202 



AMMONIFICATION 



This increased ammonification with increased moisture content is 

 due, according to Lipman, to the suppression of the aerobic decay 

 bacteria and an acceleration of the anaerobic putrefactive bacteria. 



FIG. 29. Average percentages of ammonia produced in soils receiving varying 

 quantities of water. The quantity produced at 60 per cent, is taken as 100; on the 

 ordinate is given the per cent, of ammonia formed whereas on the abscissa is given 

 water applied as per cent, of water-holding capacity. 



Aeration. Carbone considers oxygen essential as a rule to the 

 most efficient action of organisms in decomposing organic matter, 

 and he points out that it is not possible to segregate the agents of 

 decomposition strictly into aerobes and anaerobes. The aerobes 

 are the more active agents in the decomposition of carbonaceous 

 material with the formation of humus. But Dzierzbicki found a 



