Is silt the most influential soil grain size fraction?

Parry, S.A.; Hodson, M.E.; Oelkers, E.H.; Kemp, S.J.

Parry, S.A.; Hodson, M.E.; Oelkers, E.H.; Kemp, S.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4604-0927. 2011 Is silt the most influential soil grain size fraction? Applied Geochemistry, 26 (Supple). S119-S122. 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.03.045

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Abstract

The contribution of individual grain size fractions (2000–500, 500–250, 250–63, 63–2 and < 2 μm) to bulk soil surface area and reactivity is discussed with reference to mineralogical and oxalate and dithionite extractions data. The 63–2 μm fraction contributed up to 56% and 67% of bulk soil volume and BET surface area, respectively. Consideration of these observations and the mineralogy of this fraction suggest that the 63–2 μm fraction may be the most influential for the release of elements via mineral dissolution in the bulk soil.

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