Occurrence of Azotobacter in some soils of South Island, New Zealand

Abstract

Sixty-three soil sites in the South Island of New Zealand have been sampled and examined for the presence of Azotohacter. Azotohacter chroococcum was isolated from a number of sand-dune soils classed as yellow-brown sands, and from a soil classed as a brown granular clay found in a confined area near Oamaru, but not from yellow-brown and yellow-grey earths. Some factors influencing distribution of Azotohacter such as pH, plant cover, and levels of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are discussed.