Studies on the anaerobic decomposition of plant materials

THE aerobic decomposition of plant materials has in recent years attracted much attention, on account of its importance in the formation of synthetic manure, in the decomposition of soil organic matter, in the purification of sewage and trade wastes, in the decay of wood etc., but comparatively little is known re- garding the course and rate of decomposition under anaerobic an,d partially aerobic conditions. Tenney and Waksman [1930] have reported some data in this connection and a certain amount of work has been done in regard to the changes in organic matter in marshy and peaty soils, generally associated with such con- ditions. While the agricultural importance of such soils is comparatively limited, in other cases anaerobic and semi-aerobic conditions have played a significant role in increasing crop production and have been objects specially aimed at in the system of cultivation, e.g. in the production of rice under swamp or water- logged conditions as practised in most parts of India and China and to an in- creasing extent in Burma. The biochemistry of the changes in organic matter and other constituents in such soils has been examined by