CELLULASE ACTIVITY AND SUCCESSION OF FUNGI IN SOIL AMENDED WITH SODIUM-CHLORIDE, ORGANIC-MATTER AND CA-SUPERPHOSPHATE

The fungal population in soil amended with 2.5, 5 and 10% sodium chlor ide, sodium chloride with either 5% organic matter or 1% Ca-superphosp hate and incubated at 25 degrees C was studied after 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Sixty-six species and 5 varieties belonging to 35 genera were isolate d from the treated and untreated soils on glucose-, cellulose- and 10% NaCl-C-ZAPEK's agar at 25 degrees or 45 degrees C. The total propagul es, total counts of Aspergillus and counts of several species were sig nificantly promoted with the low concentration of NaCl (2.5%) and decr eased with the rise of NaCl levels. Also, the total counts of fungi we re significantly flourished in soil amendment with sodium chloride whe n combined with organic matter or fertilizer after some storage period s. Several glucophilic, cellulose- decomposing, xerophilic and thermop hilic fungi were found to tolerate the previous conditions. The cellul olytic activities of most isolates tested were inhibited either by sod ium chloride or combined with superphosphate and organic matter.