COLLECTION OF ROOT AND SOIL SAMPLES
The mixtures of roots and rhizosphere soils coming from non-dune soils are collected from a depth of ca.
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5-30 cm. Soil-root samples from dunes are usually taken from deeper zones of the soils; it depends on the depth of the occurrence of roots. The tools used to collect root-soil mixtures are either a small garden shovel (used in most cases) or a metal soil sample tube with graduations every two centimeters (used in ecological investigations). The latter tool enables to precisely sample the root-soil material considering its amount and the place of origin. The root-soil mixtures collected are subsequently placed in plastic bags and transferred to the laboratory. In the laboratory, they are air dried and stored in a refrigerator at 4oC until processing.