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The Rhythmical Nature of Microbiological Activity in Soil as Indicated by the Evolution of Carbon Dioxide 1
Author(s) -
Smith F. B.,
Brown P. E.,
Millar H. C.
Publication year - 1935
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1935.00021962002700020003x
Subject(s) - citation , library science , chemistry , computer science
T factors influencing the production of carbon dioxide in soils have been the subject of many investigations. The evolution of carbon dioxide from soils has long been regarded as a measure of microbiological action, although it is now recognized that this may be a rather liberal interpretation of the facts. However, numerous experiments have shown a fair degree of correlation between the amounts of carbon dioxide produced in soils and the numbers of micro-organisms present. Experiments have also shown a relationship between the evolution of carbon dioxide from soils and the activity of certain physiological groups of soil micro-organisms. It is common knowledge that microbiological activity in soils may be increased at first and then decreased when field soils are brought into the laboratory. This stimulation is evidenced by an increase in numbers of organisms and also by an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide produced. Johansson (3)a observed a regular periodic fluctuation in the production of carbon dioxide in forest soils when the soils were incubated in the laboratory under control conditions. He also found that the amount of carbon dioxide produced during the day was often greater than the amount produced during the night. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the rate of evolution of carbon dioxide from soils variously treated and to study the relationship of carbon dioxide production to microbiological activity in soils. The data reported in this paper are the results of preliminary work done on the first part of the problem.