Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Study of soil algae

III. Bioassay of soil fertility by algae

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

1. A number of criticisms can be levelled at the existing methods of microbiological assay of available soil nutrients. These criticisms are examined in some detail.

2. A new method for the microbiological assay of available soil nutrient is described using algae as the test organisms.

3. The new technique overcomes the criticisms levelled at previous methods.

4. The simplicity of the method makes it suitable for general use.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Acock, A. M., An examination of Mulder's rapid biological method for estimating the amount of available copper in soils. J. Council Sci. Ind. Research14 288–300 (1941).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Allen, M. B. and Arnon, D. I., Studies on nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae. 1. Growth and N-fixation byAnabaena cylindrica (Lemm.). Plant Physiol.30 366–372 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Alvey, N. G., Error in glasshouse experiments. Plant and Soil6 347–559 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Demolon, A., La dynamique du sol. Dunod, Paris (1944).

  5. Diagnostic techniques for soils and crops. American Potash Institute. Washington 6 D.C. (1948).

  6. Donald, C., Passey, B. I., and Swaby, R. T., Bioassay of available trace metals from Australian soils. Australian J. Agr. Research3 305–325 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jensen, H. L., Microbiological determination of micro-nutrients in soil. Suomen KemistilehtiA 24, 197–203 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kauffman, J., Méthode pratique de dosage microbiologique du phosphore. Application au dosage du phosphore dans les terres. Ann. Inst. Pasteur85 247–253 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lawrence, W. J. C., Techniques for experiments with pot plants. Plant and Soil6 332–346 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Nicholas, D. J. and Fielding, A. H., The use ofAsp. niger (M) for the determinations of magnesium, zinc, copper and molybdenum available in soils to crop plants. J. Hort. Sci.26, 125–57 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Steenbjerg (see Jensen7) (1940).

  12. Tchan, Y. T., Study of soil algae 1. Proc. Soc. Linn. N.S.W.77 265–269 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Tchan, Y. T., Estimation of nutrient elements in soil by algae. Principle of the method. Congr. Intern. Sci. Sol ParisC 249–251 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Waksman, S. A., Soil Microbiology, p. 326–327. John Wiley and Sons Inc. (1952).

  15. Wang, T. L., A new method for determining the fertilising mineral elements of soil by Azotobacter. Plant and Soil5 41–46 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wieringa, K. T., Determination of the fertility of the soil by microbiological methods. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek61 57–70 (1939).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Winogradsky, S., Microbiologie du sol. Masson et Co. Edit. (1949).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microbiology Laboratories, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sydney, N.S.W., Australia

    Y. T. Tchan

Authors
  1. Y. T. Tchan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tchan, Y.T. Study of soil algae. Plant Soil 10, 220–232 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01416369

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01416369

Keywords

Search

Navigation