A METHOD FOR MEASURING THE PLANT RESIDUE FRAGMENTS OF THE SOIL

Abstract

A procedure is described for the quantitative detn. of the undecomposed or slightly decomposed part of plant residues on the surface or mixed with the soil even though broken into small bits. The plant residues were separated from the soil in 3 fractions: (a) The plant material > 3 mm. was separated by passing the dry soil through a screen; the material>3 mm. but > 0.4 mm. was obtained by-wet screening of the dispersed soil; material < 0.4 mm. but which retained its cellular structure, was detd. by flotation in a tall glass tube to the walls of which the particles adhered as the liquid was lowered slowly.