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Microbial changes occurring in soil as a result of storage

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Summary

Changes in numbers of various microbial groups in the interim between collection and analysis of a tropical soil were determined. Although the number of most organisms decreased as a result of storage, the percentage distribution of several groups increased. The greatest decreases occurred in the top layers of soil. Both the numbers and the relative distribution of actinomycetes increased after storage. The possible significance of this increase in the detection of fungistatic materials in soil is discussed. Numbers of fungi were higher after storage in all soil depths, except in the top layer where essentially no change occurred. The vertical distribution and relative frequency of isolation of fungal species after storage is presented. The percentage distribution of spore-forming and CO2-tolerant bacteria was higher after storage, but that of CO2-tolerant fungi was lower.

The significance of these results in soil microbiological studies, as well as possible causes of the changes, are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Research Laboratories, United Fruit Company, Norwood, Massachusetts

    G. Stotzky & R. D. Goos

  2. Division of Tropical Research, Tela Railroad Company, Subsidiary of United Fruit Company, La Lima, Honduras

    M. I. Timonin

  3. Department of Forestry, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada

    M. I. Timonin

Authors
  1. G. Stotzky
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  2. R. D. Goos
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  3. M. I. Timonin
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Stotzky, G., Goos, R.D. & Timonin, M.I. Microbial changes occurring in soil as a result of storage. Plant Soil 16, 1–18 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01378154

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01378154

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