Origin of aliphatic compounds in a forest soil

The aliphatic organic matter fraction in a forest soil in the Leuvenum Forest (central Netherlands) was examined by pyrolysis–GC/MS and thermochemolysis. In addition, roots were analyzed for their aliphatic composition. Pyrolysis of soil organic matter and the roots revealed an alkene and alkane pattern, usually attributed to cutan or suberan, whereas thermochemolysis elucidated the presence of suberin. The origin of the soil organic matter could be largely ascribed to root input.