Electrostatic method to separate roots from soil

Abstract

Complete removal of roots from soil samples is a prerequisite for most of the chemical and biological analyses. A simple electrostatic method of separating roots from sieved, largely mineral soil substrates was optimized and examined by the addition of 14C labeled fine roots to sandy, silt loamy and clay loamy samples. Depending on soil texture, between 40% and 50% of fine roots can be removed from 100 g of sieved soil in less than 10 minutes. The root‐free soil substrate and the extracted roots can be used for analyzes or experiments immediately after the separation. The proportion of the mineral particles remaining in the root fraction depends on duration of separation, distance between the charged plate and the sample, and soil texture. The proportion of separated mineral particles is about 90%—95% (w/w) in sandy and 70%—85% in silt loamy and clay loamy substrates. The electrostatic method of root separation may take place before the analysis of Ct and Nt contents, and is suitable for soil samples preparation for incubation experiments.

Implications of land class and environmental factors on life cycle GHG emissions of Miscanthus as a bioenergy feedstock

“… Shoot‐to‐root ratio values based on Bayaert (), Kuzyakov et al . (), Bolinder et al . (), and Amos & Waiters (). …”

Carbon dynamics of soil organic matter in bulk soil and aggregate fraction during secondary succession in a Mediterranean environment

“…The organic fragments (plant material and root residues) were removed using electrostatic method (Kuzyakov et al, 2001). To reduce the error tolerance to less than ± 5%, 2-4 kg of soil (Hitz et al, 2002) were collected per sample.…”

Effects of 11 years of conservation tillage on soil organic matter fractions in wheat monoculture in Loess Plateau of China

“…One portion was air-dried for aggregate separation; one portion was air-dried, ground with wooden blocks and passed through a 2 mm sieve for physical and chemical analysis; and the remaining portion was sieved again through a 2 mm sieve and frozen for biochemical analysis. Identifiable crop residues, root material and stones were removed during sieving, and fine plant residues were removed from sieved air-dried samples by electrostatic forces induced by a plastic cylinder being rubbed against wool (Kuzyakov et al, 2001).…”