Effects of mineral surface iron on the CPMAS C-13-NMR spectroscopic detection of organic matter from soil fractions in an agricultural topsoil with different amendments

The decrease of NMR visibility of the C signal in soil samples due to the association between organic carbon (OC) and the topsoil mineral surface was investigated. CPMAS 13C-NMR spectra were obtained for soil particle-size fractions ( 20 μm) and bulk soils from an agricultural topsoil (Chernozem) that had received three different amendments (no fertilization, mineral fertilization (NPK), mineral (NPK) and organic (cattle manure) fertilizations) at Bad Lauchstädt, Germany. The soil organic carbon content of the three soils depended on the degree of soil fertilization. There was no constant relationship between the total NMR signal intensity and the total amount of organic carbon (TOC) for all size fractions. Indeed, a key role played in the C signal intensity by the paramagnetic ferric ion from the clay content in soil fractions and bulk soils was confirmed. Thus, we describe the variations of C signal intensity by taking into account the distribution of clay-associated OC and non-associated OC pools. Depending on the amendment, the C signal visibility was weakened by a factor of 2–4 for the clay-associated OC. This estimation was rendered possible by combining mineral specific surface area (SSA) measurements with the N2 gas adsorption method (BET method) and determination of TOC and iron concentrations. This approach contributes to the quantitative evaluation of the CPMAS 13C-NMR detection