Charge characteristics in relation to free iron and organic matter of soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon

We have examined the charge characteristics, with special emphasis on the role of free Fe and organic matter, of humid tropical soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon. The soils, which are formed from tuff, basalt and trachyte, are dominated by kaolinite and sesquioxides. The mounts of Fe o...

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Main Authors: Van Ranst, E., Shamshuddin, J., Baert, G., Dzwowa, P. K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Blackwell Science 1998
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51795/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51795/1/51795.pdf
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author Van Ranst, E.
Shamshuddin, J.
Baert, G.
Dzwowa, P. K.
author_facet Van Ranst, E.
Shamshuddin, J.
Baert, G.
Dzwowa, P. K.
author_sort Van Ranst, E.
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description We have examined the charge characteristics, with special emphasis on the role of free Fe and organic matter, of humid tropical soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon. The soils, which are formed from tuff, basalt and trachyte, are dominated by kaolinite and sesquioxides. The mounts of Fe oxides in them increase somewhat with depth. Open 2:1 phyllosilicates are present in trace amounts. The point of zero charge of the variable charge components, pH0, is around 4 in the topsoil (0-20 cm) and around 6 at 100-150 cm depth. In the subsoils, pH0 exceeds soil pH presumably because of large quantities of Fe oxides. Deferration increases both soil pH and pH0, but diminishes the anion exchange capacity. Oxides and oxyhydrates of Fe have positive surface charge, so their removal from the soils would result in overall loss of positive charge. Increases in soil pH would bring about an increase in the cation exchange capacity of the soils. Hence, management practices that reduce soil acidity should reduce loss of essential basic cations via leaching.
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spelling upm-517952017-09-06T07:54:44Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51795/ Charge characteristics in relation to free iron and organic matter of soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon Van Ranst, E. Shamshuddin, J. Baert, G. Dzwowa, P. K. We have examined the charge characteristics, with special emphasis on the role of free Fe and organic matter, of humid tropical soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon. The soils, which are formed from tuff, basalt and trachyte, are dominated by kaolinite and sesquioxides. The mounts of Fe oxides in them increase somewhat with depth. Open 2:1 phyllosilicates are present in trace amounts. The point of zero charge of the variable charge components, pH0, is around 4 in the topsoil (0-20 cm) and around 6 at 100-150 cm depth. In the subsoils, pH0 exceeds soil pH presumably because of large quantities of Fe oxides. Deferration increases both soil pH and pH0, but diminishes the anion exchange capacity. Oxides and oxyhydrates of Fe have positive surface charge, so their removal from the soils would result in overall loss of positive charge. Increases in soil pH would bring about an increase in the cation exchange capacity of the soils. Hence, management practices that reduce soil acidity should reduce loss of essential basic cations via leaching. Blackwell Science 1998 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51795/1/51795.pdf Van Ranst, E. and Shamshuddin, J. and Baert, G. and Dzwowa, P. K. (1998) Charge characteristics in relation to free iron and organic matter of soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon. European Journal of Soil Science, 49 (2). pp. 243-252. ISSN 1351-0754; ESSN: 1365-2389 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2389.1998.00159.x/abstract?systemMessage=Wiley+Online+Library+will+be+unavailable+on+Saturday+12th+August+at+3%3A00+EDT+%2F+8%3A00+BST+%2F+12%3A30+IST+%2F+15%3A00+SGT+for+4+hours+for+essential+maintenance. 10.1046/j.1365-2389.1998.00159.x
spellingShingle Van Ranst, E.
Shamshuddin, J.
Baert, G.
Dzwowa, P. K.
Charge characteristics in relation to free iron and organic matter of soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon
title Charge characteristics in relation to free iron and organic matter of soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon
title_full Charge characteristics in relation to free iron and organic matter of soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon
title_fullStr Charge characteristics in relation to free iron and organic matter of soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon
title_full_unstemmed Charge characteristics in relation to free iron and organic matter of soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon
title_short Charge characteristics in relation to free iron and organic matter of soils from Bambouto Mountains, Western Cameroon
title_sort charge characteristics in relation to free iron and organic matter of soils from bambouto mountains, western cameroon
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51795/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51795/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51795/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51795/1/51795.pdf