An Examination of Methods for Determining Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in Soils. (With One Text-figure.)

Abstract

1. The details of the Dennstedt dry-combustion method for determining carbon in soils were described, and some simplifications suggested.2. The Bangor modified Kjeldahl method for carbon and nitrogen in soils requires carefully standardised heating. Errors may arise from contamination of sandy soils by material abraded during grinding in iron or porcelain mills.3. For many heavy soils the addition of water before the Kjeldahl digestion is convenient but not essential. For heavy alkaline soils with little organic matter it is advisable to grind the soil very finely and to add water.