US 9,753,022 B2 · Method and device for assessing the level of microbial activity of soil

Abstract

A method and a device for assessing the level of microbial activity of a substrate (9), preferably agricultural soil, biomass and other contexts, where there is enzymatic activity. The method includes: preparing one or more biodegradable threads (8); tensioning the one or more biodegradable threads with a pre-defined tension; introducing the one or more tensioned biodegradable threads partially in the substrate; leaving the one or more biodegradable threads in the substrate; measuring the time elapsed from the introduction of the one or more biodegradable threads in the substrate to the breakage of the one or more threads. The device includes one or more biodegradable threads (8) with a first fixing element (12) suited to fix one end of the biodegradable thread and a second fixing element (20) suited to fix the other end of the biodegradable thread, between which each biodegradable thread can be independently tightened with a pre-defined tension.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for assessing a level of microbial activity of a soil substrate, the method comprising:

a) preparing one or more biodegradable threads;
b) tensioning said one or more biodegradable threads with a pre-defined tension;
c) introducing said one or more tensioned biodegradable threads at least partially in said soil substrate;
d) leaving said one or more tensioned biodegradable threads in said soil substrate;
and
e) measuring a time elapsed from the introduction of said one or more tensioned biodegradable threads in said soil substrate to a breakage of said one or more tensioned biodegradable threads.

3 more elements

A device for assessing a level of microbial activity of a substrate comprising:

one or more biodegradable threads;
a first fixing element for each of the one or more biodegradable threads;
a second fixing element for each of the one or more biodegradable threads;
for each biodegradable thread, an indicator suited to signal a breakage of the thread, each said indicator being integral and therefore movable with said second fixing element and suited to signal any breakage of the thread through its position;
for each biodegradable thread, a first end is fixed in the first fixing element and a second end is fixed in the second fixing element,
wherein the first fixing element and the second fixing element are configured such that each biodegradable thread can be independently tightened with a pre-defined tension.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for assessing the level of microbial activity of soil

Life of this patent

Method and device for assessing the level of microbial activity of soil

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15