Extraction Pattern of Major Fractions of Humus From Lignite by different Groups of Alkali Extractants

Laboratory experiments conductedto study the extraction pattern of Humic acid, Fulvic acid and Humin obtained from lignite peat by using 0.2N KOH,0.2N NaOH, 0.2NNa₄P₂O₇ and 0.2N Na₂CO₃ alkali extractants at 1:100 ratio of peat and extractant concentration. The treatment at 0.2 N KOH extracted 6.6% humic acid, 4% fulvic acid and 10.8% humin which are significantly maximum compared to others. The treatment having 0.2 N Na₄P₂O₇ and 0.2N Na₂CO₃ alkali extracted statistically least amount of humic acid and fulvic acid, which are onpar with each other, but more amount of humin comparatively than the other two fractions. Thee xtractants such potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide which extracted maximum amount of maximum amount humic acid and fulvic acid considered as best although it extracted significantly higher amount of humin.