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Differential extraction of radiocarbon associated with soil biomass and humus

Journal Article · · Soil Science
;  [1]
  1. Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ (United States). Cook Coll.

To detect the humification of organic compounds in soil that bypasses biomass incorporation, selective extraction procedures for radiocarbon from soil biomass and humus were evaluated. Following the incubation of [sup 14]C-glucose and [sup 14]C-benzoate in soil, fumigation--0.5 M K[sub 2]SO[sub 4] extraction and 0.15 M Na[sub 4]P[sub 2]O[sub 7] extraction selectively removed biomass-associated and humus-associated radiocarbon, respectively. Applying the recovery correction of 3.4[times] to biomass and 3.5[times] to humus, radiocarbon balances of 95 to 107% were obtained during a time window following the degradation of these substrates. Negligible overlap between the extractions renders the technique suitable for investigating the fate of organics that, through cometabolism, attain unusual radiocarbon distributions in soil.

OSTI ID:
6151264
Journal Information:
Soil Science, Journal Name: Soil Science Vol. 164:4; ISSN 0038-075X; ISSN SOSCAK
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English