MICROLYSIMETER FOR MEASURING NITROGEN MINERALIZATION AND MICROBIAL RESPIRATION IN AEROBIC SOIL INCUBATIONS

The construction and operation of a microlysimeter for conducting aerobic soil incubations are described. This device is simple to construct, inexpensive, durable, and portable. These features allow for experimental designs with large numbers of treatment replicates. The microlysimeter permits repeated measures of both N mineralization and microbial respiration rates in samples subjected to long-term incubation under controlled conditions. Short-term respiration measurements made on incubated soils are reliable and linear. Reproducible measurements of N mineralization and microbial respiration allow monitoring changes in rates of both processes during the course of long-term soil incubations.