A rapid plate method is described for the differentiation of nitrate reducer in lieu of the conventional liquid culture method. The method includes an ordinary plate culture with bouillon-agar, subsequent treatment with overlaying agar containing nitrate and Griss-Romin reagent on the plate culture, and counting of red colonies developed. With a considerable seving of time, trouble, and culture media, easy estimation of the population ratio of nitrate reducer in the natural environment was attained by this method. By modifying the pH value of the original Griss Romin reagent from 2.2 to 4.0, more viable cells were able to be picked up with less reagent injury from the plate after the differentiation test.