THE SURVIVAL OF MICROORGANISMS IN ALKALI SOILS

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Abstract
Alkali soils containing approx. 2% of soluble salts were kept for 20 yrs. under varying conditions. The following detns. were then made: total number of micro-organisms developing on a synthetic glucose agar, ammonifying, nitrite and nitrate production and N-fixing powers. From 30,000 to 3,000,000 microorganisms, depending upon the specific salt present, developed. All soils had an active ammonifying microflora comparing favorably with fertile soils. Neither nitrites nor nitrates were produced when the alkali soils were seeded into appropriate media. Azotobacter chroococcum was found in alkali soils even after 20 yrs. These actively fixed N when seeded into an appropriate medium. Hence ammonifying and N-fixing micro-organisms can survive for long periods in soil, the water of which is saturated with NaCl, Na2SO4 or Na2CO3, either individually or in combination. However, the Nitro-somonas and Nitrobacter apparently disappear from such soils.

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