Sulfate-Reducing Bacterial Populations in Some Lowland Paddy Field Soils of Burkina Faso(West Africa).

Abstract

Sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB)were quantified in 8 lowland paddy soils of Burkina Faso by MPN method using lactate and sulfate as substrates.Bacterial densities ranged from 10² to 10⁶g^-1 dry soil before soil flooding and from 10⁷ to 10⁹g^-1 dry soil on rice repining and heading stage.SRB populations decreased slightly 30 days before flooding, and increased after 2 weeks of flooding in most soils.In soil near rice roots, populations increased gradually with fluctuations from transplanting day to rice flowering and maturity stages, and decreased from rice maturity to harvest with the drainage of water.