A method for the preparation of repacked soil cores with homogeneous aggregates for studying microbial nitrogen transformations under highly controlled physical conditions

International audience; he feasibility of studies on nitrate transformations during incubation in controlled conditions of air-filled porosity using a method of soil core preparation was investigated. Repacked cores were obtained by uniaxial confined compression in a cylindrical mould of a mass of calibrated and conveniently wet aggregates with a water content selected to saturate the textural porosity of the soil aggregates, imposing structural porosity and thereby producing controlled conditions of aeration. The principle and the descrip- tion of the incubation method are explained and some denitrification and respiration data obtained with low and increasing OZ partial pressures are pres…