Table 1.

Methods of DNA extraction evaluated in the study

Kit/extraction method name	Abbreviation	Recommended source material	Method of substrate homogenisation and cell lysis	Format of DNA purification	Approximate duration of extraction process (9 samples) (h)	Weight of starting material (mg)
ZR Soil Microbe DNA MiniPrep—Zymo Research	ZR	Soil samples	Bead beating and cell lysis buffer	Spin column filter based	4	150
QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit—QIAGEN	QIA	Stool samples	Cell lysis buffer and heat	Spin column filter based	3.5	220
NucleoSpin Soil Kit—Macherey-Nagel	MN	Soil, sludge and sediment samples	Bead beating and cell lysis buffer	Spin column filter based	4.5	500
MagMAX Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit—Manual—Thermo Fisher Scientific	Mag-Man	Broad range—biological and environmental samples	Bead beating and cell lysis buffer	Paramagnetic bead based-manual	5	300
MagMAX Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit—Automated—Thermo Fisher Scientific	Mag-Aut	Broad range—biological and environmental samples	Bead beating and cell lysis buffer	Paramagnetic bead based-automated	2.5	300
Powersoil DNA Isolation Kit—MO BIO laboratories	PS	Soil, compost, sediment and manure	Bead beating and cell lysis buffer	Spin column filter based	3.5	250
Meta-G-Nome DNA Isolation Kit—Epicentre	EPI	Water or soil samples	Cell lysis buffer	Solution based	11	1000
Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide based extraction (Minas et al. 2011)	CTAB	Rumen fluid, plant and bacterial pure cultures	Bead beating and cell lysis buffer	Solution based	26	250