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Studies onAzotobacter species in soil

1. Comparison of media and techniques for counting azotobacter in soil

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Summary

Methods for countingAzotobacter species in soil have been examined. The highest counts were obtained from soil suspensions shaken in sterile distilled water containing 10-g glass beads and plated on to glucose agar. Mannitol has been rejected as a suitable substrate in agar media because it gives lower counts of Azotobacter than glucose, an effect which is further enhanced by drying the agar plates. A clear medium free from precipitated phosphate and CaCO3 is recommended for the agar-plate method; the Azotobacter count is affected by the phosphate concentration.

The agar-plate and dilution-tube methods were compared; the latter is less accurate but more convenient when many soil samples have to be examined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire

    Margaret E. Brown, Susan K. Burlingham & R. M. Jackson

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  1. Margaret E. Brown
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  2. Susan K. Burlingham
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  3. R. M. Jackson
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Brown, M.E., Burlingham, S.K. & Jackson, R.M. Studies onAzotobacter species in soil. Plant Soil 17, 309–319 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01377670

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