Abstract
An apparatus is described which allows the simultaneous, continuous, and highly sensitive analysis of inactive and radioactive CO(2) evolved from C-supplemented soils or other materials. The apparatus consists of a control unit, a commercially available conductometric CO(2) analyzer, and fraction collector. A number of model experiments were conducted to demonstrate the potentials of the apparatus. These included analysis of the time course of priming action, when C-glucose was added to soil, separation of CO(2) respiration peaks caused by simultaneous degradation of radioactive and inactive soil supplements, and study of the effects of a fungicide, Benomyl, on degradation of C-labeled glucose. In the last experiment, partial degradation of the fungicide could also be followed.