Estimation of forms of Fe and Al - a review, and analysis of contrasting soils by dissolution and Mossbauer methods

Abstract

Three methods have been used to extract iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) from a wide range of soils. The three extractants were pyrophosphate reagent (p), acid-oxalate reagent (o), and dithionite-citrate reagent (d), and each reagent is thought to extract different forms of Fe and Al. The forms of Fe in the soils were studied before and after extraction using Moessbauer spectroscopy. Pyrophosphate-extractable Fe (Fep) does not specifically relate to any particular form of Fe in soils and it should not be used to estimate Fe in humus complexes. In some soils (e.g., Spodosol, Ochrept) Fep arises from Fe in ferrihydrite. In other soils (Ultisol, Hydrandept) Fep arises from goethite and ferrihydrite which is dispersed by pyrophosphate. Alp corresponds to Al in humus complexes and, in most soils, can be used to estimate Al in such complexes. Al and Si in allophane and imogolite were extracted in acid-oxalate reagent, and could be estimated from Alo-Alp and Sio, provided large amounts of ferrihydrite were not present. Ferrihydrite was also extracted in acid-oxalate reagent and, assuming complete extraction, could be estimated by multiplying Feo by the factor 1.7. Dithionite-citrate reagent dissolved goethite and hematite in addition to ferrihydrite. In some soils repeated extractions were required to dissoive most of the goethite and hematite. Quantitative estimates of Fe in goethite and hematite can be made from Fed -Feo. Other techniques, however, such as X-ray diffraction and Moessbauer spectroscopy, were necessary to identify iron oxides positively in most soils.