The content and UV-Vis absorbances of bog peat organic matter fractions (Divčivare, Serbia)

This paper presents peat soil organic matter characteristics at Divčibare Mountain (950 m a.s.l, mountain climate). Excessive wetting is caused by groundwater and floods, and plant litter originates from hydrophilic vegetation. An investigation was aimed at determining the correlation between organic matter characteristics (humification degree, stability and bioavailability) with factors of soil formation and the most important physico-chemical characteristics of peat. Peat is mild acid and has a low base saturation. The content of organic matter is higher than 60% at depth of 40−80 cm, and higher than 40% at depths of 0−40 and 80−105 cm, respectively. Investigated peat had sapric characteristics. A content of humic acids in total organic matter indicates its unequal humification degree within profile, moderate to high at depth of 0−40 cm, low at 40−80-cm depth, and very low beneath 80 cm. A value of Ch/Cf ratio indicates high humus stability up to 80 cm where it has humate-type humus, while below 80 cm humus is the humatefulvate type. A low content of fractions separated with 0.1N cold H2SO4, and cold and hot water, points out a low bioavailability of organic matter through whole soil profile. UV-Vis indices indicate a low humification degree of humic acids (increased to 80-cm depth), and a very low humification degree of fulvic acids (variable, the highest at 60−80-cm depth). Overall results indicate that particle size of mineral fraction, soil reaction, and cation exchange capacity had no significant impact on organic matter characteristics. Soil moisture content, that is alterations of oxido-reductive conditions throughout soil profile had the crucial impact on peat organic matter characteristics.