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Separation of Organic Acids from Several Dormant and Incubated Ohio Soils¹

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this study were to determine the organic acid content of several of the Grey-Brown Podzolic soils in Ohio and to study changes in the acids occurring as a result of short period aerobic incubatious of the soil materials at constant temperature and moisture.

The soil materials used in this investigation, Brookston silty clay loam, Crosby silt loam, Miami silt loam, and Wooster silt loam, were obtained from naturally wooded areas in the state.

A chromatographic column containing silica gel was employed for the separation of the organic acids. This procedure permitted the separation and quantitative estimation of the organic acids extracted with ether from the soil material. The identities of the organic acids were indicated by a comparison of their positions on an elution calibration chart with those of known pure organic acids. The chromatographically separated acids were not chemically characterized.

It was found that of the organic acids separated by this procedure, only two occurred in significant amounts, namely acetic and formic acids. In addition, very small quantities of other acids, including succinic and lactic acids and what are thought to be a group of high-molecular weight fatty acids, were also separated. The latter probably resulted from alkali hydrolysis of the fats extracted from the soil materials.

A 1% glucose treatment of the several soil materials apparently did not appreciably change the organic acid make-up either qualitatively or quantitatively. Preliminary data are presented concerning the effect of incubation on phosphorus solubility.

¹ Published with approval of the Director, Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta., as Journal Paper No. 3–54. Presented before Division III, Soil Science Society of America, Dallas, Tex., Nov. 19, 1953.

² Research Assistant, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry, and Professor in Agronomy, respectively, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station and Ohio State University.

Received for publication December 14, 1953.