No abstract

Dynamics of oxidation of inorganic sulphur compounds to sulphate by the soil of spruce forests was investigated. Sulphide, sulphite and thiosulphate are oxidized to sulphate at a maximal rate at the beginning of the reaction, oxidation of elemental sulphur exhibits a lag phase. Linear relationships between the amounts of the produced sulphate and concentrations of substrates in the soil could be detected. On the basis of ;this finding a method for comparison of the oxidative activity of various soils was proposed.

A total of 437 bacterial cultures was isolated from various soils and sewage water that were tested for the ability to decompose reconstituted collagen. This activity was found in 6.6% of the cultures isolated from sewage water, 15% of the cultures from organic horizons of the spruce growth soil, 30% of the cultures from the meadow soil, 29% of the cultures from the vegetable field soil and in 37% of those isolated from garden soil. The capability to produce collagenolytic enzymes does not appear to be rare among soil bacteria.

No abstract

No abstract