HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Osa-Afiana, L. O. Articles by Alexander, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Osa-Afiana, L. O. Articles by Alexander, M. Agricola Articles by Osa-Afiana, L. O. Articles by Alexander, M.

Effect of Moisture on the Survival of Rhizobium in Soil¹

ABSTRACT

Rhizobium trifolii and Rhizobium japonicum survived in higher numbers in Collamer silt loam at 10% than at 22, 35, and 45% moisture levels. The rate of R. trifolii decline at the three higher moisture levels was initially rapid, but then the rate slowed. At 22, 35, and 45% moisture, fewer R. trifolii and R. japonicum survived in nonsterile than in sterile soil, and indigenous protozoa grew in response to addition of the root-nodule bacteria to the nonsterile silt loam. The rate and extent of decline of both species in flooded soil were more marked if sucrose was added; in such soil, R. trifolii died more rapidly and its population reached lower numbers. Bdellovibrio was not detected as the rhizobial density declined. Butyric, acetic, propionic, and formic acids accumulated and the pH fell below 6.0 in the sugar-amended flooded soil, but no marked accumulation of the first three microbial products and no comparable pH fall occurred in flooded soil receiving no sucrose. Liming the sugar-amended flooded soil enhanced R. trifolii survival but still led to organc acid accumulation. The data suggest a role for protozoa at moderate moisture levels and for organic acids acting at low pH in flooded soils in the decline of Rhizobium populations.

¹ Contribution from the Dep. of Agron., N.Y. State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853.

² Graduate Student and Professor of Soil Science, respectively.

Received for publication February 26, 1979. Accepted for publication April 4, 1979.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. A. C. Vriezen, F. J. de Bruijn, and K. Nusslein Responses of Rhizobia to Desiccation in Relation to Osmotic Stress, Oxygen, and Temperature Appl. Envir. Microbiol., June 1, 2007; 73(11): 3451 - 3459. [Full Text] [PDF]