DESTRUCTION OF SOILS AGGREGATES BY ENZYME S

In order to fractionate the soil organic matter into its different com pounds, it is necessary to previously break completely the structural units. Physical methods are generally of a limited effect when applied on strongly aggregated soils; chemical ones need too complex operatio ns. We investigate in this work a biological method formely used by mi crobiologists to obtain a bacterial desorption. Hydrolases or antibiot ics are mixed together with soil samples. In both cases, the cements o f aggregates are broken by the enzymes. An excellent dispersion is obt ained when the above mentioned products are simultaneously mechanicall y dispersed by shaking with small agate beads.