Ecology of microbial population of soils of North Bihar as affected by soil factors

The determination of the number of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi in 72 soil samples of different sugar cane soils in North Bihar (India) and the calculation of the correlations between these values and the content of organic carbon, total nitrogen, total soluble salts, available P2O5, and water-soluble K2O gave these results: 1. Significant and positive correlations were found between the content of organic carbon in the soil and the number of actinomycetes and fungi. 2. Significant and negative correlations were found between the content of water-soluble salts and the number of microorganisms. 3. There is a significant and positive correlatin between the number of bacteria and fungi and the total nitrogen content and and the available P2O5.