Soils on basic igneous rocks from Malaysia were investigated to evaluate the total and extractable trace element contents and their variation as a function of organic carbon and evolution of the soil. The soils are considered according to their genetic groups. In the Dystropepts, the extractable trace elements are strongly correlated to organic carbon content. As a function of soil formation, the Dystropepts have the highest extractable trace elements and the Oxisols the least. Only total Zn shows any evolutionary sequence; the other total elements are relatively constant and change little with soil formation. A fixation mechanism wherein both the type of clay minerals and perhaps sesquioxides play a role is suggested to explain the decrease in some of the extractable elements with progressive evolution of the soil.

Full Text ( 452 KB )