Examination of thermal and acid hydrolysis procedures in characterization of soil organic matter

Differential thermogravimetry (DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and stepwise thermogravimetry (STG), together with two acid hydrolysis methods (hydrolysis with hydrochloric acid in a single step, and hydrolysis with sulfuric acid in two steps), were evaluated to determine the quality of four plant materials (Medicago sativa, Eucalyptus globulus, Quercus ilex, and Pinus halepensis) before and after mixing with a red earth. These quality indices were then compared with the same materials in the field, whether their decomposition could be predicted. All the thermal methods gave poor results. In both DTG and DSC, the presence of the mineral matrix gave rise to strong distortions in the spectra. Since the spectrum of any mixture is not simply the sum of the spectra of the two components (organic matter + mineral matter), these distortions could not be corrected by simply subtracting the spectrum of the red earth alone. STG trials also gave poor results, because the presence of the mineral matrix greatly increased the quality indices, and reduced the ability of the method to distinguish between organic matter qualities. In view of our results, the usefulness of thermal methods in the characterization of soil organic matter would seem to be restricted to certain organic horizons (L, F, and perhaps H). In contrast, methods based on acid hydrolysis were comparatively more satisfactory. Their resolution (ability to distinguish organic matter qualities) was much higher than that of thermal methods. However, they were able to distinguish carbon more accurately than nitrogen. The sulfuric acid method, unlike the hydrochloric acid method, was affected by the presence of a mineral matrix. While both methods could be improved, in their present form they seem to operate as good predictors of carbon and nitrogen mineralization.