Title
A comparison of phospholipid and chloroform fumigation analyses for biomass in soil: potentials and limitations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1991
Abstract
A sensitive method for estimating living biomass, based on a direct extraction of phospholipids, was applied to soil. The variation between replicate soil samples was generally below 10%. Recovery from soil was qualitative. Estimates of biomass from the phospholipid assay were not correlated with estimates from the chloroform fumigation-incubation method (CFIM). In non-fumigated soil a significant reduction (25-57%) of biomass, as determined from phospholipid analysis, was observed during the 10-day incubation. The concentration of phospholipids was reduced by 21-54% during the 24-h chloroform fumigation, decreasing further during the 10-day incubation. Phospholipid, carbon dioxide evolution and inorganic nitrogen were followed in a growth experiment with additions of glucose and glucose + ammonium. The conversion of phospholipids into biomass-C units is discussed in relation to the observed ratios of phospholipid to CFIM biomass-C, as well as to the ratios estimated from the growth experiment. © 1991.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
FEMS Microbiology Letters
First Page
257
Last Page
267
Recommended Citation
Petersen, S., Henriksen, K., Blackburn, T., & King, G. (1991). A comparison of phospholipid and chloroform fumigation analyses for biomass in soil: potentials and limitations. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 85 (3), 257-267. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/biosci_pubs/2042