232 



Nltrificatioii in Egnptian Soils 



Flax manuied with farm manure. 

 Wheat: unmanurcd plots. 



f Flax manured with nitrate of soda. 

 § Wheat: nitrate plots. 



The general conditions of the sheraqi include fairly high temperatures. 

 At Bahtini in June, 1917, just before the irrigation the highest tempera- 

 ture observed was 3.5° G. at 10 cm. below the surface. At Assiut in 

 August, 1918, on a basin 46° C. was observed but undoubtedly higher 

 temperatures are the rule during the months of June and July. As 

 might be expected no bacteriological activity can take place under such 

 conditions and nitrates do not accumidate in sheraqi soils. The number 

 of bacteria is also low, usually not more than one million per gramme 

 of dry soil. See Table XVIII. 



Table XVIII. 

 Bacteria jn-esent in sheraqi soils. Millions per gramme of dry soil. 



Moisture 

 Bacteria 



Wheat soil. Bahtim, 1917 ... 

 Bersim soil. Bahtim, 1918 

 Basin soil, Assiut, 1918. Hod el 



Zenar ... 



Basin soil, Assiut, 1918. Hod el 



Zenar 



Basin soil, Shotb village, 1918... 



The normal number of bacteria in the soils of Egyptian fields appears 

 to be about 10 to 1.5 millions per gramme of soil. 



