THE NITRIPTCATION OF PYRIDINE, 

 QUINOLINE, GUANIDINE CARBON- 

 ATE, ETC., IN SOILS/ 



By 



M. J. FUNCHDSS, 



Associate Agronomist, Alabama Polytechnic Institute 



INTRODUCTION 



In a previous publication it was shown that certain 

 organic nitrogenous compounds, which had been de- 

 scribed by others as being toxic to plants in water cul- 

 tures, proved to be decidedly beneficial to crops in soil 

 cultures (5)t>. The yields obtained with both oats and 

 corn were nearly as great with pyridine or quinoline 

 as the source of nitrogen as when nitrate of soda was 

 the source. From the plant growth obtained, it was 

 very evident that these compounds were supplying 

 nitrogen to the crops grown. Either these plants were 

 using the compoinids directly, or the compounds were 

 being changed in the soil to some available form. 

 Since most of the compounds studied in the work re- 

 ferred to alcove had already been proved to be toxic 

 to higher plants in solution cultures, it was concluded 

 that the substances were most likely decomposed to a 

 simple form available to crop plants. If decomposition 

 proceeded very far, in all probability, the nitrogen 

 applied to a soil in the form of pyridine, or similar 

 substances, would later be found as nitrates. It is the 

 purpose of this paper to set forth the results from ex- 

 periments to determine if such compounds are nitrified 

 in soils. 



Review of Literature 



So far as the writer has been able to find from the 

 literature available, the only instance where actual 

 nitrification of the compounds used in this investigation 

 has been observed is that recorded by Buddin. In 

 studies on partial sterilization of soils by means ot 

 antiseptics Buddin (2) used pyridine, along with a 

 number of other compounds. The action of pyridine 

 was qui te ditferent from that of most other compounds 



(a) Published as a continuation of exi)erimonts reported 

 in Alabama Experiment Station Bulletin No. 11)1. 



(b) Reference is made by number to "Literature cited" 

 P. 81. 



