The aerobic heterotrophic bacteria of two New Zealand soils

Abstract

Two soils from Napier and Hastings have been examined to determine the number and nature of bacteria present. The soil from Hastings appeared to support a larger number of bacteria than the soil from Napier. The types of organisms in the two soils did not seem to vary greatly, and species of Arthrobacter, Nocardia, and Mycobacterium formed a large part of the flora.

The effects of different media in the plate count technique for estimating numbers of bacteria, and in the isolation of these organisms, have been examined.