SOME BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITIES OF HALOTOLERANT MICROFLORA IN FARASAN SOIL, SAUDI-ARABIA

The biological activities in ten soil samples, from eight rhizosphere soils of halophytic plants and two of bare soils. Al Protectorate Fara san Island, Saudi Arabia, were investigated. Respiration rates (CO2 ev olution), moisture content, organic matter, soluble salts and pH were estimated. The results showed that respiration rates fluctuated greatl y in soil samples of different plant species grown under identical con ditions. The greater respiration rates were correlated with the greate r organic matter content and the lower salinity levels. Both, the tota l and active microbial biomass, were calculated, the first was concomi tant to the respiration rate activities, while the other was adversely proportional to the rate of respiration.