EcoCore facilitates a large number of chemical, physical and molecular analyses. Researchers can use EcoCore’s facility to perform these analyses for a per-hour charge, to cover for some of the consumables (e.g. glassware, chemicals,…) and technical support. Training on certain complex methods may be charged extra. Common analyses include:
- Soil texture
- By the hydrometer method, up to 40 samples per day
- By the hydrometer method, up to 40 samples per day
- Soil pH
- Soil carbonates (inorganic C)
- By pressure transducer following acid addition
- Vials, chemicals and pressure transducer available
- Soil microbial biomass
- Chloroform fumigation followed by direct extraction
- A dedicated vacuum pump and chamber allow analysis of 30-90 samples per week
- PLFA extraction from soils
- Modified Bligh-Dyer extraction and mild alkaline methanolysis derivatization for GC analysis
- Modified Bligh-Dyer extraction and mild alkaline methanolysis derivatization for GC analysis
- Respiration/Carbon mineralization
- May be measured by head space sub-sampling and direct injection into an Infrared Gas Analyzer (IRGA)
- A large number of 1/2, 1, 2, and 4 liter jars are available
- A constant temperature room at 25°C can accommodate hundreds of samples for extended time periods
- Two small (~2 cu. ft) heat-only incubators can maintain 25-40+ °C and two large (~20 cu. ft.) refrigerated incubators can maintain ~4-40 °C for shorter time periods.
- Soil aggregate distribution
- By wet-sieving
- Uses a variety of sieves and a high capacity centrifuge: 6 liter (6 x 1L bottles) up to 5000 g
- Soil organic matter fractionation
- Density flotation of light fraction with aspirator setup
- Sodium Polytungstate recycling system (sodium resin and activated carbon columns)
- Soil moisture retention
- Four pressure chamber/plates can equilbrate up to 72 samples (5 cm. diameter) at moisture potentials ranging from -0.08 to -1 bar. One 1/2 bar high flow plate is available for potentials ranging from -0.005 to -0.5 bar
- Four pressure chamber/plates can equilbrate up to 72 samples (5 cm. diameter) at moisture potentials ranging from -0.08 to -1 bar. One 1/2 bar high flow plate is available for potentials ranging from -0.005 to -0.5 bar
- Extraction equipment
- Two orbital shakers with holders for 125 ml and 250 ml flasks allow shaking of up to 106-125 ml flasks or 80-250 ml flasks at once
- Six filtration racks allow filtering of up to 60 samples at once
- Fiber/Lignin analysis
- Fiber analysis may be performed using a modified Goering-Van Schoest forage fiber technique. Analytes include: cell contents, cell wall constituents, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. Up to 80 samples per week may be analyzed, depending on which components are desired.
- Fiber analysis may be performed using a modified Goering-Van Schoest forage fiber technique. Analytes include: cell contents, cell wall constituents, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. Up to 80 samples per week may be analyzed, depending on which components are desired.
- Enzyme activity
- Fluorescence-based method for measuring β-D-cellubiosidase, α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), N-acetyl-β-glucoasminidase (NAG), phosphatase, and β-xylosidase in soil.
- Uses a microplate reader
