I'm taking samples from peat soil and mineral soil. I know for analysis of chemical elements in soil, the soil needs to be dried to constant weight. But do I need to dry the soil as well when I use it to determine soil Bacillus spp population via dilution method? I'm using 10g fresh soil in 90ml sterile distilled water, shake at 200rpm for 4 hrs before conducting heat shock treatment for 20 minute, followed by dilution and pour plate procedure using HiChrome Bacillus agar. Will the drying cause inaccuracy to the bacillus count? Is the method above correct? Please advice.
The method is correct however is not need to dry the soil for the bacillus detremination you can use 1 gram in 10 ml of sterile wáter shake it and take 10 micrograms to put in the Petri dish.
best wishes
You don´t need to dry the soil, because with this yhe microorganism are died. You only need to take the soil sample, for instance 1 gram (is not exactly necesary) and use 10 mL of sterile water or peptoned water or buffer. Put in the shaker by seconds and after take 100 microliters in Petry dish. The more important is use the selective medium for example Hichrome Bacillus agar.
Dont dry the soil in the oven or more than 70 Degree C. only thing is that you can air dry the soil and can keep at room temperature for few days to analyze. You can add 1 g soil in 10 ml sterile distilled water or 10 g in 90 ml DW what ever you like the same things that is 10-1 dilution factor you can make more dilutions based on Bacillus count. use specific medium.
It is not Field I work at pomology , its nutrition , and the use of biostimulants instead of mineral fertilization
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