SOME ORGANIC SUBSTANCES AND THE NITRIFYING BACTERIA

SUMMARY: The rate of nitrification in mixed cultures was not affected by the simultaneous decomposition of cellulose. No stimultion of the rate of nitrification was observed in cultures containing: culture filtrates, soil extract, thiamin, yeast extract, urine, or β-indolylacetic acid. These substances either had no effect or, in larger doses, delayed or stopped nitrification. Peptone was toxic to the nitrifying bacteria. Potassium chlorate did not affect the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite, but stopped the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate in cultures, as it does in soil. M/25 sodium fluorides stopped the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite.