The production of mucus during the decomposition of plant materials1

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Abstract
I. In the presence of a mixed natural flora, the chief factors involved in causing stickiness in decomposing straw are the source of N supplied, the initial and final reactions of the material and the degree of decomposition. High values for stickiness are given with either NaNO3 or mold tissues as the sources of N. This suggests that an alkaline reaction and an abundance of microbial tissue are essential in the production of stickiness during decomposition by mixed flora. The final reaction of the manure profoundly influences the degree of stickiness, if at all appreciable. A pH of 9.5-10, whether obtained by fermentation or by subsequent adjustment, seems to give the max. stickiness. Na or K ions produce more stickiness than Ca or Mg.[long dash]A physical test for evaluating the property of stickiness in manures is descr.[long dash]From auth. summ.[long dash]II. Oat straw was rotted with pure cultures of 5 common soil fungi and measurements of the stickiness produced during decomposition were made by a physical test. Low figures were obtained. Similarly, straw rotted with pure cultures of bacteria, Mycobac-terium agreste and Spirochaeta cytophaga, respectively, failed to produce stickiness. When, however, straw was decomposed with a fungus and later with S. cytophaga increases in stickiness were found, even if the period of action of the fungus was brief. Fungus decomposition followed by M. agreste did not produce stickiness nor did the simultaneous action of fungus and bacterium.

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