Fractionation of extractable aluminum in acid soils: A review and a proposed procedure

Abstract

Different forms of soil aluminum (Al) are involved in the retention of anions and cations, phytotoxicity of Al in acid soils, CEC reduction and soil physical properties such as aggregate stability and water infiltration. Therefore it is desirable to quantify the different forms of Al in soil especially acidic soils. A rationale was developed from a literature survey to identify the following fractions of Al: (a) exchangeable quantified by 1M KC1 extraction; (b) organic bound quantified by 0.1M CuCl₂ + 0.5M KCl extraction; (c) sorhed Al extractable with 1M NE₄OAc at pH 4.0; (d) amorphous Al oxide and hydroxide and amorphous aluminosilicates (if present) extractable with 0.2M ammonium oxalate at pH 3.0; and (e) interlayered Al extractable with 0. 33M sodium citrate at pH 7.3. Pools (a), (b), and (c) are extracted sequentially. Amorphous Al oxide and hydroxide (pool d) is calculated from ammonium oxalate extractable Al minus (a + b + c). Interlayered Al is calculated from sodium citrate extractable Al minus ammonium oxalate extractable Al. The latter two extractions are done on separate subsamples of soils. From preliminary studies and data for 13 soil samples it is suggested that this fractionation of soil Al is more meaningful than that obtained by the KCl ‐> K₄P₂O₇ ‐> ammonium oxalate > citrate‐bicarbonate‐dithionite extraction sequence.