Laboratory methods

Below are details of some of the laboratory methods that we use. No responsibility is taken for their accuracy or precision, but feel free to e-mail suggestions as to how methods might be improved.

General methods

• Cellulose extraction from wood
• Methanol/Chloroform/Water extraction of leaves/roots

Soil methods

• Determination of soil pH
• Persulfate digestion
• Potassium chloride extraction of fresh soil (1 M KCl)

Capillary electrophoresis methods

• Amino acids (underivatized) + sugars, inorganic anions and organic acids
• Inorganic anions and organic acids
• Metal cations and ammonium
• Rubisco

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods

• Derivatisation with MTBSTFA (t-BDMS derivatives)
• GC-MS analysis of t-BDMS derivatives of amino acids

Microplate methods

• Amino acids (total) by ninhydrin
• Ammonium
• Nitrite & nitrate

Spectrophotometer methods

• Ammonium
• Chlorophylls
• Nitrate
• Phosphorus
• Starch & soluble sugars with anthrone reagent

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