Sm. Buttars et al., PELLETIZED CYANOBACTERIAL SOIL AMENDMENTS - LABORATORY TESTING FOR SURVIVAL, ESCAPABILITY, AND NITROGEN-FIXATION, Arid soil research and rehabilitation, 12(2), 1998, pp. 165-178
The escape and growth of Microcoleus vaginatus from alginate pellets o
nto soil crusts under controlled laboratory conditions were examined.
Soil crust samples were collected and placed in petri dishes. Selected
samples were sterilized, and three treatments were established: 75 g
m(-2) Microcoleus pellets added to sterilized soil, 75 g m(-2) blank p
ellets added to sterilized soil, and unsterilized soil with no additio
ns. Chlorophyll a readings were significantly higher in unsterilized s
oils. Microcoleus biovolumes were highest in sterilized inoculated soi
ls and significantly higher than sterilized untreated soils. Microcole
us filament density was significantly higher in Microcoleus-inoculated
soils than in the other two treatments. Nitrogen fixation activity wa
s recorded in unsterilized soils after only I month, and rates increas
ed as the experiment progressed. Microcoleus-inoculated soils had sign
ificant nitrogen-fixing activity during the last sampling period.