Agricultural and environmental significance of soil organic matter and plant biomass: Insight from ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) is an advanced instrument capable of separating and determining molecular mass-to-charge ratios with sub-ppm level accuracy. A typical FT-ICR MS spectrogram can identify hundreds to thousands of formulas in a complex sample. This perspective briefly examines the application of FT-ICR MS to soil organic matter and plant biomass studies, highlighting their significant contributions to sustainable agriculture and environment. Increased analyses by FT-ICR MS of soil, agricultural biomass, and bioactive samples would provide greater insights into the distribution and changing patterns of molecular diversity within soil organic matter, as they relate to soil health issues and environmental stresses such as climate change and soil contamination. As one step toward these goals, it will open new opportunities for valorization of agricultural biomass products/byproducts, thus accelerating the development of a more circular agricultural economy.