118 Decomposition of Plant and Animal Residues 



position of proteins and amino acids energy is also liberated, a cer- 

 tain amount of cell material will be synthesized by the organisms. 

 Some of the nitrogen will thus be consumed and transformed into 



100 



90 



70 



60 



S 50 



^ 40 



E 30 - 



20 



10 



30 



50 75 



Per cent moisture 



75' 



85 



Fig. 54. Influence of moisture and aeration upon decomposition of horse manure 



( from Egorov). 



microbial cell substance. The amount of aiumonia liberated in the 

 decomposition of protein will thus be a resultant of the breakdown 

 of the protein and the destruction of the amino acids, on the one 

 hand, and of cell synthesis, on the other. The amount of ammonia 

 finally liberated may thus range from 50 to 80 per cent of the total 

 nitrogen of the protein decomposed. In the presence of carbohy- 

 drates, more of the ammonia will be consumed by the organisms; 



