Q & A with microBIOMETER®
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Is it correct to say that the results are microgram microbial carbon / g of field wet soil? It is not per g dry soil?
In developing the test, we found that 0.5 ml of compacted moist soil weighed on average 0.6 g when dried. So, it is ug C / g dried soil.
The test gives a % of bacteria and fungi. Is it correct to say that the method covers both decomposition fungi and fragments of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil?.
Yes, it reads both types, but combines them together. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can be detected if soil is taken from the area immediately surrounding the plant roots. This is done by shaking the roots into a bag and performing the test on the soil collected.
Can you reveal anything on how the chemical+ color together manage to differ between bacteria and fungi? As I understand it the chemical will react with the microorganism to float? And/or give a kind of color to the solution?
The simple answer is they are slightly different colors. Both are extracted from the soil and we can detect the color difference.