Pakistan lownal of Biological Sciences 9 (2): 109-113,2005ISSN 1021-889802005 Asian Network for Information Sciences

Properties chemical of Some Peat Materials

Eastern Anatolia

IMetin Turan, lNizamettin Ataoglu, ICanan Kant, lAyhan Kocaman and 2Erclogan Oztful<IDepartment of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University, 25240 Erzurwn, Turkey2Department offield Crop, Faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University, 25240 Erzurwn, TurkeyAbstract: Humic Acids (RA) and group of Fulvic Acids (FA) contain Fulvic acid (FA) and Fugavic acid (FgA) extractedfrom different peat materials have been characterised by chemical methods at different pH. The chemical properties of HAand FA showed differences depending on the source from which they were obtained. Compared with the peat materials, thecation exchangeable capacity (190.20 CIllol, kg-'), organic matter (40.83%), total N (2.83%), exchangeable {ibtassium(850 mg kg-') of Slglrh (S) materials were greater than those of other materials. But Na (28mg kg-'), Fe (85 mg kg-'), Zn(24 mg kg-') Cu (4 mg kg-') andMn (6.24 mg kg-') contents ofErzurum (E) material were greater than those of othermaterials. The chemical properties ofHA and FA showed differences depending on source and climatic condition fromwhich they were obtained. Organic C and nitrogen contents of humic acid were greater than FA. Most of the total acidity of humic acid consists ofCOOH group, but with few exceptions, fulvic acid mainly consists ofphenolic-OH.Key words: Humic substances, macro-micro element, organic matter, peat material, total acidity

INTRODUCTION

Organic materials such as peat materials and organicwastes when added to the soil have a major effect on it'st.~e physical, chemical and biological properties(l·l]. Thiseffect depends on Organic Matter (OM) sources andqualities both of which are governed by climatic conditions,nature of plant material and soil type[2,4

Knowledge of carbon dynamics and organic matterquality is therefore essential for understandingthesustainability of different agricultural systems, the globalcarbon cycle, element leaching causing water pollution andsoil depletion and the ability of soil to withstand physicaldamage such as compaction and erosiofi[ll.An important strategy for recycling organic deposition istheir use in agriculture as fertiliser and as an organic a.-nendment in intensively-cropped, organic farming andorganic depleted soils

lsl

. Indeed, OM plays a fundamental rolein conditioning soil properties. Organic matter can be dividedinto non-humic and humic substances. Non-humic substancesinclude those with" " still-recognisable chemicalcharacteristics of their precursors (e.g. polysaccharides,proteins, lipids, etc.), while humic substances are defined as ageneral category of naturally occurring, biogenic,heterogenous organic substances th8t can generally becharacterised as yellow to black in colour, high molecularweight and refractoryl6

•

Since the bioavailability of OM SoilOrganic Matter (SOM) is controlled by chemical structure of OM andphysical protection offered by the soil matrix andminerals[7

the chemical characteristics of OM areimportant to understanding the dynamics of SOM in Ccycling. }{umic substances are known as its most importantfraction since they are directly involved in the slow releaseof nutrients high cation capacity, pH puffer capacity andheavy metals[ll. Therefore the recycling of organic wastesthrough their application for the soil can be an important andpromising practise for agricultural activities. The soil hasalmost W1Iimited capacity to accept large quantities of those materials and transform them through processesleading to humic substances. Part of this newly formedorganic matter (humic acid and the"" "other. humic substances) has a great influence on soilfertilitY'J, due to its carboxyl and phenolic-OR groups thatinteract with various soil components. A betterunderstanding of the chemical and physical characteristicsof these acids is necessary to comprehend thetransformations the acids will undergo after different timesin the soil enviromnent.Many studies were point to the" favourable effect thathumic substances have on plant growth. These substancescan either have a direct effect such as absorption of thehumic compounds by the plant, affecting certain enzymaticactivities, membrane permeability, etc.[IO,II) or an indirect(changes in the soil structure, increased cationic capacity,stimulation of microbiological activity the capacity tosolubilize or complexcertain soil ions) effect on theplant[l2,llJ.109

Pale. Bioi, Sci.,9(2): 109-113,2005

Table 1: Sampling location and their mcteaologicalinfamationl"'lMclcorological data'Min. temp.Max. temp.Mean temp.Locatioo

eel eel ("c)

