Association between Azotobacter and other soil bacteria and its effect on nitrogen fixation

The association between A. vinelandii and either Agrobacterium sp. or Micrococcus sp., which are usually found as contaminants in Azotobacter cultures, was investigated. In comparison with pure cultures, association increased the microbiol counts in addition to increasing nitrogen fixation rates and efficiency. In liquid cultures higher Azotobacter densities were observed in the top 5 cm of the column concomitant with lowering the economic coefficient of utilization of carbonaceous compounds, which resulted in low efficiency of nitrogen fixation. In deep layers, lower amounts of nitrogen gain were obtained, but higher efficiencies of N2-fixation were recorded. In sand cultures, the biggest amounts of fixed nitrogen were in the 5--15 cm layer of the soil column and in deeper layers economic utilization of sugars occurred, but nitrogen gain sharply decreased.