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Achieving Desired Moisture Conditions in Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen Incubation Studies
Author(s) -
Lueking M. A.,
Schepers J. S.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1986.03615995005000050058x
Subject(s) - incubation , soil water , moisture , water content , leaching (pedology) , soil science , nitrogen , gravimetric analysis , characterisation of pore space in soil , environmental science , incubation period , agronomy , porosity , chemistry , materials science , geology , composite material , geotechnical engineering , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Abstract A technique was developed to determine soil‐to‐sand mixing ratios to achieve desired soil moisture conditions during incubation in potentially mineralizable N studies. Five soils were selected to represent a range of soil textures. Segmented plastic leaching tubes were used to determine gravimetric water content, bulk density, and percent water‐filled pore space (WFP) for two portions of soils used within the incubation tubes. Vacuum leaching resulted in greater water content of soil near the bottom of the incubation tubes compared to the top of the tubes. The proportion of soil‐to‐sand used in the incubation tubes, which was necessary to attain a given WFP status, was different for each soil type and was a function of original sand and organic C contents. The technique is an inexpensive and time‐efficient means to standardize and document soil moisture conditions within incubation tubes used to determine potentially mineralizable N.