Estimation of microbial biomass by ninhydrin-reactive N using liquid chloroform

Abstract

Ninhydrin-reactive N (NRN), which is a reliable and sensitive indicator of soil microbial biomass, was measured in extracts of three Australian duplex soils, under different tillage systems, fumigated using either vaporized or liquid CHCl3. Although the relationship between the two fumigation-extraction methods was influenced by soil type, the use of liquid CHCl3 appears to be a promising technique to allow greater ease and speed for releasing NRN in microbial biomass analysis.