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Control of Water Content in Laboratory Determination of Mineralizable Nitrogen in Soils¹

ABSTRACT

A simple, convenient method was developed to control precisely moisture content in soil samples during aerobic incubation for determination of mineralizable N. The sample is contained in a polystyrene filter unit with a filter membrane having a bubble point pressure well above the 33-kPa suction tension normally used for equilibration. Equilibration at seven moisture tensions (5-67 kPa) gave soil water contents that were very similar to those obtained by conventional pressure plate measurements. Nitrogen mineralization values obtained at different tensions varied as expected, but reproducibility of three determinations on four Chernozemic soils was good (C.V. = 3.9%) at all tensions used.

¹ Contribution of Agric. Canada Res. Stn., Lethbridge. Alberta T1J 4B1.

² Head Soil Science Section and Soil Chemist, respectively.

Received for publication August 25, 1980. Accepted for publication December 8, 1980.