Hi Shantu,

HEre some elaboration on redox conditions in wetland soils. Nutrient cycling in lakes and freshwater wetlands depends heavily on redox conditions.Under a few millimeters of water heterotrophic bacteria metabolize and consume oxygen. They therefore deplete the soil of oxygen and create the need for anaerobic respiration. Some anaerobic microbial processes include denitrification, sulfate reduction and methanogenesis and are responsible for the release of N2 (nitrogen), H2S (hydrogen sulfide) and CH4 (methane). Other anaerobic microbial processes are linked to changes in the oxidation state of iron and manganese. As a result of anaerobic decomposition, the soil stores large amounts of organic carbon because decomposition is incomplete.

The redox potential describes which way chemical reactions will proceed in oxygen deficient soils and controls the nutrient cycling in flooded systems. Redox potential, or reduction potential, is used to express the likelihood of an environment to receive electrons and therefore become reduced. For example, if a system already has plenty of electrons (anoxic, organic-rich shale) it is reduced and will likely donate electrons to a part of the system that has a low concentration of electrons, or an oxidized environment, to equilibrate to the chemical gradient. The oxidized environment has high redox potential, whereas the reduced environment has a low redox potential.

Hope this helps somewhat.

Measuring is performed with a standard redox potential electrode.

Respected professor Frank,

Thank you very much sir, i am glad to get such informative answer. sir i will be in touch with you for futurer clarification

Thank you sir

Very informative Frank. Yes standard redox potential electrodes are available you can have it from different commercial vendors.

Thanks Shantu and Saif.

Cheers,

Frank