INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 791 



hay were added to 1 kgm. of soil, the soil receiving CaO produced, in 

 18 days, 380 mgm. C0 2 less than the unlimed soil (theoretical amount 

 necessary to carbonate the CaO is 390 mgm.). After that period, the 

 CaO treated soil began to give increased amounts of C0 2 . 95 The 

 addition of lime to the soil increases the decomposition of the organic 

 matter added to the soil, whether this is determined by the evolution 

 of carbon dioxide, formation of "humus," or formation of nitrates. The 

 increase in the decomposition of the soil organic matter as a result of 

 addition of lime depends on the nature of the soil and the change in 

 reaction brought about rather than upon the nature of the organic 

 matter added. 96 



As to the influence of liming upon the decomposition of organic 

 matter in the soil, the following results may be cited: 97 



Influence of CaCOi on evolution of CO% from soil 



The addition of an excess of calcium carbonate may be detrimenta 

 to certain bacterial activities as shown by Wollny for the decomposi- 

 tion of organic matter, and by Lipman and associates 98 for ammonia 

 formation. In many cases, however, beneficial results may be 

 obtained. 99 An excess of calcium oxide may exert a sterilizing effect 



95 Lemmermann, O., Aso, K., Fischer, H., and Fresinius, L. Untersuchungen 

 uber die Zersetzung der Kohlenstoffverbindungen verschiedener organischer 

 Substanzen im Boden, speziell unter den Einfluss von Kalk. Landw. Jahrb., 

 41: 217-256. 1911. 



96 Miyake and Nakamura, 1923 (p. 689); White, J. W., and Holben, F. J. Re- 

 sidual effects of forty years continuous manurial treatments. II. Effect of 

 caustic lime on soil treated with barnyard manure. Soil Sci., 20: 313-327. 1925. 



97 Konig and Hasenbaumer, 1920 (p. 783). 



98 Lipman, J. G., Brown, P. E., and Owen, I. L. Experiments on ammonia 

 and nitrate formation in soils. Centrbl. Bakt. II, 30: 156-181. 1911. 



99 Peck, S. S. Hawaiian Sugar Planter's Chem. Bui. 34. 1911; Greaves, J. E. 

 The influence of salts on the bacterial activities of the soil. Soil Sci., 2: 443-480. 

 1916; Fulmer, H. L. Influence of carbonates of magnesium and calcium on bac- 

 teria of certain Wisconsin soils. Jour. Agr. Res., 12: 463-504. 1918; Further in- 



