Redwood Reader

Removing the vegetation and duff layers expose the soil to its enemies and the system begins unraveling. We demonstrate this with a series of simple tests.
The first one we have already shown by the difference between topsoil and in-stream sediment from the same source. This clearly shows glomalin is absent from material deposited in the creek whether before or after it got there. Sediment is transported by moving water and to some extent wind and is not a natural occurrence in temperate rain forested areas.
Our next demonstration illustrates the three enemies of glomalin, light, water and air. For this we need samples to test, an inorganic control and artificial events replicating the concepts. We will use a conventional oven, infrared lights and fans to recreate those conditions. Our first tests visually demostrate glomalin presence by simply squeezing the topsoil together. Then samples are carefully weighed and recorded.
The first sample is held in a block and the fan aimed at it until it dries and the clump becomes soil particles ands begins to blow away. The time is recorded for all samples. The second sample is held as a block and running water run on it in a container until the block has lost its integrity. The third sample is held as a block under the light until it loses its characteristics.
The second set of samples are ground quickly to thin layers and the tests repeated with times recorded. This will demonstrate the protective nature of the glomalin system in the soil and the rapidity of collapse when conditions are impaired. This demonstrates glomalin “starvation” from entropy as opposed to rapid destruction from land use activities.
A third set of samples should be refrigerated in dark covering as a block to weigh over time for loss or increase in a control.
A fourth set of samples should be of sand and subjected to the same experiments. No amount of added water will make the sand sticky,
These simple tests demonstrate the presence of volatile organic products in the soil and their enemies. At this point it is not possible to quantify water loss versus glomalin loss since the same conditions release both materials as gases. A suggestion for a simple test would be to heat a sample in a retort. Capture the escaping gases in condenser to reliquify the water, and capture the carbon dioxide after it passes through the condenser in a balloon. Water and carbon dioxide can then be measured and should add to the material left to the original weight. We then have a useful tool for easy comparison of many samples that can be done at any depth or time period..
These are some simple ideas we can use to demonstrate the presence of an invisible and hard to detect substance in the soil. We may see it wash away if we put a sample in a tight mesh bag and swish it around in water until the water runs clear. Weigh the remains, dry, reweigh. This material will not clump back up either. We have removed the soil glue.