Microbial Colonization of Soils Sterilized by Autoclaving and Irradiation

The goals of this study are to compare the microbial colonization patterns of two source populations in soils sterilized by autoclave or gamma irradiation. The best sterilization method for soils is a topic of much debate, due to the fact that all methods alter the soil being sterilized in some way. This study aims to examine whether the method of sterilization significantly impacts the microbes that are able to colonize a soil post-sterilization.