The rate of decay in relation to soil types and vegetative covering in Glamorgan

Abstract

Summary1. The object of this investigation was to determine the extent to which the decomposing power of soils within a climatic region is influenced by:(a) the geological character of the rocks from which the soils are derived,(b) the nature of the vegetative covering.2. A short account is given of the geography, climatology, geology and pedology of Glamorgan. The soils of South Glamorgan appear in general to be Brown Earth types.3. In studying the rate of decay it is necessary to obtain an index of the intensity of the total biochemical processes taking place. One of the best and most suitable of indices for this purpose is CO2 evolution.4. A type of apparatus used by a previous investigator (Neller) to measure the CO2 evolved from soil was tested and found to be unsatisfactory. Thus a suitable apparatus had to be evolved. This apparatus is described in detail.