ISSN:
1432-0789
Keywords:
Key words Microbial biomass
;
Depth profile
;
Fumigation-extraction method
;
Soil organic matter
;
Dormant population
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Geosciences
,
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract We measured microbial biomass C and soil organic C in soils from one grassland and two arable sites at depths of between 0 and 90 cm. The microbial biomass C content decreased from a maximum of 1147 (0–10 cm layer) to 24 μg g–1 soil (70–90 cm layer) at the grassland site, from 178 (acidic site) and 264 μg g–1 soil (neutral site) at 10–20 cm to values of between 13 and 12 μg g–1 soil (70–90 cm layer) at the two arable sites. No significant depth gradient was observed within the plough layer (0–30 cm depth) for biomass C and soil organic C contents. In general, the microbial biomass C to soil organic C ratio decreased with depth from a maximum of between 1.4 and 2.6% to a minimum of between 0.5 and 0.7% at 70–90 cm in the three soils. Over a 24-week incubation period at 25°C, we examined the survival of microbial biomass in our three soils at depths of between 0 and 90 cm without external substrate. At the end of the incubation experiment, the contents of microbial biomass C at 0–30 cm were significantly lower than the initial values. At depths of between 30 and 90 cm, the microbial biomass C content showed no significant decline in any of the four soils and remained constant up to the end of the experiment. On average, 5.8% of soil organic C was mineralized at 0–30 cm in the three soils and 4.8% at 30–90 cm. Generally, the metabolic quotient qCO2 values increased with depth and were especially large at 70–90 cm in depth.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00335816
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