A TOOL FOR RESEARCH ON SOIL BIOLOGY
Soil fertility depends on many factors and, in particular, on biological activity, the indicator of which is cellu- lose-destroying ability. The existing methodology for its determination is based on placing a flax cloth into the soil for the period of exposure. Proteolytic activity of the soil is determined in a similar way, but photographic paper instead of cloth is placed into the soil. According to these methods the material under investigation is laid into the soil with the help of a shovel. This method is inadmissible in small-scale experiments and in the study of plowless primary tillage. A search for a tool more in line with the tasks of studying biological activity of the soil was carried out. It is considered that Kolesov's sword, used in forestry, is most suitable for this purpose. But it also requires improvement. This tool creates a slot with an uneven vertical wall. In addition, easy immersion of this tool into the soil is provided only on sandy soils. Other more modern tools are also considered. They also have drawbacks. Therefore, a tool is proposed, in the design and manufacturing of which these drawbacks were taken into account. The proposed tool is a sword of a T-shaped cross-section and consists of a handle and a rec- tangular plate attached to it. On the plate chamfers are made along the lower and lateral edges which ensure easy penetration of the steel plate into the soil to the required depth. The plate carries marks to control the depth of the immersed tool in the soil. The tool is placed vertically on the surface of the soil. When you press the handle with both hands, it goes down to the desired level. At the same time, forward-backward movements are performed simultaneously, which facilitates the immersion of the plate into the soil and increases the size of the slot into which the sample of the cloth or photo paper under study is placed. This tool simplifies and facilitates the execu- tion of the work. It is highly demanded, reliable and durable.