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The formation of humus1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

V. A. Beckley
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden.

Extract

It was early noticed that soil on treatment with a solution of an alkali yielded a dark coloured solution which gave a black flocculent precipitate on acidification. Decomposing vegetable matter behaved in a similar way.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1921

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References

page 69 note 2 Chemie der Ackerkaume, Bd. 1, 308 (1863 Edit.).Google Scholar

page 69 note 3 In Mulder's day the equivalents of C and O were half of those now accepted, C = 6, O = 8. Modern formulae are given in brackets after Mulder's formulae.

page 70 note 1 Ber. 1885, 18, 439Google Scholar; 1886, 19, 2569 and 2845.

page 70 note 2 Biochem. Journ. 1907, 2, 458.Google Scholar

page 70 note 3 Ibid. 1915, 9, 260.

page 71 note 1 Chem. Ztg. 1895, 19, 1003;Google Scholar

page 71 note 2 J. C. S. 1909, 95, 1338Google Scholar, and private information from Dr Fenton.

page 71 note 3 Ber. 1910, 43, 2391.Google Scholar

page 72 note 1 Dilute acid was used so as to make the colour changes slow.

page 72 note 2 A solution of phenylhydrazine acetate gave a red oil or a sticky red paste with hydroxymethyl-furfural. This was soluble in alcohol but did not crystallise. An aqueous solution added carefully till phenylhydrazine was in slight excess gave beautiful golden plates. These were partially soluble in water and therefore the weights of the phenylhydrazone are not quantitative.

page 73 note 1 Ber. 1885, 18, 443.Google Scholar

page 73 note 2 Compt. Rend. 1912, 154, 66Google Scholar; 1912, 155, 1554; 1913, 156, 1159.

page 73 note 3 J. Biol. Chem. 1916, 27, 71.Google Scholar

page 73 note 4 Ibid. 1916, 26, 177.

page 74 note 1 Green, , J. C. S. 1906, 89, 811.Google Scholar