Soils in the region of Campos de Cima da Serra, RS, have high organic matter contents (SOM) and high levels of exchangeable Al. This study aimed to investigate the SOM quality of surface samples (0-10 cm) of eight representative soils from the region (two Neossols, two Gleissols, three Cambissols, one Latosol) under native pasture. The objectives were to evaluate the sample behaviour under demineralization with HF solution, to determine the chemical composition and the influence of exchangeable Al and iron oxides on it. The SOM was concentrated with 10 % (v/v) HF solution and then submitted to elemental analysis, FTIR and 13C NMR CP/MAS spectroscopy. The recovered mass after HF treatment (5.8 to 10 %) was correlated with the soil C content, while the recovered C (47 to 86 %) was inversely correlated with the Fe oxide content. This result indicates that part of the SOM in these soils is associated to these minerals. The proportion of total C O-alkyl groups was high (52 to 59 %) and the values for the I1630/I2920 index (FTIR) were low, evidencing a low humification and decomposition degree of SOM in these soils.
spectroscopy; humification degree; HF treatment; organo-mineral; carbohydrate
