Measurement of microbial biomass phosphorus in soil

doi:10.1016/0038-0717(82)90001-3

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Volume 14, Issue 4, 1982, Pages 319-329

https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(82)90001-3 Get rights and content

Abstract

A method for measuring the amount of P held in soil micro-organisms (biomass P) is described and the assumptions on which it is based are discussed. Biomass P is calculated from the difference between the amount of inorganic P (P_i) extracted by 0.5 (Spm) NaHCO₃ (pH 8.5) from fresh soil fumigated with CHCl₃ and the amount extracted from unfumigated soil. Some CHCl₃-released P_i is sorbed by soil during fumigation and extraction: an approximate allowance for this is made by incorporating a known quantity of P_i during extraction and correcting for recovery. Most of the P released is in inorganic form and the proportion increases with duration of fumigation. Non-microbial P is little, if at all, affected by fumigation. Microbial biomass P is calculated from CHCl₃-released P_i by dividing by 0.4, i.e. by assuming that 40% of the P in the biomass is rendered extractable as P_i by CHCl₃. Measurements of biomass P must be done in fresh soil, CHCl₃ releases much less P in air-dry soil.

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Measurement of microbial biomass phosphorus in soil

Abstract

Soil Biology & Biochemistry

Soil Biology & Biochemistry

Soil Biology & Biochemistry

Soil Biology & Biochemistry

Analytical Chimica Acta

Soil Biology & Biochemistry

A glass trap for absorbing the fumes from perchloric acid digestions

Laboratory Practice

Phosphorus transformations during plant decomposition

Plant and Soil

Total nitrogen

Preventing phosphorus losses during perchloric acid digestion of sodium bicarbonate soil extracts

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture

Simulation of phosphorus cycling in semi-arid grasslands

Ecology

The phosphorus cycling in a natural grassland ecosystem

Studies on the decomposition of plant material in soil. II. Partial sterilisation of soil and the soil biomass

Journal of Soil Science