Carbon and nitrogen fractions in drained organic soils / Frakcje węgla i azotu w odwodnionych glebach organicznych

Pedological studies were carried out in the upper course of the Liviec River involving laboratory analyses of three profiles of hemic muck organic soil. The objective was to evaluate the basic properties (pH, crude ash content and carbon and nitrogen content) and to determine the speciation of carbon and nitrogen based on the sequential extraction with a neutral reagent (0.25M KCl) and two-stage acid hydrolysis at different concentrations of hydrogen ions (0.25M H2SO4 and 2.5M H2SO4).

The muck horizons, in relation to the peat horizons, had a higher content of ash and a lower concentration of carbon and lower carbontonitrogen ratios. The reduction of acidity in the examined soil had a significant impact on a higher proportion of mineral nitrogen forms. The moorshing process caused by desiccation of the examined soil contributed to an increase in the proportion of soluble organic matter forms (extracted with 0.25M KCl) and easily hydrolysing organic forms (extracted with hydrolysis in 0.25M H2SO4).