XIV. Yeasts of two cultivated soils

Summary

Yeasts in two tussock-grassland soils, under native tussock, under introduced pasture, and under crops, were examined quantitatively and qualitatively. In the first soil the only change that occurred when the tussock was brought into cultivation was a slight increase in yeast numbers. In the second, the yeasts in the cultivated sites showed a diminution in numbers and some change in species pattern. In both soils the yeast counts were higher in summer than in spring. There was evidence that Candida humicola was associated with the roots of tussocks but not with the roots of introduced pasture plants. Cryptococcus laurentii was the commonest yeast in washings from the leaves of both tussock and pasture plants collected in the spring.