Cultural Methods for Soil Microorganisms

Abstract

This chapter suggests certain basic procedures that will allow the investigator to characterize numerical differences among organisms within the soil environment as well as the fluctuations of various physiological properties of organisms among different soils. Few precautions are necessary when one samples and handles soils merely as a source of organisms. However, the study of soils that attempts to characterize microbial properties requires special foresight in sample handling and processing. Cultural methods for enumeration of soil organisms can become a reliable technique as media that are specific for fixed physiological or taxonomical groups of organisms are developed. This should be a continuing process. Hence, the proposed protocol with media suggestions should not be regarded as an end but should represent a starting point. Refinement and improvement are expected. With an undercurrent of modification, future studies should lead to a better understanding of the number and role of organisms within natural communities.