The role of organic matter in association with zinc in selected arable soils from Kujawy Region, Poland

A study was conducted to investigate the role of organic matter in association with zinc in agricultural soils of Kujawy region. Surface and subsurface soils were collected. Zinc bound to soil organic matter was extracted with 0.1 M K4P2O7 at pH=10. The total amount of zinc for the majority of samples was higher than the geochemical values of Zn, due to agricultural soil management including application of fertilizer, manure and plant protection chemicals. The amount of zinc in organic form did not exceed 14.6% of total metal in any of the soils that were tested. Correlation analysis demonstrated that organically bound Zn is related to pH and soil organic matter content.