DETERMINATION SOIL ORGANIC MATTER

AIM: To determine the percentage of organic matter present in soil sample.

PRINCIPLE: A known weight of soil or sediment is treated with an excess volume of
standard potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) solution in the presence of concentrated H 2SO4.
The soil is digested by the heat of dilution of H 2SO4 and organic carbon, which is oxidized to
carbon dioxide (CO2). The excess of potassium dichromate unused in oxidation is titrated
back against a standard solution of ferrous ammonium sulfate (FAS, FeSO 4 (NH4)2SO4) in the
presence of sodium fluoride or phosphoric acid (NaF or H 3PO4) and diphenylamine solution
as indicator.

THEORY:
Soil organic matter consists of a variety of components including varying proportions and
many intermediate stages of raw plant residues and microorganisms (1 to 10 %), active
organic traction (10 to 40%) and resistant or stable organic matter or humus (40 to 60 %). The
raw plant residues, on surface, help reduce surface wind speed and water runoff. Removal,
incorporation or burning of residues predisposes the soil to serious erosion. The active and
some of the resistant soil organic component, together with microorganisms (especially
fungi) are involved in binding small soil particles into larger aggregates. Aggregation is
important for good soil structure, aeration, water, and infiltration and resistant to erosion and
crusting. The resistant or stable fraction of soil organic matter contributes mainly to nutrient
holding capacity (cation exchange capacity) and soil colour. This fraction of organic matter
decomposes very slowly and therefore has less influence on soil fertility than the active
organic fraction. The amount of soil organic matter characteristic of virgin and cultivated soil
in the various zone represent 30 to 50% loss of organic matter in cultivated soil than virgin
soil. The soil organic matter (SOM) includes only those organic materials that accompany
soil particles through 2 mm sieve. Its content is an index of the soil productivity. SOM is the
source and sink of nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulphur), it has charge properties
which make it a site of ion exchange (generally 1, and OM increase contribute 2 meq).
Interpretation:
% Organic Carbon
< 0.40
0.4o to 0.75
> 0.75

Rating
Low
Medium
High

REAGENTS:
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1N K2Cr2O7 solution: Dissolve 49.04 g of potassium dichromate in distilled water and

make up to 1000 mL.
0.5N FAS (Mohr's Salt): Dissolve 196g of FAS in distilled water, add 50mL conc.
H2SO4 and make the volume up to 1000 mL.
Diphenylamine indicator: Dissolve 0.5g of diphenylamine in a mixture of 100mL
Conc. H2SO4and 20 mL distilled water.
Concentrated H2SO4.
Sodium fluoride or ortho phosphoric acid (85%).

APPARATUS: 500 mL conical flask, pipettes, burettes and measuring cylinders 25mL.
PROCEDURE:
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Weigh 10 g of 425 sieved soil or sediments into 500 mL conical flask.

Add 10 mL 1N K2Cr2O7solution and shake to mix.
Add 20 mL conc. H2SO4from side of the flask.
Keep the content for 30 minutes undisturbed.
Now add 10mL H3PO4and 200 mL distilled water and shake vigorously.
Add 10 drops of diphenylamine indicator that gives violet colour.
Titrate against 0.5N FAS solution till the colour changes from violet to bright green
via blue. Note down the volume of the solution used.
Carry out a blank titration in a similar manner without soil.

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATION:

Weight of sample (S)

Vol. of FAS used in blank (X)=

12.5

mL.

Vol. of FAS used to oxidize SOC (Y) =

14.7

mL.

Normality of FAS

0.5

N.

Volume of 1N K2Cr2O7used for the oxidation of carbon = (X~Y)/ 2 = (14.7 12.5)/2 = 1.1
1 mL of K2Cr2O7= 0.003g of organic carbon.

Organic carbon in the soil (%) =

( X Y ) x 0.003 x 100
2xS

0.33%
Organic Matter (%) = soil carbon (%) x 1.724 = 0.57%

RESULT:
1

Percentage of Soil Organic Matter is ______

Soil has moderate Organic Content.

1.1 x 0.003 x 100

2x 1