SOIL MICROBIOLOGICAL EQUILIBRIUM 



753 



of energy by nitrogen-fixing bacteria; the subsequently more intense 

 transformation of the bacterial proteids and of other nitrogenous organic 

 substances into amino- and ammonium compounds places an abundant 

 and uniform supply of soluble nitrogen compounds at the disposal of 

 the plant. 



TABLE 84 

 Influence of CSi upon the development of bacteria in the soil 68 



TABLE 85 

 Numbers of bacteria in untreated and partially sterilized soils 63 



The original idea of Koch 57 that increased crop growth due to the 

 application of the disinfectant is a result of a direct stimulation of 

 the plant by traces of the disinfectant or its decomposition products 



«' Koch, 1899 (p. 750). 



