DETERMINATION OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER

AIM: To determine the percentage of organic matter present in soil sample.

PRINCIPLE: A known weight of soil or sediment is treated with an excess volume of
standard potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) solution in the presence of concentrated H 2SO4. The
soil is digested by the heat of dilution of H 2SO4 and organic carbon, which is oxidized to carbon
dioxide (CO2). The excess of potassium dichromate unused in oxidation is titrated back against a
standard solution of ferrous ammonium sulfate (FAS, FeSO 4 (NH4)2SO4) in the presence of
sodium fluoride or phosphoric acid (NaF or H3PO4) and diphenylamine solution as indicator.

REAGENTS:
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1N K2Cr2O7 solution: Dissolve 49.04 g of potassium dichromate in distilled water and

make up to 1000 mL.
0.5N FAS (Mohr's Salt): Dissolve 196g of FAS in distilled water, add 50mL conc. H2SO4
and make the volume up to 1000 mL.
Diphenylamine indicator: Dissolve 0.5g of diphenylamine in a mixture of 100mL
conc. H2SO4 and 20 mL distilled water.
Concentrated H2SO4.
Sodium fluoride or Ortho phosphoric acid (85%).

APPARATUS: 500 mL conical flask, pipettes, burettes and measuring cylinders 25mL.
PROCEDURE:
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Weigh 5 g of 2 mm sieved soil or sediments into 500 mL conical flask.

Add 10 mL 1N K2Cr2O7solution and shake to mix.
Add 20 mL conc. H2SO4from side of the flask.
Keep the content for 30 minutes undisturbed.
Now add 3 g NaF or 10mL H3PO4and 100 mL distilled water and shake vigorously.
Add 10 drops of diphenylamine indicator that gives violet colour.
Titrate against 0.5N FAS solution till the colour changes from violet to bright green via
blue. Note down the volume of the solution used.
Carry out a blank titration in a similar manner without soil.

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATION:

Weight of sample (S)

Vol. of FAS used in blank (X)

mL.

Vol. of FAS used to oxidize SOC (Y) =

mL.

Normality of FAS

N.

Volume of 1N K2Cr2O7used for the oxidation of carbon = (X-Y)/ 2

1 mL of K2Cr2O7= 0.003g of organic carbon.

Organic carbon in the soil (%) =

( X Y ) x 0.003 x 100
2xS

Organic Matter (%) = soil carbon (%) x 1.724 =

RESULT: Percentage of Soil Organic Matter is ____________.