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Influence of moisture and aeration on oxygen uptakes in Warburg respiratory experiments with litter and soil

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Summary

Oxygen uptakes by litter and soil from a beech forest were determined in a Warburg apparatus, using material at field moisture content, at 60 per cent water-holding capacity (WHC), and at saturation (>100 per cent WHC), in unshaken and shaken flasks. In unshaken flasks, oxygen uptakes by materials from some horizons were markedly dependent upon their moisture content. Oxygen uptakes were similar with unshaken materials at 60 per cent WHC and with shaken water-saturated materials; this latter method of determination is preferred for routinely measuring respiratory activity under aerobic conditions.

Control of moisture content of the systems appeared necessary to estimate respiratory responses to added solutions of glucose. Significant responses to added glucose were found with materials from all horizons under conditions of adequate moisture and aeration but responses were much less with some unshaken water-saturated materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Bureau, New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Lower Hutt, New Zealand

    D. J. Ross & I. W. Boyd

Authors
  1. D. J. Ross
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  2. I. W. Boyd
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Ross, D.J., Boyd, I.W. Influence of moisture and aeration on oxygen uptakes in Warburg respiratory experiments with litter and soil. Plant Soil 33, 251–256 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01378216

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01378216

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