On the algae of some normal English soils

Abstract

An account is given of an investigation of the alga-flora of four English soils by means of dilution cultures of freshly gathered samples of soil from the top, second, fourth, sixth and twelfth inch depths and from the top 6 in. mixed. A counting method is described applicable to the green algae and diatoms, by means of which it is shown that these algae are distributed throughout the top 12 in. of soil, though at the sixth and twelfth inch depths they are considerably less numerous than nearer the surface. At the fourth inch depth the numbers of individuals are not significantly smaller than on the surface and may be even greater.The unmanured plot of Broadbalk wheat field was found to contain the same main species as the adjacent farmyard manure plot but was poorer in numbers of individuate. Thirty-five species are described from each plot; they seem to be divisible into two groups, the true soil forms and casual species. Of the true soil forms some grow equally well on the surface and in the lower layers, whereas others are more numerous on the surface than within the soil. The same main types were also obtained from Barnfield and from a cottage garden, but the blue-green species were less conspicuous in both of these soils.Experimental evidence is given to show that many of the algae of the soil exist in a vegetative condition rather than a resting condition. Biological notes are made on some of the more important or interesting soil species.