The Regulation of Aeration in Wood Soil Contact Culture Technique

The aerobic nature of most wood-destroying fungi requires suitable ventilation within the culture jars to permit passage of the gaseous products accompanying the decay process. By placing a glass vent-tube in the lids of soil culture jars to standardize the allowed space for gaseous interchange during decay of wood test specimens, variation in fungal activity attributable to this factor may be minimized, and the findings of various workers employing this technique more readily compared. The results of the work reported indicate that the rate of decay in wood blocks, measured by the loss in weight over a specified period, in thoroughly sealed but ventilated soil jars, is more constant than in jars capped by other means, and is also sufficiently rapid. Furthermore, the soil moisture content was higher and more consistent in the vented jars.

You must be logged in to download any documents. Please login (login accounts are free) or learn how to Become a Member