Conversion factor (k factor) for estimation of soil microbial biomass potassium by the chloroform-fumigation extraction method

ABSTRACTThe conversion factor, kK, for estimation of microbial biomass potassium (K) by the chloroform-fumigation extraction method was determined for some arable soils: upland field soils under different fertilization conditions, an upland field soil under a greenhouse condition, and a paddy field soil under a flooded condition. The kK value varied with land utilization (paddy or upland) or fertilization (chemical or organic fertilizer). Value of kK was different between paddy field soil (0.28–0.38) and upland field soil (0.41–0.73). This study indicates that the value could be useful for the estimation of microbial biomass K in soil by the chloroform-fumigation extraction method and further investigation of the amounts of biomass K in different types of soils under conditions with varied field managements will be necessary.