26 



Idaho A Study of the Physiology of Purlne-Decomposlng 

 Anaerobes Found In the Soil vrlth Special Reference to 

 Organisms Which Decompose AdenlneT To (l) isolate several 

 strains of adenine-deccanposing anaerobes from various 

 soils, water, muds, etc., using enrichment techniques; (2) 

 describe and classify the organisms, or reconcile their 

 characteristics with Bergey's system of classification of 

 bacteria; (3) determine growth requirements of the or- 

 ganisms; (4) determine activity of the organisms in break- 

 ing down purines other than adenine, and determine quantita- 

 tively the end-products of breakdown of all purines which 

 are attacked by the organisms; (5) study feasibility of 

 using the organisms for quantitative analysis of adenine 

 and other purines; and (6) investigate intennediate mech- 

 anisms of breakdown of adenine by the organisms* 

 Bact. 206 



Ind. DecCTBPOsition of Plant Materials aixi Formation of Soil 



Organic Matter* To determine (l) changes in decomposition 

 of plant materials, and in microbial populations, caused 

 by variation of nutrients and other factors, e#g», moisture, 

 plant growth; and (2) effect of temperature on decomposition 

 of organic materials and the variation in organic matter 

 formed under controlled conditions, 

 Agron,, Bot., Plant Path. 70? 



Ind. The Effect of Plant Composition. Type of Clav. and 



Nitrogen Supply Upon the Quantity and Nature of Soil 

 Organic Matter Formed and It? Effect Upon Soil Structure 

 and Productivity. To determine (l) significance of clay 

 type, nature of crop residue, and N supply on fundamental 

 nature and amoTint of organic matter resulting from decOTi- 

 position of plant materials; and (2) effect of organic 

 matter formed under different conditions set up in (l) 

 upon soil structure and non -physical factors important 

 to crop yield. 



Agron., Bot., Plant Path. 754 (NC-17) 



Ind. Determination of the Role of 5oil Microorganisms in the 



Soil Aeration Requirements of Plants. To learn (l) effect of 

 microorganisms upon aeration needs of plant roots; and (2) 

 effect of aeration upon nature and abundance of microbial 

 flora associated with plant roots. 

 Bot., Plant Path. 843 



