Soil density fractionation separates soil organic matter into distinct pools with differing stabilization mechanisms, chemistries, and turnover times. Sodium polytungstate solutions with specific densities allow the separation of free particulate organic matter and mineral-associated organic matter, resulting in organic matter fractions suitable for describing the soil response to management and climate change.
Pierson, D., Lajtha, K., Peter-Contesse, H., Mayedo, A. Utilizing Soil Density Fractionation to Separate Distinct Soil Carbon Pools. J. Vis. Exp. (190), e64759, doi:10.3791/64759 (2022).