Properties and composition of soil organic matter in forest and arable soils of Schleswig-Holstein .2. Litter and humic compounds in mineral horizons

Organic matter composition is an important soil constituent with regard to function in soil ecosystems. In the recent paper litter and humic compound contents from about 100 mineral soil investigations are presented. The soil horizons are divided into four groups (Ah, Ap, M, Bh) in order to compare the SOM quality. Ap and Ah horizons showed a similar litter and humic compound distribution. Structural differences in the humic compound fractions were only visible with CPMAS C-13-NMR. SOM quality as the A horizons. In the Bh horizons the humic compounds dominated with about 75% in the SOM. Alkylic and O-alkylic carbon units are the main fractions. The combination of the solid-state C-13-NMR spectroscopy of whole soil samples and the wet chemical analysis of litter compounds allowed the estimation of the litter and chemically defined humic compound distribution in soil samples.