The semiquinone free radical concentration (SFRC), determined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), is an index of degree of humification of soil organic matter. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible interference of mineral fraction in the quantification of SFRC in organo-mineral aggregates 20-53, 2-20 and < 2 ∝m of three soils from southern Brazil: Paleudalf, Paleudult and Haplorthox. The SFRC was calculated by the semiquinone signal intensity (I, in cm) multiplied by its square line width (∆H², in Gauss). The spectral parameters I and ∆H were obtained from EPR spectra with and without interference of mineral fraction. In Paleudalf and Paleudult soils, two signals of free radicals were detected; one had a value of g 2.004 and line width of 5-6 G, typical of semiquinone free radical, and another one had a value of g 2.000 and a line width of 2-3 G, associated to the mineral fraction, especifically quartz (SiO2), as determined by the analysis of the purified sample. In these soils, interference of mineral fraction in obtaining spectral parameters I and ∆H resulted in an error of the estimative varying from -7 to +488%, comparatively with results obtained from the spectra without mineral fraction interference. In Haplorthox soil, the high concentrations of Fe3+ did not allow the detection of the semiquinone free radical signals, due to overlap of the metalic ion signals. The elimination of mineral fraction interference was a fundamental pre-requisit in the study of organic matter by EPR in organo-mineral aggregates. Some alternative procedures for this are presented.
soil organic matter; semiquinone free radical; organo-mineral aggregates; silica; iron