EXTRACTION OF ORGANIC MATTER FROM PODZOLIC SOILS BY MEANS OF DILUTE INORGANIC ACIDS

Abstract

HF, HCl and an HCl-HF mixture at 0.5 per cent concentration for each acid, extracted only 2 per cent of the carbon of the A0 and up to 96 per cent of that of the B horizon of a podzol soil. Acid concentrations higher than 0.5 per cent (1.25 and 2.50 per cent) were less effective in extracting carbon. Both HF and the HCl-HF mixture were more effective extractants than HCl alone. The amounts of carbon extracted by 0.5 per cent HCl showed a correlation with those of iron and aluminium with maxima occurring in the B horizon extracts.