Abstract
The physico-chemical properties of the soil were gradually improved; a progressive increase in silt and clay, moisture equivalent, organic matter, total nitrogen, C : N ratio and cation exchange capacity was observed during reclamation. Microbiological analysis showed that bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi had increased progressively as a result of cultivation. The increase in the microbial counts showed a positive relation with the increase in the organic matter content of the soil. This indicates that one of the limiting factors for microbial proliferation is organic matter. It was also found that the aerobic cellulose-decomposers, nitrifiers, Azotobacter and Clostridia had increased gradually with the cultivation of these soils. The increase of Clostridia was more remarkable than that of Azotobacter.