Erzurum (E)-32.332.95,2SJtlrh (S)-30.535.65.0Toparlak

(I')

-33.032.44.7S~ (Sa)-30.533.85.2Dumlu

(0)

-30.431.85.8Erzincan (Er)4.230.910.8Ardahan (A)-30.231.25.1

The meteorological infamation is based on 73 yearsMeanrain

(mm)

390.2 394.2393.6393.7398.5

380.8

360.2

The effect which humic substances have on nutrient

absorbance generally depends on their origin, type andconcentration in the nutrient solution and on the speciesand variety of plant treated:The mechanisms by whichthe' nutrients are absorbed by the plants and theinteractions between the plant and culture medium aretwo factors which substantially influence the effect of humic substances on nutrient absorption. If the nutrientsare absorbedby an active mechanism (metabolicprocess) the humic substances can inhibition absorption,since they tend to complex the ions(l4.

l. Conversely, if the same ions are absorbed by means of a passivemechanism (diffusion through the tissues, translocation,etc.), the humic substances either do not intervene at allin the absorption or have a positive effect[14.16J.Organic matter sources such as peat material area of Turkey are approximately 25.000 ha. Characteristics of peat materials of Turlcey vary basedon climaticcondition, botanical contents, topography, water qualityand origin, drainage condition of the area.The objectives of this study were to (1) assess thenutrient contents suitability of some organic material forplant breeding, (ii) determinean optimum applicationrate of peat material to mineral soil, (iii) evaluate andcompare. the chemical characteristics of some peatmaterials in. Eastern Anatolia before they were added tosoil.MATERIALS AND METHODSTwenty samples of each seven peat materials (0-40em depth) were collected in the region of EasteqlAnatolia shown in Table 1. The samples were dried atroom temperature to workable water content and thenpassed through a 2 mm sieve before chemical analysis.Exchangeable cations (}(, Ca, Mg,Na) and CationExchange Capacity (CEC) Page

et aI.(I7)

pH and electricconductivityllsl, organic C and organic matter

'9],

totalnitrogen[20

and plant available phosphorus weH!ldetermined For the total heavy metal concentration, aknown quantity (1 g) sample was digested with 10 mL of concentrated HN0

as described by Zorpas

et al.

[22J.Afterdigestion, the samples were vacuum filtered and thefiltrate was used to determine the heavy metalconcentration by atomic spectrophotometer (a PerkinElmer 360 spectrophotometer was used). Humicsubstances were extracted using 0.1 N NaOH for 24 haccording to Schintzer

et al.

(2J).For the determined total acidity; 100 mg of humicpreparation in a 125 mL ground-glass stopperedErlenmeyer flask, add 20 mL of 0.20 NBa (OH)2solution. Simultaneously, set up a blank consisting of add 20 mL of 0.20 N Ba (OH)2 only. Displace the air ineach flask by N

, stopper flask carefully and shake thesystem for 24 h at room temperature. Following this,filter the suspension, washthe residue thoroughly withCO

-free distillate water and titrate the fUtrate pluswashing potentiometrically with standard 0.5 N HCIsolutions to pH 8.4[

For the determined carboxyl groups; 100 mg of humic preparation in a 125 mL ground-glass stopperedErlenmeyer flask, add 10 mL of 1 N (CH

COO)zCasolution and 40 mL of CO

-free distillate water. Setupblank simultaneously, consisting of add 10 mL of 1 N(CHJCOO)zCa solution and 40mL of CO

-free distillatewater only. After shaking for 24 h at room temperature,filter the suspension, wash the residue with CO

-freedistillate water, combirIe the filtrate and the washing andtitrate potentiometricall with standard 0.1 N NaOHsolutions to pH 9.8(24). Phenolic hydroxyls wereascribed to the difference between total acidity andcarboxyl groups.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe analytical data differed among the materials areshown that the moisture of S was the lowest in the all of .the ~aterials, pH values ofE was the slight alkaline whileT, Er, Sa, S and Ahad an acidic pH and D had neutral pH(Table 2).The cation exchangeable capacity (190.20 cmol. kg-I), exchangeable potassium (62 g kg-I), availablephosphorus (850 mg kg-I), total N (2.83%) and organicmatter content (40.83%) of S were much greater thanthose of the oth~r materials. Available Na (32 mg

