Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T05:42:46.687Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Biochemistry of water-logged soils: Part II. The presence of a deaminase in water-logged soils and its rôle in the production of ammonia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

V. Subrahmanyan
V. Subrahmanyan
Affiliation:
(Rottomsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts.)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

(1) The ammonia formed in water-logged soils was present mostly in the soil sediment. The surface water contained only a very small portion of the total amount produced.

(2) Added ammonia was in a similar manner retained mostly in the soil itself. It could not be leached out by extraction with water nor volatilised with increase of temperature. There is evidence to show that the ammonia exists in the soil as an exchangeable base.

(3) On allowing the soils to dry out the ammonia disappeared rapidly and corresponding amounts of nitrates were formed. Very little ammonia was lost by volatilisation.

(4) The production of ammonia took place even in presence of volatile antiseptics. The reaction was shown to be brought about by a deaminase.

(5) Studies with a number of proteins and ammo acids showed that only very simple amino compounds (glycine aspartic acid and asparagine) were deaminised. Witte's peptone, which contains amino acids, was also attacked.

(6) An active preparation of enzyme was extracted from the soil with an aqueous solution of glycerin saturated with toluene.

(7) Significant deaminising action was shown by the enzymes from cultures of the mixed microflora of the soils.

(8) By acting on amino bodies that are otherwise resistant to biological action the deaminase probably helps to release readily available plant food. Its action should be of great importance in tropical swamp soils.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , October 1927 , pp. 449 - 467
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1927

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

(1)Bengtsson, N (1924). Soil Sci. 18, 255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(2)Bostock, G. D. (1912). Biochem. Journ. 6, 48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(3)Deniges, G (1909). Bull. Soc. Chim. 5, 647.Google Scholar
(4)Euler, H (1912). General Chemistry of the Enzymes, p 231.Google Scholar
(5)Godlewski, , cited from Lafer (1906). Tech. Mykologie, 3, 165.Google Scholar
(6)Harper, H. J. (1924). Soil Sci. 18, 409.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(7)Harrison, W. H. and Iyer, P. A. (1913). Mem. Ind. Agr. Dept., Chem. Ser. 3, 65.Google Scholar
(8)Hutchinson, H B. and Miller, N. H. J. (1911–1912). Journ. Agr. Sci. 4, 282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(9)Kuhne, , Chittenden, (1884). Zeit.für Biol. 20, 11.Google Scholar
(10)Levene, P. A. and Van Slyke, D. D.Biochem. Zeitschr. 13, 440.Google Scholar
(11)Marchal, E (1893). Bull. Acad. Boy. Belg. (3), 25, 727.Google Scholar
(12)McLean, W and Robinson, G W. (1924). Journ. Agr. Sci. 14, 548.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(13)Nencki, M (1904). Gesammelle Arbeiten, 1.Google Scholar
(14)Osborne, T. B. and Campbell, G. F. (1898). Journ. Amer. Chem. Scc. 20, 362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(15)Osborne, T. B. and Voorhees, C. G. (1893). Amer. Chem. Journ. 15, 392.Google Scholar
(16)Russell, E. J. (1908–1910). Journ. Agr. Sci. 3, 233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(17)Russell, E. J. and Hutchinson, H. B.Journ. Agr. Sci. p. 111.Google Scholar
(18)Russell, E. J. and Page, H. J. (1926). Chemists' Year Book, p 806.Google Scholar
(19)Shibata, (1904). Hofm. Beitr. 5, 384.Google Scholar
(20)Thornton, H. G. (1922). Ann. App. Biol. 9, 241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(21)Tocher, (1906). Pharm. Journ. 4, 23, 87.Google Scholar
(22)Waksman, S. A. (1918). Journ. Bact. 3, 509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar