STUDIES ON GLYCINE-PERCOLATED SOIL: I. CORRELATION BETWEEN GLYCINE OXIDATION AND BACTERIAL POPULATION

Abstract

It is of interest to determine how the soil percolation technique may be of use for the elucidation of soil processes from the microbiological viewpoint as well as from the biochemical one. An attempt has been made to correlate the growth of heterotrophic bacteria with their chemical activities when soil is percolated with glycine solution. A very close correlation has been observed between the population number of bacteria and their glycine–oxidizing activity. The physiological status of the population has been investigated. The metabolism of soil organic matter is also induced by the glycine percolation. The soil conditions under which the bacterial population can be considered in connection with their activities are discussed.