Analysis methods and techniques in large numbers which bring forth trustworthy results at low costs have been developed, some of which imply the recycling of diversified materials or the use of natural products. These, opposite to synthetic ones, normally have a low environmental cost. Beeswax fulfills, at least, this last condition. Our study had the aim of characterizing the physical properties of beeswax, and evaluating the possibility of using it as an impermeable covering in the determination of soil bulk density, substituting the paraffin wax used in the clod method. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial arrangement of 6 x 2 x 2 (six soils, two coverings, and two clod sizes), in three replicates. The physical characteristics of beeswax were similar to paraffin wax, especially regarding to the fusion point, solidification time and specific density. The values of soil bulk density with either beeswax or paraffin did not differ significantly. Thus, beeswax can substitute paraffin wax completely to seal soil clods in the determination of soil bulk density, without altering the results.
analysis method; Apis mellifera; physical characteristics; impermeable covering; paraffin
