Abstract
Changes in microbial C, N, and P were investigated for 1 year in two soils with similar physicochemical properties but supporting different crops under subtropical conditions. One was cropped with palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii L.) and the other with Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.). Both the season and the type of cropping had a significant influence on changes in the soil microbial biomass. In general, soil microbial biomass C, N, and P were highest in summer months and lowest in midwinter. Soil microbial biomass levels and microbial C:N and C:P ratios were higher and N:P ratios lower under palmarosa soil than under mint.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brookes PC, Powlson DS, Jenkinson DS (1982) Measurement of microbial biomass phosphorus in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 14:319–329
Brookes PC, Inubushi K, Wu J, Patra DD (1991) Properties of soil microbial biomass. Jpn J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 62:79–82
Jenkinson DS (1988) The determination of microbial carbon and nitrogen in soil. In: Wilson JR (ed) Advances in nitrogen cycling in agricultural ecosystems. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 368–386
Jenkinson DS, Ladd JN (1981) Microbial biomass in soil measurement and turnover. Soil Biochem 5:415–471
Jenkinson DS, Powlson DS (1976) The effect of biocidal treatments on metabolism in soil. V. A method for measuring soil biomass. Soil Biol Biochem 8:209–213
McGill WB, Cannon KR, Robertson JA, Cook FD (1986) Dynamics of soil microbial biomass and water soluble organic C in Breton L. after 50 years of cropping to two rotations. Can J Soil Sci 66:1–19
Patra DD, Brookes PC, Coleman K, Jenkinson DD (1990) Seasonal changes of soil microbial biomass in an arable and grassland soil which have been under uniform management for many years. Soil Biol Biochem 22:739–742
Ross DJ (1990) Influence of soil mineral-nitrogen content on soil respiratory activity and measurement of microbial carbon and nitrogen by fumigation incubation procedure. Aust J Soil Res 28:311–321
Vance ED, Brookes PC, Jenkinson DS (1987) An extraction method for measuring microbial biomass C. Soil Biol Biochem 19: 703–707
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Patra, D.D., Chand, S. & Anwar, M. Seasonal changes in microbial biomass in soils cropped with palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii L.) and Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.) in subtropical India. Biol Fertil Soils 19, 193–196 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336158
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336158