Numbers of nitrifying bacteria in some Rhodesian soils under natural grass improved pastures.

Published online
22 May 1969
Content type
Journal article
Journal title
Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI
10.2307/2401563

Author(s)
Meiklejohn, J.

Publication language
English
Location
Africa South of Sahara & Southern Africa

Abstract

Soils under improved pastures of Giant Rhodes grass, of Beckeropsis uniseta and of a Panicum species, heavily fertilized and stocked, and soils under two species of Desmodium contained about 100 times as many nitrifying bacteria as soils under wild grass. The rich organic soils of a cattle pen and holding paddock contained approx. 1000 times as many nitrifying bacteria as soils under wild grass.

Key words