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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Improving Infrared Spectroscopy Characterization of Soil Organic Matter with Spectral Subtractions
Published on: January 10, 2019
[Analysis of soil humus and components after 26 years' fertilization by infrared spectroscopy method]
Yu-Lan Zhang1, Cai-Xia Sun, Zhen-Hua Chen
1Group of Applied Soil and Biochemistry, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China. Yulanenzymes@hotmail.com
Abstract:
The infrared spectrum was used to discuss structure change of soil humus and components of chemical groups in soil humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) isolated from soils in different fertilization treatment after 26 year's fertilization. The result indicated that using the infrared spectroscopy method for the determination of humus, humus fractions (HA and FA) and their structure is feasible. Fertilization affected the structure and content of soil humus and aromatization degree. After 26 years' fertilization, the infrared spectrum shapes with different treatments are similar, but the characteristic peak intensity is obviously different, which reflects the effects of different fertilization treatments on the structure and amounts of soil humus or functional groups. Compared with no fertilization, little molecule saccharides decreased and aryl-groups increased under application of inorganic fertilizer or combined application of organic and chemical fertilizer. The effect was greater in Treatment NPK and M+NPK than in Treatment M1 N and M2 N. Organic and NPK fertilizer increased the development of soil and increased soil quality to a certain extent. Results showed that organic fertilization increased aromatization degree of soil humus and humus fractions distinctly. The authors could estimate soil humus evolvement of different fertilization with infrared spectroscopy.
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