Humification degree of Rendzina soil humic acids influenced by carbonate leaching and land use

Abstract

The humification degrees of humic acids extracted from calcareous and decarbonated Rendzinas under different land use were characterized upon their optical properties, to evaluate the influence of carbonate leaching (decarbonation) and different land uses. Decarbonation influenced the humification degree of humic acids positively. Base leaching and acidification of decarbonated Rendzinas led to a decrease in humification degree of humic acids. In calcareous Rendzinas, the humification degree of humic acids was in descending order: grassland>arable land>forest land, and in decarbonated Rendzinas: arable land>grassland>forest land. The humification degree of humic acids was higher in the calcareous forest and grassland Rendzinas compared to decarbonated Rendzinas, analogously in decarbonated arable land compared to calcareous arable land Rendzinas. Differences in the humification degree of humic acids among various land uses that emerged between calcareous and decarbonated Rendzinas indicate the dominant influence of soil chemical characteristics (carbonate content and pH value) compared with the quantity and quality of the organic litter input.