Studies on the estimation and decomposition of amino sugars in soil

Abstract

1. The amounts of amino sugar-N present in acid hydrolysates of six soils with nitrogen contents ranging from 0·17 to 2·82% have been estimated by colorimetric and alkaline decomposition methods.2. Recovery of amino sugar-N after hydrolysis of chitin or glucosamine was found to be unaffected by the presence of soil during hydrolysis.3. Substances known to interfere with the methods of amino sugar analysis employed were not detectable in the soil hydrolysates.4. From the amounts of amino sugar-N liberated by acid hydrolysis it is deduced that 5·10% of the total-nitrogen of the soils examined was in the form of amino sugars.5. The decomposition of amino sugars in soil has been studied by comparing the rates of decomposition of chitin, glucosamine, casein and yeast nucleic acid when incubated with soil under conditions found to produce rapid nitrification of ammonium sulphate.6. Glucosamine and chitin are readily decomposed by soil micro-organisms but not so rapidly as casein or yeast nucleic acid.