Charred plant fragment–aluminium complexes in buried humic horizons of a cumulative volcanic soil profile: Formation, accumulation and potential role

• Published in: European journal of soil science 2022-01, Vol.73 (1), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Shindo, Haruo, Inoue, Yudzuru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: active Al components; buried A (Ab) horizons; charred plant fragments; humic substances; organo–Al complexes
• ISSN: 1351-0754; 1365-2389
• DOI: 10.1111/ejss.13171

The objective of the present study was to investigate the formation, accumulation and potential role of charred plant fragment (CPF)–aluminium (Al) complexes in several buried A (Ab) horizons of a cumulative volcanic soil profile, focusing on CPFs, active Al components and soil age. Nineteen soil samples were collected from four buried humic horizons (2A–5A, from 7.3 cal ka BP to AD 1471), and their CPF–carbon (C), soil organic C (SOC), acid oxalate‐extractable Al (Alox), pyrophosphate‐extractable Al (Alpy, Al–humus complexes) and short‐range ordered Al minerals (Alox − Alpy) were quantified. The proportion of CPF–C content (up to 15.8 g kg−1) to SOC content (up to 117 g kg−1) ranged from 2.3% to 15.1% (8.4% on average). The contents of active Al components (6.71–77.1 g kg−1) increased: Alpy