APPLICATIONS OF NMR TO SOIL ORGANIC MATTER ANALYSIS: HISTORY AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

More than 30 years have passed since the first application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to soil organic matter (SOM). Since then, there has been an explosion of applications using ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, and ¹⁵N NMR on both solution and solid-state samples. These have greatly enhanced our understanding of all areas of SOM research, including understanding the nature of decomposition, and the effects of cultivation, characterization of organic forms of N and P, and interactions of SOM with xenobiotics and metals. However, in many ways, NMR remains underutilized, and applications continue to be severely hampered by the lack of instrumentation, expertise, and opportunities for graduate training. This article attempts to give a broad overview of accomplishments as well as suggestions for new opportunities.