The Impact of Profile Genesis and Land Use of Histosol on Its Organic Substance Stability and Humic Acid Quality at the Molecular Level

Kristina Amaleviciute-Volunge (), Jonas Volungevicius, Justinas Ceponkus, Rasa Platakyte, Ieva Mockeviciene, Alvyra Slepetiene and Viia Lepane
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Kristina Amaleviciute-Volunge: Chemical Research Laboratory, Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Instituto al. 1, Akademija, 58344 Kėdainiai, Lithuania
Jonas Volungevicius: Institute of Geosciences, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio g. 21, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania
Justinas Ceponkus: Institute of Chemical Physics, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 9, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania
Rasa Platakyte: Institute of Chemical Physics, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 9, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania
Ieva Mockeviciene: Vezaiciai Branch, Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Gargždų St. 29, 58344 Vėžaičiai, Lithuania
Alvyra Slepetiene: Chemical Research Laboratory, Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Instituto al. 1, Akademija, 58344 Kėdainiai, Lithuania
Viia Lepane: Institute of Chemistry, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 12611 Tallinn, Estonia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-22

Abstract: This study is designed to evaluate soil organic matter (SOM) quality indicators: molecular indicators of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and hydrophobicity of humic acid (HA), distribution of quantity in humified and labile fractions of histosols during renaturalization. The aim is to determine the differences in the qualitative composition of humic acids at the molecular level, which are decided by the previous tillage and genesis, and to evaluate the impact of anthropogenization on the peat soil according to hydrophobicity, as well as to estimate the impact of soil genesis and removing peat layer. Soil samples were taken from the three Sapric Histosol (according to WRB2022) profiles and the 0–30 cm layer in three field replicates (Lithuania, Radviliskis mun.). Our study suggested that in the differently managed drained Sapric Histosol under renaturalization, the most significant changes occurred in the topsoil layer (0–30 cm), in which an increase in the content of SOM particles 106–2 µm in size. It is expedient to grow perennial grasses and legumes to maintain the soil organic carbon stability mobile humic acids to mobile fulvic acids ratio (MHA:MFA 0.83 to 0.86). An evaluation of the quality of HA (E4:E6) revealed their highest maturity in the unfertilized perennial grasses (3.88) and crop rotation (3.87) with grasses. The highest concentrations of hydrophilic groups (ratio of the C=O to O-H) were found in Sapric Histosol under deciduous hardwood forest (12.33). The lowest hydrophilicity (9.25 and 9.36) was of the crop rotation Sapric Histosol with removed peat layer. The most sustainable use of drained Sapric Histosol in the context of the sustainability and quality of its humus substances should be associated with the formation of perennial grass and clover grassland and the cultivation of deciduous hardwood. Therefore, the horizon forms on the top part of the profile, which protects deeper Histosolic material layers from its mineralization.

Keywords: Sapric Histosol; E4:E6; molecular weight; hydrophobicity; FT–IR absorption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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