Abstract
Summary: Recent developments in the application of nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy to soil science are reviewed. Progress in 1H, 13C and CP‐13C n.m.r. spectroscopy of humic substances is reported. Methods of determining the fraction of aromatic carbon in soil organic matter extracts are discussed, and methods by which structural group analysis can be carried out on in situ organic matter of whole soils are reviewed.