Azotobacter Vinelandii

Kingdom: Eubacteria
Phylum: Proteobacteria
Class: Gamma
Proteobacteria
Order: Pseudomonadales
Family: Pseudomonadaceae
Genus: Azotobacter

Azotobacter Vinelandii is a free-living bacterium that fixes nitrogen into the soil. It is tolerant to high salts and thrives in alkaline soils. It is an organism that is less effective in soils with poor organic matter content, and is one of the heaviest breathing. Azotobacter requires cool areas with temperatures that are lower than 35 degrees Celsius, and large amounts of organic carbon to survive. It also requires calcium for nitrogen fixation, oxygen for its growth, and the presence of organic nitrogen, micro-nutrients and salt to enhance its abilities.
Azotobacter is influenced by other micro-organisms in the soil. An example of an organism that effects the Azotobacter population would be cephallosporium, which restricts its growth. Other organisms can stimulate the bacteria, to increase the nitrogen by it. Also, when Azotobacter is applied to seeds, germination is improved, creating control over plant diseases. Azotobacter is important to preserve because of the fact that it can control plant disease, because it improves germination and plant growth as well as because it can act as a biological control agent, that produces substances which check plant pathogens.
Severe change in temperature, would be an example of the climate change that could effect Azotobacter, because if the temperature were to become higher or warmer than 35 degrees Celsius, then the organism could not grow or possibly die. It would not be good for the Tropical Rain Forest because it would create a decrease in germination and plant growth, which is important for keeping the size of the forest the way it is.

Abby Leake