EFFECT OF ORGANIC-MATTER ON CHANGES IN SOIL ZINC FRACTIONS FOUND IN WETLAND SOILS

Zinc fractions occurring in five wetland soils as a function of organic matter application and soil redox potential were studied under laboratory conditions. The results indicate that a large portion of native or added Zn is bound to the soil mineral component. Exchangeable and organic complexed Zn and Zn bound to amorphous and crystalline sesquioxides were found to be in dynamic equilibrium. Exchangeable and complexed Zn were positively correlated with both native and/or added organic matter, while Zn bound to the amorphous and crystalline sesquioxides were negatively correlated with added organic matter. As soil redox potential decreased, the amount of exchangeable and organic complexed Zn decreased, while Zn bound to the amorphous and crystalline sesquioxides increased. Zinc fractions examined varied, depending upon soil cation exchange capacity, clay and organic carbon content.