A comparison of acid hydrolyses for the determination of carbohydrate content in soils

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Abstract
Four Italian surface soils were used to compare four different acid hydrolyses for the determination of the total content of carbohydrates in soils. Soil hydrolyses in 0.25M and 1M H2SO4 and by mechanical shaking for 16 h released carbohydrates as efficiently as the 8 h soil hydrolysis under reflux. Degradation of released carbohydrates was probably the cause of the low values given by the hydrolysis in 72% H2SO4 for 15 min followed by a 16 h shaking in 0.5M H2SO4. This study confirms that the carbohydrate determination based on the colorimetric phenol‐sulphuric acid method is more accurate than the colorimetric anthrone‐sulphuric acid method. Moreover, soil characteristics may influence the accuracy and precision of results depending on the hydrolysis procedure as it was shown by the soils rich in organic carbon and clay.