[Temporal and spatial fluctuations in the count of soil bacteria considered by a luminescence method]

Spatial and temporal (within a day or a month and daily) variations in the number of bacteria in soddy-podzolic soil were determined by the direct count of cells under the luminescent microscope. No reliable change in the number of bacteria in soil was detected in the course of a day whereas the effect of the spatial factor was statistically significant. Daily increases and decreases in the number of bacteria were registered only in the summer. Seasonal changes in the number of bacterial population were considerable (4--5 times).