[Characteristics and environmental significance of soil dissolved organic matter]

Soil is a complex ecosystem with multi-interface. A numerous studies on soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) were carried out, and proved that DOM was one of the most active chemical components in the environment. Increasing attention has been paid on the study of soil DOM, especially in recent years, and the study has become an interdisciplinary focus in the fields of soil science, ecology, and environmental science due to the important roles of DOM in the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, etc. In addition, DOM has significant effects on pedogenesis, growth and metabolism of soil microorganisms, decomposition and transformation of soil organic matter, and transport of pollutants in soils. The recent literatures about extraction methods, origin, composition, contents and controlling factors, bioavailability, and environmental significance of DOM were therefore reviewed, and future research aspects on this topic were also proposed.