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Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Characterization of the Composition of Organic Matter in Arid Salt-Affected Soils Under Different Vegetation Cover, Southeastern Tunisia (Gabes and Medenine)

  • Zohra OmarEmail author
  • Abdelhakim Bouajila
  • Jalloul Bouajila
  • Rami Rahmani
  • Houda Besser
  • Younes Hamed
Conference paper
First Online:
Part of the Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation book series (ASTI)

Abstract

In arid Tunisia, particularly in salt-affected soils, studies concerning the soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics and stability are scarce. SOM stability is closely linked to its chemical and molecular composition. This work aims to figure out the SOM composition in arid salt-affected soils, particularly in Lithosols and Solonchaks, under different vegetation cover (sorghum, millet, olive-grove, native vegetation). Ten sites were sampled from 0 to 10 and from 10 to30 cm depth. SOM composition was assessed at functional group and molecular level by Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography Mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results showed that, across all studied soils, the characterization of SOM by FTIR spectroscopy revealed a homogeneous composition. Polysaccharides (1043–1032 cm−1), aliphatic (1435–1432 cm−1) and aromatic (1635–1621 cm−1) groups predominate the SOM’s composition at different depths. Those organic compounds, known as relatively recalcitrant, enhance the SOM’s stability. The GC/MS data suggest that SOM of the studied soils contains a higher abundance (up to 30.05%) of mid chain n-alkanes (soil aliphatic fraction). Those molecules which are stable recalcitrant confirm the FTIR finding. Therefore, regardless the soil type and the vegetation cover, the SOM in arid salt-affected soils seems to be recalcitrant and stable. It consolidates the soil’s potential to store the green house gases.

Keywords

Soil organic matter composition FTIR GC/MS Arid salt-affected soils Tunisia 
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Copyright information

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  • Zohra Omar
    • 1
    Email author
  • Abdelhakim Bouajila
    • 1
  • Jalloul Bouajila
    • 2
  • Rami Rahmani
    • 3
  • Houda Besser
    • 1
    • 4
  • Younes Hamed
    • 1
    • 4
  1. 1.Research Unit of Geosystems, Georessources and Geoenvironments (3G), Faculty of Sciences of GabesUniversity of GabesGabesTunisia
  2. 2.Laboratoire des IMRCP UMR CNRS 5623, Faculté de pharmacie de ToulouseUniversité de Toulouse, Université Paul-SabatierToulouseFrance
  3. 3.Unité de recherche «Valorisation des biomolécules actives»Institut Supérieure de Biologie Appliquée de Médenine, Université de GabèsGabesTunisia
  4. 4.International Association of Water Resources in the Southern Mediterranean BasinGafsaTunisia

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