Characterisation of the microbial biomass in lignite-containing mine soils by radiocarbon measurements

A method of sample preparation is presented which allows for the characterisation of the soil microbial biomass by 14C activity measurements at natural abundance of 14C. By the use of freeze-drying instead of chloroform for the disruption of microbial cells, the possible contamination of the sample...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soil biology & biochemistry 2001-11, Vol.33 (14), p.2019-2021
Main Authors: Rumpel, C, Grootes, P.M, Kögel-Knabner, I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
14C activity
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biochemistry and biology
Biological and medical sciences
Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Lignite
Microbiology
Mine soil
Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils
Soil microbial biomass
Soil science
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Summary:A method of sample preparation is presented which allows for the characterisation of the soil microbial biomass by 14C activity measurements at natural abundance of 14C. By the use of freeze-drying instead of chloroform for the disruption of microbial cells, the possible contamination of the sample by 14C is avoided. Our data show a close relationship between the two methods. After extraction by CaCl 2 the 14C activity of the freeze-dried labile carbon was recorded by accelerator mass spectrometry. Our data for lignite-containing mine soils indicate that lignite carbon which does not show 14C activity is incorporated in the soil microbial biomass. The method can thus be used to follow microbial degradation of fossil carbon (e.g. lignite) in soil.
ISSN:0038-0717
1879-3428
DOI:10.1016/S0038-0717(01)00122-5