kg-I),

Fe (85 mg kg-I), Zn (24 mg kg-I) Cu (4 mg kg-I) and Mn(6.24 mg kg-I) contents ofErzurum (E) material weregreater than those of other materials (Table 2).Among the sources, nitrogen contents of HAand FAwas the maximum for E followed by Sa>S>A>T>D>Er,S>Sa>D>T>A>Er, respectively (Table 3). That thehighest nitrogen and lowest organic carbon contents of Ematerials was probably due to the greater content of humified organic matter caused by a longer period of decomposition. That the lowest nitrogen content but the110

Pale. Bioi, Sci.,9(2): 109-113,2005

Table

Some characteristics of original peat materialsMoisturepHECCECQrg. MatterOIganicTotalLocution(%)O/3}(dSm-

)Ccmo!.kg-')

(%)

C(%)N

e A .)

Ca(mgkg-')Enunun(E)

70.50l:3.4 7.15:1:0.12 1.04:1:0.09 122.60±6.15 36.60±4.28 21.91:1:2.28 1. 70l:0.21 35.60:1:5.10

S,glrh (S)

62.30l:2.8 5.18:1:0.22 0.84:1:0.05 190.20:1:8.12 40.83:1:6.17 20.14:1:3.15 2. 83:1:0.09 28.31:1:6.30

T opariak

(I')

67.20l:2.4 4.72±O.10 1.05:1:0.08 118.30l:14.60 28.86:1:3.56 16.69:1:1. 78 1.41:1:0.12 20.20:1:13.80

S~(Sa)

68.50l:2.0 5.9O±O.08 0.4O±O.06 165.20l:13.24 18.60:1:7.11 13.90:1:1. 05 2.21:1:0.14 32.62:1:10.15

Dumlu(D)

71.20l:3.6 6.54:1:0.17 0.76±O.05 105.14:1:10.12 15.15:1:2.65 16.40:1:2. 22 1.65:1:0.10 38.40:1:3.20

Enincan

(Fr)

71.14:1:2.8 4.32±O.13 0.38:1:0.06 148.35:1:16.37 38.20:1:3.68 24.31:1:1.89 1.98:1:0.13 23.70:1:3.60

Ardahan (A)

74.25:1:2.3 5.20:1:0.12 0.44:1:0.05 122.04:1:11.1 0 33.20:1:4.12 18.13:1:1.92 0.98:1:0.15 39.41:1:4.10

Table

ContinuedMg(mgkg-I)K(gkg-I)P(mgkg-

)Na(mgkg-

)Fe(mgkg-')Zn(mg kg-I)OJ(mgkg-I)Mn(mgkg-I)Enunun(E)

12.83:1:1.5 30.00l:2.43 480l:21.S5 28±1.20 8S:i:6.12 24.00:1:0.66 4:1:0.05 6.24:1:1.20

S,glrh (S)

7.11:1:1.3

62.00:i:S.64

SSOl:13.22 15:1:2.15 58:1:4.17 9.00:1:0.89 1:1:0.02 4.13:1:1.10

T opariak

(I')

11.83:1:2.4 540l:26.95 12:1:1.24 72:1:3.52 20.00:1:1.12 3:1:0.02 3.55:1:1.40

S~(Sa)

6.29=2.0

44.00:i:S.13

830l:14.66 24:1:1.32 36:1:2.12 8.00:1:0.15 2±O.07 3.16:1:0.84

Dumlu(D)

15.62:1:1.6 18.00:1:3.17 620l:28.60 32:1:1.66 63:1:3.21 16.00:1:0.24 3:1:0.06 5. 2S:i: 1.90

Erzincan

(Fr)

24.8O±1:5 . 29.00:1:3.45 260:1:33.34 6:1:1.10 42:1:5.12 12.00:1:0.14 1:1:0.03 1.10l:0.45

Ardahan(A)

9.64:1:2.2 32.12:1:2.74 790l:12.15 27:1:2.14 12:1:2.88 6.14:1:0.18 4:1:0.07 2. 4O:i:0.45

Table

Functionalgroupcontent ofhumic and fulvic acidsTotal acidity (meq g-I)COOH (meq g-l)Pbenolic-OH (meq g-I)HAOiganicFA OrganicHANitrogenFA Nitrogen

