Pyrolysis GC/MS Investigation of Organic Matter Composition of Runoff Sediment From Sugarcane Fields.

The understanding of agricultural practices effects on the chemical composition of organic matter is vital in assessing the impact on soil and water quality. In this study, the effects of three sugarcane residue management practices on water quality were invesitigated with a focus on the organic matter characteristics of the runoff sediments.  The results indicate that the main groups of pyrolysis products were lignin, polysaccharides, nitrogen-containing compound, and fatty acids. There were less qualitative differences in the organic carbon components of the runoff sediments from the three management practices evaluated. However, the intensity of some of these compounds within each management practice varied over the growing season.