Abstract
Physicochemical factors, microbial population size and the properties of the bacterial isolates were assessed to find out the nature of soil ecosystem of Mt. Paektu. Samples were obtained from the surface layer of soils on which specific plant community is developed. Average content of moisture, organic matter and avaiable phosphate of the soils were 21.6%, 17.3% and 2.48mg/100g, respectively. These values were similar to those of developing forest soils, but were slightly lower than those of climax ecosystem such as Piagol in Mt. Chiri. The population size of soil bacteria ranged from 2.7 to $202.5{\times}10^5$ CFU/g.dry soil, and the size is somewhat dependent on the content of moisture and oranic matter of the forest soil. A large number of bacteria was able to decompose macromolecules such as starch, elastin and gelatin. While the distribution rate of resistant bacteria to antibiotics was high, that to toxic chemicals was low. This means that the competition between microorgani는 predominate over the interference with artificial behaviour such as spread of pesticides in the surveyed region. Bacterial species composition of each soil was comparatively simple. Pseudomonas, Agrobacterium, Flavobacterium and Xanthomonas which are Gram-negative short rods were widely distributed in the forest soils. The endospore forming Bacillus species were also main constituents of the soil microflroa. any one of the strains was not identified as Azospirillum or Micrococcus which are known to be one of major constituents of the forest soil. for the correct identification of isolates chemotaxonomic studies will be proceeded, and the strains are to be stored in the Type collection Center.
