Fa. Alfassi, SOME BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITIES OF HALOTOLERANT MICROFLORA IN FARASAN SOIL, SAUDI-ARABIA, Arab Gulf journal of scientific research, 13(2), 1995, pp. 369-378
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.