Citation. Sanger, J. E. 1971. Identification and quantitative measurements of plant pigments in soil humus layers. Ecology 52(6):959-963.   [1493  CC]

Abstract. Pigments in soil organic matter layers of an oak forest, a spruce- Sedar woodland, and a prairie have been identified and measured quantitatively. In all cases lutein was the dominant carotenoid accompanied by smaller amounts of B-carotene. Pheophytin a was the most abundant chlorophyll derivative, with smaller amounts of pheophorbide a and chlorophyllide a commonly present in the L and F organic layers. Pigment ratios were examined and compared in all three humus types.

Keywords. plant pigments, humus layer, oak forest, spruce-cedar woodland, prairie