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Measurements of ATP in forest humus

Arnebrant, Kristina LU orcid and Bååth, Erland LU (1991) In Soil Biology & Biochemistry 23(6). p.501-506
Abstract
The measurement of ATP as an estimate of microbial biomass C in humus was studied. Three different acid extractants, H2SO4, TCA and H3PO4 were compared, as well as two different buffers, Tris and arsenate. No difference in extraction efficiency was found when the light output was converted to ATP content using internal ATP standards, but the different extraction agents and buffers influenced the light output. Several pretreatments and storage conditions were investigated. Incubation at 25°C for 1–7 days gave ca 50% higher ATP values than incubation at 4°C. Sieving did not affect the result. For long-term storage of humus, 4°C is recommended instead of freezing, since freezing reduced the ATP content to ca 80% of the amount found in humus... (More)
The measurement of ATP as an estimate of microbial biomass C in humus was studied. Three different acid extractants, H2SO4, TCA and H3PO4 were compared, as well as two different buffers, Tris and arsenate. No difference in extraction efficiency was found when the light output was converted to ATP content using internal ATP standards, but the different extraction agents and buffers influenced the light output. Several pretreatments and storage conditions were investigated. Incubation at 25°C for 1–7 days gave ca 50% higher ATP values than incubation at 4°C. Sieving did not affect the result. For long-term storage of humus, 4°C is recommended instead of freezing, since freezing reduced the ATP content to ca 80% of the amount found in humus stored at 4°C after 2 months. Freezing of the humus extract resulted in even larger losses of ATP. Humus from eight coniferous forests in Sweden was investigated with respect to ATP content and microbial biomass, estimated with the substrate induced respiration rate method (SIR). A close linear relationship (r = 0.95) was found between the two types of measurement. Calculated from this relationship the amount of ATP (at 25°C) was 3.2μmg−1 biomass C. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Soil Biology & Biochemistry
volume
23
issue
6
pages
501 - 506
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:0000471727
ISSN
0038-0717
DOI
10.1016/0038-0717(91)90106-T
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Microbial Ecology (Closed 2011) (011008001), Lund University Libraries (016520000), MEMEG (432112240)
id
c0740956-379a-4277-a23a-e5530d99e338 (old id 8046965)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:19:25
date last changed
2021-01-03 06:31:03
@article{c0740956-379a-4277-a23a-e5530d99e338,
  abstract     = {{The measurement of ATP as an estimate of microbial biomass C in humus was studied. Three different acid extractants, H2SO4, TCA and H3PO4 were compared, as well as two different buffers, Tris and arsenate. No difference in extraction efficiency was found when the light output was converted to ATP content using internal ATP standards, but the different extraction agents and buffers influenced the light output. Several pretreatments and storage conditions were investigated. Incubation at 25°C for 1–7 days gave ca 50% higher ATP values than incubation at 4°C. Sieving did not affect the result. For long-term storage of humus, 4°C is recommended instead of freezing, since freezing reduced the ATP content to ca 80% of the amount found in humus stored at 4°C after 2 months. Freezing of the humus extract resulted in even larger losses of ATP. Humus from eight coniferous forests in Sweden was investigated with respect to ATP content and microbial biomass, estimated with the substrate induced respiration rate method (SIR). A close linear relationship (r = 0.95) was found between the two types of measurement. Calculated from this relationship the amount of ATP (at 25°C) was 3.2μmg−1 biomass C.}},
  author       = {{Arnebrant, Kristina and Bååth, Erland}},
  issn         = {{0038-0717}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{501--506}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Soil Biology & Biochemistry}},
  title        = {{Measurements of ATP in forest humus}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(91)90106-T}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/0038-0717(91)90106-T}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{1991}},
}