Estimation of organic matter of the West-Siberian peats

The aim of this work is to study the fractional-group composition of peats OM (organic matter), the fractional composition of peat nitrogen and substantiation of criteria for the evaluation of properties of peats OM. For characterization of the composition of peats OM 140 samples were selected. Every type of peat on the botanical composition is represented by peat test sample of 6-19 samples.In the samples the botanical composition and the degree of peat decomposition [GOST 28245.2-89], ash content [GOST 11306-83], fractional composition of nitrogen according to Shconde-Koroleva method, fractional-group composition of OM according to V.V.Ponomareva and T.A.Nikolaeva were determined.It was found that in the composition of OM of the West Siberian peats higher content of lipids was noted in comparison with peats from other regions. The total content of humic acids (HA) in low-mire peats increases as follows: grass- moss group - moss group- wood group - wood-grass - grass group. Groups of low-mire peats are characterized by higher content of nitrogen. The composition of nitrogen in peats confirms the leading role of the botanical composition in the distribution of nitrogenous compounds.Correlation analysis showed that among all the investigated parameters of OM composition of peats significant are: amount of HA, lipid content, ratio C/N, carbohydrate content. This gives grounds to regard them as most significant and to consider them as possible parameters of agrochemical classification of peats.