Chapter

Soil Redox Processes

From Introduction to Soil Science by Amber Anderson and Rivka Fidel

Concepts

1. Oxidation Reduction

   "Oxidation occurs when an element loses electrons, while reduction occurs when an element gains electrons. These reactions occur together because electrons transferred during oxidation must be accepte

2. Redox Ladder

   "The redox ladder ranks electron acceptors according to the energy yielded during microbial respiration. Microbes generally use oxygen first, followed by nitrate, manganese, iron, sulfate, and carbon

3. Soil Redox

   "Gray or gleyed colors indicate reduced, oxygen-poor conditions that are commonly associated with saturation. Reduced iron can move through soil until it encounters oxygen, where it oxidizes and forms