EFFECT OF PHANEROCHAETE-CHRYSOSPORIUM ON TRANSFORMATIONS OF UREA, SULFUR-COATED UREA AND PEPTONE IN SOIL

Growth of the bioremediation fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium in non -sterilised soil stimulated the release of sulphate and ammonium from added sulphur-coated urea and also significantly increased ammonium re lease (but not subsequent nitrification) from added urea. The minerali sation of mycological peptone to ammonium in soil and its subsequent o xidation to nitrate was also generally stimulated following inoculatio n. The results show that following inoculation, P. chrysosporium influ ences the transformation of natural or fertiliser compounds in soils. The possibility that such changes may occur should be considered when P. chrysosporium is added to soils solely for the purposes of bioremed iation.