Survival of Proteus and Providentia Strains in Soil

Abstract

The survival of four strains of different Proteus species and one of Providentia was determined in two different types of sterile soil. The strains were found to belong to the short-lived enterobacteria in soil with a decimal reduction time of 6 d at 18–20°C and of 3.5 d at 4°C and 37°C, respectively. They are not able to multiply in soil. Enrichment of the soil with (NH₄)₂PO₄ had no significant effect on the survival time, whereas casamino acid led to a lag period of 10–30 days before the total count decreased at the same rate as in non-enriched soils.