Simple and rapid chloroform fumigation technique for quantifying soil microbial biomass in irrigated lowland rice soil
1996
Witt, C. | Gaunt, J.L. | Galicia, C.C. | Neue, H.U. (International Rice Research Inst., P.O. Box 933, 1099 Manila (Philippines))
Only very few studies on soil microbial biomass measurements in paddy soil based on fumigation assays were reported since the technique was proposed for aerobic soil by Jenkinson and Powlson in 1976. Efficient and consistent fumigation is generally achieved by exposing soil to chloroform vapor under vacuum. The requirements for expensive desiccators and a strong vacuum supply often restricts the number of samples that can be fumigated at one time. Therefore, a chloroform fumigation at atmospheric pressure (CFAP) was tested which relies on the effectiveness of the natural chloroform vapor pressure at 25 deg C and the contact of soil with liquid chloroform. A series of test was conducted to optimize the effectiveness of chloroform fumigation assessing methodological (e.g. fumigation time, amount of chloroform) and environmental factors (e.g. soil water content, root presence). The assay was further compared with the conventional technique using a range of paddy soils. The procedure has proved reliable and allows rapid processing of large numbers of field samples
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