Resistance of Protein-Lignin Complexes, Lignins and Humic Acids to Microbial Attack
Abstract
THE mechanism whereby organic matter, especially the protein moieties, is protected from rapid and complete break-down in soils is not fully understood. The interaction of clay minerals and organic materials with a resultant attenuation in breakdown of these substrates has been reported by a number of workers1. These proposed clay-organic complexes have much to commend them, but they fail to account for a core of resistant organic matter also found in soils which are low in clay minerals. This core of organic matter appears to be either a mixture or a chemical union of lignin-like materials and proteins.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- May 1958
- DOI:
- 10.1038/1811478a0
- Bibcode:
- 1958Natur.181.1478L