Application of FTIR spectroscopy for evaluation of hydrophobic/hydrophilic organic components in arable soil

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to determine the intensity of hydrophobic/hydrophilic components of the soil’s organic matter as well as its hydrophobicity. Non-destructive Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used for the diagnosis and characterization of the basic classes of the chemical groups (hydrophilic and hydrophobic components) from which the organic matter in the soils is formed. Soil samples (depth 0–30 cm) were taken from the topsoil of the 70 sampling sites from the experimental field at Prague-Ruzyne (Czech Republic) during 2007–2009, where a conventional soil tillage technology was used. It was found that the variability of the intensity of the hydrophobic components is greater (27.6%) than that of the intensity of the hydrophilic components (6.2%), which correlated significantly with the C_org (r = 0.58; P < 0.05) and N_t (r = 0.65; P < 0.05) in the soil. It was proven that the soil samples with a higher proportion of coarse grains are more hydrophobic than those with higher proportions of clay. Data about soil hydrophobicity can help to evaluate the soil quality parameters as well as the soil fertility.