THE DECOMPOSITION OF RADIOACTIVE ACETATE IN SOILS

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Abstract
Combined manometric and radioactive techniques were used to determine oxygen uptake and C14O2 evolution during the oxidation of C14-acetate in soil. It was found that a large percentage of C14O2 is remained in the soil causing anomalous respiratory quotients during the first hours of respiration. Acidification of the soil to pH 5.0 released this residual C14O2 with the result that the total C14O2 collected after the acid treatment compared favorably with the corresponding oxygen uptake. Recovery of C14O2 during the 6 hour exposure of soil to C14-acetate indicated that only 30% of the substrate was completely oxidized. The remainder of the acetate is assimilated into microbial tissue to be deposited eventually in the soil organic fraction.

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