Due to their sorptive properties clay-particles sorb carbon (C) (within soil organic matter = SOM ) and stabilize it.
For my thesis I need to analyse the quantity of C sorbed to clay.
Since I thought that macro- or microaggregates positively influence the content of (stable) clay-bound C I was wondering how this is achieved - and if it is true at all?
Is it possibly so that bigger SOM-molecules can get sorbed to clay within those aggregates or are more of the sorption sites of the clay particles occupied?
The reason I ask is because with my method of analysis, i.e. just looking at clay, I do not think that I can capture the importance of the micro-, macroaggregates or have any reason to think that I can determine stabilized C through looking at clay?!
Thank you for an answer!
Dear Vera, The organo clay complex is known to stabilize organic matter. The complexing of organic matter into aggregate structure is related to the ability to join clay together with clay. Both organic matter and clay have overall negative electrical charge and as such tend to suspend into solution and can be lost to the detriment of the environment. The ability of the clay and dissolved organic carbon can be directed into a more stable situation. For instance as soluble suspended clay and humate is exposed to multiple charged cations such as iron, aluminum and calcium the materials will complex as flocculate. The calcium working as mortar in this complexing. The preservation of soil organic matter is a function of clay and calcium content for instance. You can look at this be suspending clay in water adding soluble humate and then adding calcium the suspended material will precipitate in a organo clay complex. This complex material can be important as the precipitated form is not easily lost to water systems where it represents a source of eutrophication. Stablized organic matter through facilitated organoclay complex is a way to address the excess of carbon in the atmosphere and its deficit in the soil.
dear very exciting
Actually, in addition Paul Reed, most of soluble humate avilable in soil solution as RNH+ would like to adsorb to clay. some time, you can detrmine these compound by cation exchange method.
piyal
Okay thank you, I will think about it!
Might be the likelihood of clay might be higher of getting in contact with the SOM when particles are within the more stable environment of the macroaggregates. So when the macros are built might be that the clay (and ions) within the macros probably sorb more(per surface area) or rather more clay particles are involved in sorption...
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