Reducing conditions (WRB)

Reducing conditions is one of the diagnostic properties used, in the WRB system, to discriminate some soils from others.

Description

The term "Reducing conditions" (from Latin reducere) refers to...

Criteria

Reducing conditions show one or more of the following :

• a negative logarithm of the hydrogen partial pressure (rH) of less than 20

or :

• the presence of free Fe²⁺, as shown on a freshly broken and smoothed surface of a field-wet soil by the appearance of a strong red colour after wetting it with a 0.2-percent α,α, dipyridyl solution in 10-percent acetic acid

or :

• the presence of iron sulphide

or :

• the presence of methane

See also

• The FAO reference text, (2007 version)