abstracts

    Long-term effects of crop rotation and fertilization on soil organic matter composition

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007
    M. Kaiser
    Summary Long-term effects of crop rotation and fertilization are mostly observed with respect to the amount of soil organic matter (SOM) and measured in terms of soil organic carbon (SOC). In this paper, we analyze the SOM composition of samples from long-term agricultural field experiments at sandy and clayey sites that include complex crop rotations and farm-yard manure applications. The organic matter (OM) composition of the soil samples, OM(Soil), and that of sequentially extracted water, OM(W), and sodium pyrophosphate, OM(PY), soluble fractions was analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The fraction OM(PY) represented between 13 and 34% of SOC, about 10 times that of OM(W). Site specific differences in OM(Soil) composition were larger than those between crop rotations and fertilizer applications. The smaller C=O group content in FTIR spectra of OM(W) compared with OM(PY) suggests that analysis of the more stable OM(PY) fraction is preferable over OM(W) or OM(Soil) for identifying long-term effects, the OM(Soil) and OM(W) fractions and the content of CH groups being less indicative. Farm-yard manure application leads to a more similar content of C=O groups in OM(PY) between crop rotations and fertilizer plots at both sites. Short-term effects from soil tillage or potato harvesting on composition of OM require further studies. [source]

    Abandoned anthills of Formica polyctena and soil heterogeneity in a temperate deciduous forest: morphology and organic matter composition

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2001
    S. M. Kristiansen
    Summary Ants can modify the properties of soil when they build their nests. We have investigated the degree and persistency of changes of soil morphology and chemistry in abandoned anthills in a temperate, deciduous wood in Jutland, Denmark. For this purpose, we sampled surface soils (0,10 cm) from each of five abandoned anthills (Formica polyctena Förster) and adjacent undisturbed sites, where anthills covered about 0.5% of the surface area. In addition, one soil profile in an abandoned anthill was sampled for morphological descriptions. All samples were analysed for pH, C, N, lignin-derived phenol, and cellulosic and non-cellulosic carbohydrate concentrations. The results showed that soils under the anthills were enriched in organic matter, were yellower and showed features of Podzol degradation. Former Podzols had to be reclassified to Umbrisols or Arenosols, whereas anthills on Luvisols affected soil classification only at the subdivision level. The C/N ratio and soil pH were not significantly affected by the ants' activity. However, lignin-derived phenols and cellulosic polysaccharides were enriched inside the mounds by a factor of 6 and 7, respectively. This probably reflected collection of woody debris for nest construction while the nest was occupied, and large input of C from an increased root density. The degree of changes in the quality of the organic matter decreased with time since abandonment, but changes were still detectable within anthills left 20 years ago. As ant colonies are concentrated, and move regularly on a decadal timescale, formation of Formica anthills has an intrinsic influence on the heterogeneity of the soil within this forest ecosystem. [source]

    Exoenzyme activities as indicators of dissolved organic matter composition in the hyporheic zone of a floodplain river

    FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2010
    SANDRA M. CLINTON
    Summary 1. We measured the hyporheic microbial exoenzyme activities in a floodplain river to determine whether dissolved organic matter (DOM) bioavailability varied with overlying riparian vegetation patch structure or position along flowpaths. 2. Particulate organic matter (POM), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity and temperature were sampled from wells in a riparian terrace on the Queets River, Washington, U.S.A. on 25 March, 15 May, 20 July and 09 October 1999. Dissolved nitrate, ammonium and soluble reactive phosphorus were also collected on 20 July and 09 October 1999. Wells were characterised by their associated overlying vegetation: bare cobble/young alder, mid-aged alder (8,20 years) and old alder/old-growth conifer (25 to >100 years). POM was analysed for the ash-free dry mass and the activities of eight exoenzymes (,-glucosidase, ,-glucosidase, , -N-acetylglucosaminidase, xylosidase, phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, esterase and endopeptidase) using fluorogenic substrates. 3. Exoenzyme activities in the Queets River hyporheic zone indicated the presence of an active microbial community metabolising a diverse array of organic molecules. Individual exoenzyme activity (mean ± standard error) ranged from 0.507 ± 0.1547 to 22.8 ± 5.69 ,mol MUF (g AFDM),1 h,1, was highly variable among wells and varied seasonally, with the lowest rates occurring in March. Exoenzyme activities were weakly correlated with DO, DOC and inorganic nutrient concentrations. 4. Ratios of leucine aminopeptidase : ,-glucosidase were low in March, May and October and high in July, potentially indicating a switch from polysaccharides to proteins as the dominant component of microbial metabolism. 5. Principal components analysis indicated that there were patch effects and that these effects were strongest in the summer. 6. DOM degradation patterns did not change systematically along hyporheic flowpaths but varied with overlying forest patch type in the Queets River hyporheic zone, suggesting that additional carbon inputs exist. We hypothesise that the most likely input is the downward movement of DOM from overlying riparian soils. Understanding this movement of DOM from soils to subsurface water is essential for understanding both the hyporheic metabolism and the carbon budget of streams and rivers. [source]

    Soil organic matter composition and soil lightness

    JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 5 2004
    Sandra Spielvogel
    Abstract Relationships between soil lightness, soil organic matter (SOM) composition, content of organic C, CaCO3, and texture were studied using 42 top-soil horizons from different soil types located in southern Germany. SOM composition was determined by CPMAS 13C NMR spectroscopy, soil color was measured by diffuse-reflectance spectrophotometry and given in the CIE L*a*b* color coordination system (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage, 1978). Multiple-regression analysis showed, that soil lightness of top-soil horizons is principally determined by OC concentration, but CaCO3 and soil texture are also major variables. Soil lightness decreased with increasing OC content. Carbonate content had an important effect on soil lightness even at low concentrations due to its lightening property. Regressions between soil lightness and organic C content were strongly linear, when the soils were differentiated according to texture and CaCO3 content. The aryl-C content was the only SOM component which correlated significantly with soil lightness (rS = ,0.87). In the linear regressions carried out on the different soil groups, soil aryl-C content was a more significant predictor for soil lightness than total OC content. Zusammensetzung der organischen Bodensubstanz und Bodenhelligkeit Der Zusammenhang zwischen Bodenhelligkeit, Zusammensetzung der organischen Substanz und Gehalt an Corg., CaCO3 und Textur wurde in 42 Oberböden aus verschiedenen Bodentypen Süddeutschlands untersucht. Die Zusammensetzung der organischen Substanz wurde mittels CPMAS- 13C-NMR-Spektroskopie bestimmt, die Bodenfarbe mittels Spektralphotometer und als Bodenhelligkeitswert im CIE L*a*b*-Farbkoordinatensystem (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage, 1978) angegeben. Die Auswertung über multiple Regression zeigte, dass die Bodenhelligkeit hauptsächlich vom OC-Gehalt bestimmt wird; CaCO3 -Gehalt und Textur erwiesen sich als weitere relevante Variablen. Die Bodenhelligkeit nimmt mit zunehmendem OC-Gehalt ab. Aufgrund seiner stark aufhellenden Wirkung hat der Carbonatgehalt auch bei niedrigen Konzentrationen einen deutlichen Einfluss auf die Bodenhelligkeit. Bei Berücksichtigung der Textur und des Carbonatgehalts ergaben sich lineare Beziehungen zwischen Bodenhelligkeit und OC-Gehalt. Der Aryl-C-Gehalt des Bodens war als einzige Humuskomponente signifikant mit der Bodenhelligkeit korreliert (rS = ,0.87). Der Aryl-C-Gehalt des Bodens bestimmt die Bodenhelligkeit schärfer als der OC-Gehalt. [source]