Effect of silicon compounds on oligotrophic soil bacteria

Abstract EN

A range of silicon compounds stimulated the population of oligotrophic bacteria when added to soil over the 4 weeks incubation period; with the number increasing with increasing amounts of added silicon compounds.

Total counts of soil oligotrophic bacteria were increased after adding all of the silicon compounds.

There was a marked stimulation in oligotrophic bacteria population at 3% of silicon compounds.

Tile largest effect of silicon compounds on soil oligotrophic bacteria was recorded in the samples where silicon nitride was added.

While in the case of sodium silicate, the observed increase was small and statistically insignificant.