MANGANESE SPECIATION IN SELECTED AGRICULTURAL SOILS OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Manganese speciation in selected agricultural soils of Peninsular Malaysia is discussed in this study. Manganese concentration in the Easily Leacheable and Ion Exchangeable (ELFE), Acid Reducible (AR), Organic Oxidizable (OO) and Resistant (RR) fractions of soils developed on weathered rocks, soils of mixed nature, alluvium and peat deposits are described. The total manganese concentration in soils developed on weathered rocks was found to be higher than that in soils of mixed nature, alluvium and peat deposits because of the occurrence of resistant manganese oxide at the topsoils. Manganese speciation in paddy soils is influenced by the redox condition resulting from the alternate flooding and drying of the soils. Under reducing conditions, this metal tends to get dissolved and be available for plant uptake. Upon oxidation, manganese is precipitated into the acid reducible fraction as poorly crystalline manganese oxide and hydroxide and/or the resistant Fe-Mn mottles. In non-paddy cultivated alluvial soils, manganese speciation varies widely and is less understood. For the non-paddy cultivated peat soils, manganese is mainly associated with organic material, as indicated by the high manganese concentration in the OO fraction.