A Technique for Extensive Field Measurement of Soil Anaerobism by Rusting of Steel Rods

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Abstract
The colour difference between the reaction products of steel rods with and without the presence of oxygen was used to demonstrate the limits of soil anaerobism on rods which were inserted in the soil for three months or more. Rods corroded consistently to give a surface brown/orange zone and a matt grey zone at depth. The boundary between the two zones was sharp and corresponded with the top of the capillary fringe in a variety of soil materials; this also correlated with the lower limit of aerobic soil as indicated by oxygen polarographs and the lower Limit of the root mat formed by Sitka spruce seedlings. The rods offer a cheap extensive method of surveying oxygen restrictions to rooting in soils prone to waterlogging.