INFLUENCE OF SUPERPHOSPHATE ON SOIL PROTOZOA

Abstract

The  protozoa, especially  the  species  of  Colpidium  and  Colpoda  developed  m  large  numbers  in  the  soils  fertilized with different  doses  of  syperpbsphate  (40,  80,  160,  and  320  kg  P20,  per  hectare).  The  numbers  of  protozoa  were  highest  in  the  soil  (195,000  per  gram  of  soil)  which received  320  kg  superphosphate per hectare  and  yielded  the  maximum  quantities  of  ragi  grain  and  straw.  The  bacteria,  actinomycetes  and  fungi  were  not  affected  by  higher doses  of superphospahte