The use of soil microcosms in evaluating bacteriophagic nematode responses to other organisms and effects on nutrient cycling

Abstract
Soil microcosms were found useful in evaluating bacteriophagic nematode population responses to biotic interactions. Bacterial and amoebal numbers were significantly decreased in the presence of an omnivorous nematode with a corresponding increase in the nematode numbers. Nematode numbers were lower in finer textured soils compared to coarser soils. Under some developmental stages, nematodes were found to increase the mineralization rate of nitrogen and phosphorus over microcosms with only bacteria present.