The Effect of Soil Bacteria on Azotobacter Medium

Azotobacter Facts

• Azotobacter has the ability to naturally fix atmospheric nitrogen, something that other bacteria generally cannot do. In order to fix nitrogen in the soil, azotobacter requires carbon for its metabolism, as well as calcium. Most bacteria that fix nitrogen are rhizomes living in a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, which obtain the nutrients necessary to produce nitrogen from the plants they are attached to. It is believed that azotobacter is capable of living without a symbiotic relationship to a plant while still fixing nitrogent due to its extremely high respiration rate, which protects the nitrogen that would be lost in other bacteria.

Fertilizer Alternative

• Rising petroleum prices have brought up the prices of nitrogen fertilizers, which are by and large petroleum-based. Azotobacter may be a viable alternative to fossil fuel-based fertilizers for large-scale farming. Beyond producing nitrogen, azotobacter produces thiomin, riboflavin, nicotin and giberalin. When applied to seed-growing mediums, germination rates are markedly increased. In addition to its nitrogen-fixing capabilities, azotobacter helps control many plant diseases because of the byproducts it produces.

Medium for Growing

• Azotobacter can be grown in a soil that is completely nitrogen-free and still reproduce and fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. The bacteria grows best, however, when it is grown in a medium that contains small amounts of nitrogen and salt compounds. Azotobacter is also affected by other bacteria in the soil, both beneficially and detrimentally.

Effects from Other Bacteria

• Some microorganisms help to increase the population of azotobacter in the soil, thereby enhancing the bacteria's ability to fix nitrogen. Other microorganisms, especially cephallosporium, hamper azotobacter populations, however. The interrelationships between microorganisms in any soil population are incredibly complex and conclusive research on how specific bacteria affects azotobacter populations is scarce. The bacteria is best grown in a relatively sterile environment because it is not dependent on any other organism to fix nitrogen.