Iron (Hydr)Oxide Crystallinity Effects on Soil Aggregation
2003
Duiker, Sjoerd W. | Rhoton, Fred E. | Torrent, José | Smeck, N. E. | Lal, R.
Differences in crystallinity may explain why total Fe (hydr)oxide content has a variable effect on aggregate stability. Therefore, surface soil samples with a range of poorly crystalline Fe (hydr)oxide contents were characterized for water-stable aggregates >0.25 mm (WSA), mean-weighted diameter (MWD), soil organic C (OC), particle-size distribution, pH, exchangeable cations, citrate/bicarbonate/dithionite (subscript d), and acid ammonium oxalate (subscript o) extractable Fe, Al, and Si. The WSA and MWD range from 23 to 95%, and 0.3 to 5.1 mm, respectively. The effects of Feₒ (1.1–6.8 g kg⁻¹), Fed (3.2–19.6 g kg⁻¹), OC (2.4–24.0 g kg⁻¹) and clay (141–467 g kg⁻¹) contents on WSA and MWD of both A and B horizons of these soils was studied using linear regression. The poorly crystalline Fe (hydr)oxide (Feₒ) and OC contents are significantly correlated with WSA in the A horizons (r ² = 0.95, n = 6, p = 0.001, and r ² = 0.93, n = 6, p = 0.002, respectively) and in the B horizons (r ² = 0.73, n = 6, p = 0.029, and r ² = 0.76, n = 6, p = 0.024, respectively). When regressed against MWD, Feₒ has an r ² of 0.89 (n = 6, p = 0.004) in the A, and 0.97 (n = 6, p = 0.000) in the B horizons. The coefficient of determination of MWD vs. OC contents is 0.98 (n = 6, p = 0.000) in the A and 0.79 (n = 6, p = 0.018) in the B horizons. Clay and Fed contents are not significantly correlated to WSA or MWD. Apparently, the Feₒ component (poorly crystalline) is more effective than Fed at stabilizing soil aggregates, even though it is present in lower concentrations. The Feₒ component appears more important than OC in terms of WSA and MWD for soils with relatively low soil organic matter contents.
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