An improved method for determination of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in soil

Different methods for extraction of ATP from soil were examined. The methods were compared with respect to the efficiency of extraction of ATP from soil, and the content of ATP in the extracts was measured by the luciferin-luciferase system. The following extraction procedure was found to be the most efficient:Shaking of the soil with sulphuric acid, followed by filtration, cation exchange of the extract on Na⁺ resin, and adjustment to pH 9.8 with ethanolamine.The method is simpler, faster and more convenient for processing large numbers of samples, than the earlier-described acid extraction methods. Furthermore, ATP levels of 5ngATPg^?1 dry wt soil can be measured and results can be reproduced within ± 5%.The respiration rates of the soils were also measured, and a high degree of correlation was found between carbon dioxide production and ATP levels determined by extraction with sulphuric acid or dimethylsulfoxid.