Microbial Populations in Two Swamp Soils of South Carolina

David S. Priester; William R. Harms

Treesearch

Microbial Populations in Two Swamp Soils of South Carolina

Informally Refereed

Authors:

David S. Priester, William R. Harms

Year:

1971

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Southern Research Station

Source:

Res. Note SE-150. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 6 p.

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Download (PDF 162 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/1141.pdf

Abstract

Microbial populations were counted in agar-plated samples of two swamp soils collected in summer and winter. Number of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms differed significantly among the soils and between seasons. Alluvial soil from the river swamp was high in organic matter, N, K, Ca, and pH and averaged 88 million microorganisms per gram over the growing season. Nonalluvial soil from the headwater swamp was somewhat lower in organic matter, nutrients, andpH and averaged 75 million microorganisms per gram. During the winter, numbers of microorganisms dropped to less than half the summer population. Numbers of aerobic bacteria and actinomycetes were negatively related to soil moisture; numbers of anaerobic bacteria were positively related.

Citation

Priester, David S.; Harms, William R. 1971. Microbial Populations in Two Swamp Soils of South Carolina. Res. Note SE-150. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 6 p.