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Soil Lipids

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Organic Geochemistry

Abstract

In the present context soils are probably best described as sediments in which plants grow. This definition covers the range from sandy soils containing little organic matter to highly organic soils like peats, but excludes obviously aqueous media, even although these environments are capable of supporting plant growth. The term “lipid” is derived from the Greek word λíπoς meaning “fat”, but it has no specific chemical connotation. Bloor [1] defined lipids as substances of biological origin, insoluble in water but soluble in “fat” solvents such as ether, chloroform or benzene; he classified them intosimple lipids, such as esters of fatty acids with glycerol (glycerides) or with long-chain alcohols or sterols (waxes), compound lipids, containing nitrogen, phosphorus or sulphur (e. g., phosphatides), and derived lipids, such as free fatty acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, steroids and isoprenoids. This classification, although not entirely satisfactory, is fairly generally accepted and will be used here with such minor modifications and additions as seem appropriate.

The Editors regret to report the death of Dr. Morrison on Nov. 23rd, 1967. Dr. J. S. D. Bacon kindly corrected the proofs of this chapter.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Aberdeen, Scotland

    R. I. Morrison

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  1. R. I. Morrison
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bristol, Bristol, England

    Geoffrey Eglinton

  2. St. Joseph College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

    Mary T. J. Murphy (Sister) (Sister)

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© 1969 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Morrison, R.I. (1969). Soil Lipids. In: Eglinton, G., Murphy, M.T.J. (eds) Organic Geochemistry. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87734-6_29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87734-6_29

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-87736-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-87734-6

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