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A comparison of autoclaved and gamma-irradiated soils as media for microbial colonization experiments

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Summary

The effects on various properties of Lincoln Clay of a sterilizing dose of gamma radiation (3.0 megarads) were compared to the effects resulting from autoclaving the soil (121°C) for 1 hour. Effects of both treatments were much more drastic when moist, rather than air-dry soil was treated but, in general, radiation had less effect on soluble organic matter and on total water-extractable electrolyte than did autoclaving. Radiation caused a greater release of NH4-N from soil treated moist than did autoclaving but the reverse was true in dry soil. Alcohol-soluble ninhydrin-positive material was increased by both sterilization procedures with irradiation having the greater effect. The aggregate stability of Lincoln clay was decreased by irradiation and increased by autoclaving.

Pure cultures of bothArthrobacter sp. andPseudomonas sp. grew better, on the basis of cell yields, in irradiated than in autoclaved soil. Respiration of mixed soil organisms in an artificial soil amended with an extract of irradiated soil was almost identical with that in an extract of air-dried soil but auto-claved soil extract was only metabolized after a prolonged lag period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Microbiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada

    P. O. Salonius, J. B. Robinson & F. E. Chase

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  1. P. O. Salonius
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  2. J. B. Robinson
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  3. F. E. Chase
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This work was supported by grant # A 1702 from the National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Canada.

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Salonius, P.O., Robinson, J.B. & Chase, F.E. A comparison of autoclaved and gamma-irradiated soils as media for microbial colonization experiments. Plant Soil 27, 239–248 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01373392

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01373392

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