Effects of selected assay parameters on measurment of lignocellulose mineralization with a radiolabeled substrate

The carbon sequestered in lignocellulose is reintroduced into the global carbon cycle primarily through microbial decomposition and mineralization. Varying the amount of labeled substrate or the amount of leaf material resulted in significant nonlinear changes in lignocellulose mineralization, as measured with natural [14C]lignin-labeled lignocellulose. The use of periodic rather than continuous aeration was found not to have significant affects on measured mineralization