Survival of Rhizobia in Various Rations of Peat and Lignite

Abstract

The experiment was conducted by mixing lignite and peat in various ratios ratios then inoculated 20 ml of rhizobia strain USDA 110 and THA - 7 in each 60 gram - bag of those autoclaved carriers. The viable number of rhizobial cells were counted at 1 hour, 1 week, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 months by plate count on yeast mannitol agar pluscongo red.
The results showed that the viable cells of rhizobia in both strains increased up to 10 cells/g within one week. rhizobia strain THA - 7 could survive in lignite and mixed carriers better thaN rhizobia strain USDA 110. The viable cells of strain THA - 7 in every ratio of lignite and mixed carriers better than rhizobia strain USDA 110. The viable cells of strain THA - 7 in every ratio of lignite and peat maintained at 10 cells/g up to 3 months then decreased to 10 cells/g at the later stage of the experiment.
Rhizobia starain THA - 7 could grow well in lignite and in every ratio fo lignite mixed with peat. The rhizobia strain USDA 110 could also grow well in every ratio of lignite mixed with peat. In lignite alone the viable cells decreased faster than in mixed carriers at the later stage of this study.