Investigations into rhizosphere microflora of some plants in Libya

The present investigation deals with the effect of raising Hordeum vulgare and Arachis hypogaea at two different stages on the microbial rhizosphere population. The studies were extended to reveal the microbiological occurrence in different horizons of a soil profile corresponding in length to root regions. Bacteria were most abundant, followed by actinomycetes while fungi were less abundant and more restricted in their distribution. The three groups of microorganisms varied markedly in the rhizosphere of the two plants under investigation. The plant age had a great influence on the frequency of occurrence of the different microorganisms. One strain of bacteria, six fungi and the members of the grey series of Streptomyces were dominant. Actinomycetes and fungi diminished with the depth of soil, while the bacterial counts increased.