RELATIONS BETWEEN SOIL MICROFLORA AND CO₂ EVOLUTION UPON DECOMPOSITION OF CELLULOSE

The investigation was carried out to study the relation between CO₂ evolution and the changes in microflora in the case of cellulose-decomposition in soil with special attention to the heterogeneity of soil crumbs. The rates of CO₂ evolution correlated with the number of Gram-negative bacteria, while the number of cellulose-decomposing microorganisms did not. The Gram-negative bacteria probably contribute directly to CO₂ evolution by decomposing simple sugars produced from cellulose by cellulose-decomposing microorganisms. Both the Gram-negative bacteria and cellulosedecomposing microorganisms seemed to grow luxuriantly on the surface area of soil crumbs with added cellulose powder. Therefore, it is speculated that there is a cooperation between the Gramnegative bacteria and the cellulose-decomposing microorganisms with respect to cellulose decomposition in soil. The main locus where this reaction takes place may be the surface area of soil crumbs.