Abstract: Devices, methods, kits and means for easy, accurate, and fast estimation of soil microbial load, including fungal load, and fungal to bacterial ratio are described. The methods include extracting soil biomass into an extraction fluid to obtain a soil extract and detecting the fungal fraction, the bacterial fraction, and the fungal to bacterial ratio in the soil extract. The devices typically include microBIOMETER®, devices for particle size discrimination, and devices for absorbance and reflectance detection. The difference in microscopic sizes or spectroscopic absorbance of the fungal particles relative to those of the bacterial particles is used to compute the contribution of each type of particle to the biomass. In one example, the relative coverage of the microBIOMETER® device membrane by the fungal and/or bacterial particles can be measured by and then calculated using a cell phone camera and application.

Abstract: Devices, methods, kits and means for easy, accurate, and fast estimation of soil microbial load, including fungal load, and fungal to bacterial ratio are described. The methods include extracting soil biomass into an extraction fluid to obtain a soil extract and detecting the fungal fraction, the bacterial fraction, and the fungal to bacterial ratio in the soil extract. The devices typically include microBIOMETER®, devices for particle size discrimination, and devices for absorbance and reflectance detection. The difference in microscopic sizes or spectroscopic absorbance of the fungal particles relative to those of the bacterial particles is used to compute the contribution of each type of particle to the biomass. In one example, the relative coverage of the microBIOMETER® device membrane by the fungal and/or bacterial particles can be measured by and then calculated using a cell phone camera and application.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the preparation of soil samples and the determination of the number of microbes within a soil sample are disclosed. The methods include measuring, solubilizing, bleaching and filtering soil samples and measuring the turbidity of the filtered solution. The turbidity of the sample can be determined by visual inspection of a Secchi disk viewed through the column liquid sample in a transparent tubular cylinder, or by using a cell phone camera and application. Devices and kits for the rapid, cost efficient determination of microbial numbers in the field setting are disclosed. The disclosed devices and methods can also be used for applications other than determination of microbial numbers.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the preparation of soil samples and the determination of the number of microbes within a soil sample are disclosed. The methods include measuring, solubilizing, bleaching and filtering soil samples and measuring the turbidity of the filtered solution. The turbidity of the sample can be determined by visual inspection of a Secchi disk viewed through the column liquid sample in a transparent tubular cylinder, or by using a cell phone camera and application. Devices and kits for the rapid, cost efficient determination of microbial numbers in the field setting are disclosed. The disclosed devices and methods can also be used for applications other than determination of microbial numbers.

Abstract: Presented is an apparatus for measurement of optical absorption including a calibration method. In addition to providing stand alone measurement of optical absorption, various embodiments of the device also provide for easy integration with medical, clinical, and in-field spectroscopic needs.