Comparative Studies of Infra-Red Spectra of Soil Humic Acids of Doon Valley Forests

The soil humic acids of the sal (Shorea robusta) and miscellaneous forests of Dehra Dun (U.P.) were analysed by infra-red spectroscopy for their various functional and atomic groups which were found mainly carboxyl, amino, methoxy, phenolic and quinone. An interaction of inorganic materials such as sulphate and phosphate with these functional groups was also common. The humic acids of sal forests were found richer in phenolic and carboxylic groups whereas in miscellaneous forest soils glucosides and other polymeric substances were in abundance.