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The use of reflectometric test kits for estimating nitrification and soil invertase activity in the field
Author(s) -
Gromes Reiner,
Behrens Sandra,
Nagel Elke
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.200390026
Subject(s) - nitrification , invertase , chemistry , incubation , environmental chemistry , soil science , environmental science , nitrogen , biochemistry , enzyme , organic chemistry
The objective of this study was to test the applicability of different reflectometric test kits for the determination of potential nitrification and the activity of invertase in soil directly in the field. For the investigation of nitrification in the field, the incubation time was reduced because a linear correlation between incubation time and nitrification rates was found. Likewise, a linear correlation between invertase activity and the incubation temperature was observed which allowed for the calculation of temperature‐dependent factors. Activity measurements in the field at lower temperatures in comparison to the standard procedure were corrected by these factors. Ten different soils were investigated for potential nitrification and invertase activity with standard methods in comparison to field tests with reflectometric detection of the reaction products. The results showed that the reflectometric test kits are suitable for the estimation of potential nitrification and invertase activity directly in the field.