On the state of jumus accumulation observed in soil profile and the contents of sugar, uronic acid and amino acid in fulvic acid fraction

In a previous report, the author wrote on the form of volcanic soil in Onohara, Tarumi City, which consists of about fourty soil layers, and seventeen of which contain more than 0.69% total carbon. The present report is concerned with the result of determination of 1) carbon and nitrogen contents of the soil and its fulvic acid, humic acid and humine, 2) sugar, uronic acid and amino acid contents and amino acid composition of fulvic acid fraction, and 3) 14C age of some soil layers. Methods of sample preparation and content determination are briefly given, and the results are shown. 14C age ranged from some 5500 to 9300 yr. B. P. In general tendency, as the carbon content of a soil layer is higher, its C/N ratio is higher, and C/N ratio of fulvic acid Fraction is almost constant (10-13) in all samples. The total content of sugar, uronic acid and hydrolytic amino acid is 30-40% of that of fulvic acid and almost invariable for all layers, 19-25% of which being occupied by the first two. (Shibata, I.)