The quantitative extraction of nematodes from soil

Abstract

Two types of apparatus for the determination of numbers of eelworms in soil samples are described and figured. With both types about 85-90% of the eelworms are recovered from soil samples of 500 g. With the more practicle of these apparatuses most of the eelworms are collected in about 3 litres of water together with only a very few of or no soilparticles larger than 50 μ. The larger forms are collected in about 0.3 liters of water with hardly any or no soil particles larger than 100 μ. The eelworms can be separated almost completely from these soil particles by sieving the suspensions repeatedly through 50 μ sieves (for suspensions with small eelworms and soil particles not larger than 50 μ) or through 100 μ sieves (suspensions with larger eelworms and soil particles not larger than 100 μ). The sieving technique is fully discussed. Methods for a final separation of the eelworms from small amounts of soil particles larger than 50 μ and for the reduction of the eelworm suspensions are described. © 1956 BRILL.