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Effect of Gamma Radiation on Growth and Metabolism of Microorganisms in an Organic Soil
Author(s) -
Stotzky G.,
Mortensen J. L.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1959.03615995002300020014x
Subject(s) - mineralization (soil science) , sterilization (economics) , microorganism , chemistry , population , environmental chemistry , peat , metabolism , radiochemistry , ammonia , zoology , bacteria , food science , botany , biology , nitrogen , biochemistry , ecology , sociology , monetary economics , economics , foreign exchange market , genetics , foreign exchange , organic chemistry , demography
Samples of Rifle peat were irradiated with gamma rays from a Co 60 source at doses of 2, 8, 32, 64, 128, and 250 kiloroentgens (kr.). The irradiated samples were incubated for 54 days, and periodic determinations were made on the rate of CO 2 evolution, P and N mineralization, pH changes, and development of bacterial and fungal populations. The radiation doses employed had no significant effect on development of the bacterial population, pH, mineralization of P, and evolution of CO 2 . Growth of the fungal population and ammonia utilization was increasingly inhibited by doses of 8 to 250 kr. Gross changes in the metabolism of the soil microflora did not take place. Higher dose levels than those used in this study apparently are required for the sterilization of organic soils.