chelation in the nitrogen cycle

chelation in the nitrogen cycle

I'm looking at box marked "metalo-organic and organo-clay complexes" on the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, and I'm drawing a blank. A 'metalo-organic complex' sounds like a chelate, but what is an 'organo-clay complex'? Also, if these are organic molecules in this section of the graph, then why are we treating them separately in the nitrogen cycle from 'soil organic matter'?

Thanks in advance.

SpencerShields (talk)04:44, 17 March 2020

Spencer can you tell me specifically which lecture and which slide?

SandraBrown (talk)04:44, 17 March 2020

You move quick Sandra! The diagram in question is in lecture 23 (slide 5) and also on Soilweb 200 (http://soilweb200.landfood.ubc.ca/soil-biology/nutrient-cycles/4-nitrogen-n/).

SpencerShields (talk)04:48, 17 March 2020

Metalo-organic complexes are indeed chelates
Since both organic compounds and clay particles are charged, they can interact with each other, forming complexes of organo-clay complexes. We did not cover this in our course, but this is something that does happen often in soils.

MajaKrzic (talk)14:25, 17 March 2020