ISSN:
1573-5036
Keywords:
arable soil
;
crop rotation
;
freeze-thaw
;
microbial biomass-C
;
plant growth
;
substrate-induced respiration
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract Sugar beet, winter wheat and winter barley were planted within a crop rotation on an arable soil with conventional soil management. Soil samples were taken monthly from different depths of the whole plough layer (0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) during a 56 month period. The samples were analysed for microbial biomass carbon using the substrate-induced respiration technique. Temporal changes in the amount of microbial biomass carbon were observed. Within a year, microbial biomass-C varied from low values (−15% of total mean) in winter to high values (+15% of total mean) in summer. Relative deviations from the annual means were calculated for each month in the year to demonstrate these fluctuations. Temporal changes in microbial biomass-C depended on the sources of sample variation (5 years, 3 crops, 3 sampling depths). The highest relative deviation from the annual mean microbial biomass-C was attributable to the factor “year”. Less variations were caused by “crops” and “sampling depth”. Soil microbial biomass-C remained constant during frost periods. From the observed temporal changes, recommendations for a suitable date for soil sampling are given, which allows a representative estimation of the mean annual microbial biomass-C content in arable soils.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00010481
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