Characterization of water extractable organic matter in a deep soil profile

The aim of this study was to identify qualitative and quantitative differences of water extractable organic matter (WEOM) isolated from each horizon along a deep soil profile and to evaluate any relationship between the WEOC and the total organic carbon (TOC) content. The soil profile "Monte Pietroso" is located in the Murge area, Apulia region in Southern Italy. Samples from the eight horizons (Ap1, Ap2, Ab1, Ab2, Bt1, 2B, 2Bt2, and 2B/C) were collected in October 2002. The WEOM characterization was carried out by means of UV absorbance, fluorescence spectroscopy in the emission and excitation/emission matrix (EEM) modes, and additional spectroscopic derived indexes. Soil organic carbon was shown to accumulate in the top horizons (Ap) and, in general, to decrease with depth, whereas, the WEOM/TOC ratio increases with increasing depth. The aromaticity and the humification index of the WEOM decrease dramatically downward the soil profile, whereas the fluorescence efficiency index tends to increase markedly. The WEOM fractions feature three main fluorophores with different wavelength and relative intensity. In general WEOM transport phenomena are suggested to occur downward the soil profile, depending on the nature of the organic material and on the chemical and mineral characteristics of the various horizons.