--"'-"'---"'--_.-"'_._-

- - -- - - -

LocutionC cootent

(%)

C cootent(%)content

(%)

content(%)HAFAHAFAHAFAEnunun(E)

18.4:1:2.10 14.4:1:1.12 11.16:1:1.68

3.6S:i:O.20

7.37:1:1.15 6. 77:1:0.88 3.15:1:0.14 2.92:1:0.22 4.12:1:0.42

3.8S:i:O.23

S!&lrh (S)

34.2:1:2.30 19.6:1:0.15 9.15:1:1.18 3.21:1:0.52 6.39:1:0.83 5.96:1:1.05 4.15:1:0.18 4.00:1:0.34 2.24:1:0.30 1.96:1:0.19

T opariak

(I')

32.4:1:1.88 28.3:1:2.14 7.12:i:S.7 2.14:1:0.62 7.26:1:0.79 6.63:1:0.92 5.48:1:0.26 4.15:1:0.44 1.78£0.12 238:1:0.24

S~(Sa)

36.3:1:3.15 21.2:1:1.82 10.14:1:3.8 3.20:1:0.78 6.40:1:1.12 5.53:1:0.68 3.45:1:0.42 2.95:1:0.18 292:1:0.14 2.60:1:0.14

Dumlu(D)

26.6:1:4.51 15.1:1:1.16 5.78:1:1.9 2.60:1:0.11 8.86:1:1.1 0 7.8Ol:0.42 3.62:1:0.23 3.05:1:0.16 5.24:1:0.31 4.

7S:i:O.

Etzincan

(Fr)

39.8:1:212 16.2:1:0.18 2.32:1:1.13 1.1 S:i:O. 21 12.42:1:0.86 9.87:1:0.66 8.28:1:0.58 6. 12±O.69 4.14:1:0.22

3.7S:i:O.28

Ardahan(A)

29.4:1:3.12 18.2:1:1.10 8.62:1:211 1.98:1:0.18 6.70:1:1.10 4.78:1:0.51 3.15:1:0.33 3.74:1:0.14 213:1:0.18 244:1:0.11

highest level of organic carbon contents of Er materials. lIlight be attributed not only to the shorter perioddecomposition but also the slow humification process of Er material. The results suggest that Er samples arecharacterised by a low degree of condensation andhumification compared with the other samples!&]. Thecarboxylic group contents, as a consequence, the totalacidity of humic acid materials were higher than thefulvic acid in all of the materials (Table 3). All thesefindings are close values found by other authors fOr'similar materials[2~26\.Most of the total acidity of humic acid consist of COOH group, but with few exceptions fulvic acid consistof phenolic-OH (Table 3). In several studies were obtainsimilar results. But some values for those parameterswere, generally, higher than those other studies forsimilar organic materials. This may be attributed to theuse of different methods for extraction and purificationof humic and fulvic acid and determination of functionalgroupsl21l.The humic acid of S material had higherconcentrations of carboxylic groups than the othermaterials (Table 3). This could be attributed to the factthat organic materials ledto as increase in carboxylicgroup of humic acid[2lJ which play an important role inexchange reactions!l'l.

111

The results show that chemical properties of humicacid varied depending on the source from which theywere obtained. The application tosoil of peat materialsproduced by the controlled biological transformation of organic wastes is a traditional practice required for thesustainable management of productive systems.Currently, there is a large variety of easily availableorganic materials, the characteristics of which must bequarantined for their safe agricultural use. Organicsubstarices in soil can have a direct physiological effecton plant growth. Some compounds, such as certainphenolic acids, have phytotoxic properties; other, suchasthe auxins, enhance plant growth. Under certainconditions, substances toxic to plants can arise eitherdirectly or indirectly during the decomposition of plantresidues in soil. Furthermore application of partiallyhumified Organic wastes to the soilmaybe causedharmful effects because of any nature affects, to ameasurable degree, the composition and chemistry of soil. Therefore, various organic materials should initiallybe subjected to appropriate treatment to minimiseadverse effects on soil properties and to optimise theirfertility functions before applied to soil. Determiningpeat chemical properties of Eastern Anatolia is veryimportant because of topographic and botanicalconditions, drainage case and including organic matterquality.