28 



Nebr. Isolation , Culture and Improvement of Superior Soil 



Structure Stabilizing Microorganisms. To (l) Isolate most 

 effective soil structure stabilizing microorganisms; (2) 

 enhance stabilizing effect of organisms by using best 

 known cultural technique; (3) work toward developing superior 

 strains of organisms by using genetic principles. Including 

 Irradiation; and (4) study role of microorganisms In soil 

 structure formation, stabilization, and destruction. 

 Agron., Soils 512 Coop. ARS 



N. J. The Decomposablllty of Tapnlns and Tannin Complexes. 



(1) Learn decomposablllty of complex of tannins & other organic 

 materials; (2) compare decomposablllty of complexes with that 

 of the tannins & other organic materials separately; (3) learn 

 .influence of reaction (pH) & other environmental factors on 

 decomposition of organic materials; (4) decanposabllity in 

 solution culture media in solid vehicles as sand; and(5) determine 

 liberation of COp & ammonia, as criteria of decomposition. Study 

 decomposition by mixed poptxlations derived from a suspension of 

 a fertile soil. 



Agr. Microbiol. 403 



N.C. An Investigation of the Types. Numbers. Ecology and 



Factors Affecting Phagocytosis in Simple Slime Molds Occurring in 

 Cultivated and Ifacultlvated Soils of North Carolina. To learn 

 importance of simple slime molds as part of soil microflora & 

 their effect upon numbers & activities of microbes associated with 

 them. An attempt will be made to find better & more dependable 

 methods for obtaining cultures of the Acrasleae from soil. 

 Bot. 37 



N.C. Soil Organic Matter Formatlonii Decomposition and Influence 

 on Productivity in Southerp Soils. (l) Measure tie-up & release 

 of N, P, S, & other nutrient elements attending decomposition 

 of crop residues; (2) evaluate extent of soil organic matter 

 formation by rhizosphere decomposition of root exudates & die- 

 back during growth of crop plants; and (3) learn Influences of 

 various crop cultural practices, the amount & kind of residue 

 returned, & degree of residue incorporation into soil on the 

 decomposition of residues & organic matter, on microbiological 

 tie-up & release of plant nutrients & in soil moisture intake 

 & transmission. 



Soils 107 (S-35) 



Oreg. The Role of Rhizosphere Bacteria in the Growth of Forage 

 Plants and the Influence of Organic Residues and Nitrogen Fer - 

 tilizers on Their Development. T o learn (l) if Important forage 

 plants have a specific rhizosphere microflora; (2) if microflora 

 is beneficial to plant; and (3) effects of crop residues and N 

 fertilizers on rhizosphere microflora and its Influence on se- 

 lected forage -plant species. 

 Bact. 282 CW-47) 



