Summary
A urea and NPK-mixture at concentration of 5, 10 and 15 mg g−1 air dry litter stimulated microbial populations, microbial activity and rate of decomposition of the litter. The stimulation was more pronounced as the concentration of the fertilizers was increased. However, this trend was reverse after two months in case of urea except for bacterial population. Fewer fungal species were isolated from the fertilizer-treated litter, together with a certain degree of alteration in the composition of mycoflora.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander M 1977 Introduction to Soil Microbiology. John Wiley and Sons, London.
Burchill R T and Cook R T A 1971 The interactions of urea and micro-organisms in suppressing the development of perithecia ofVenturia inaequalis (Cke) Wint. pp 471–483.In Ecology of Leaf Surface Micro-organisms. Eds. T F Preece and C H Dickinson. Academic Press, London.
Crosse J E, Garrett C M E and Burchill R T 1968 Changes in the microbial population of apple leaves associated with the inhibition of the perfect stage ofVenturia inaequalis after urea treatment. Ann. Appl. Biol. 61, 203–216.
Garrett S D 1976 Influence of nitrogen on cellulolysis rate and saprophytic survival in soil of Some cereal foot-rot fungi. Soil Biol. Biochem. 8, 229–234.
Guillemat J and Montegut J 1960 The effect of mineral fertilizers on some soil fungi. pp 98–106.In The Ecology of Soil Fungi. Eds. D Parkinson and J S Waid. Liverpool Universaty Press.
Hudson H J 1971 The development of the saprophytic fungal flora as leaves senesce and fall. pp 447–455.In Ecology of Leaf Surface Micro-organisms. Eds. T F Preece and C H Dickinson. Academic Press, London.
Jong E de, Schappert H J V and MacDonald K B 1974 Carbon dioxide evolution from virgin and cultivated soil as affected by management practices and climate. Can. J. Soil Sci. 54, 299–307.
Katznelson H and Stevenson I L 1956 Observations on the metabolic activity of the soil microflora. Can. J. Microbiol. 2, 611–622.
Lehmann P F and Hudson H J 1977 The fungal succession on normal and urea-treated pine needles. Trans. Br. mycol. Soc. 68, 221–228.
Leuken H, Hutchinson W L and Paule A 1962 The influence of nitrogen on the decomposition of crop residues in the soil. Can. J. Soil Sci. 42, 276–288.
Lundergardh H 1927 Carbon dioxide evolution of soil and crop growth. Soil Sci. 23, 417–450.
Mitchell C P and Millar C S 1978 Effect of lime and urea on decomposition of senescent Crosican pine needles colonized byLophodermium pinastri. Trans. Br. mycol. Soc. 71, 375–381.
Parkinson D, Gray T R G and Williams S T 1971 Isolation of micro-organisms. pp 36–56.In Methods for studying the Ecology of Soil Micro-organisms. IBP Handbook No. 19. Blackwell Scientific Publication, London.
Ross R G and Burchill R T 1968 Experiments using sterilized apple leaf discs to study the mode of action of urea in suppressing perithecia ofVenturia inaequalis (Cke) Wint. Ann. Appl. Biol. 62, 289–296.
Srivastava A K 1981 Studies on microbial decomposition of leaf litter of a tropical dry deciduous forest. Ph.D. Thesis, Banaras Hindu University, India.
Waksman S A 1922 Microbial analysis of soil as an index of soil fertility. III. Influence of fertilization upon number of micro-organisms in the soil. Soil Sci. 14, 321–346.
Williams S T and Gray T R G 1974 Decomposition of litter on the soil surface. pp 611–632.In Biology of Plant Litter Decomposition. Eds. C H Dickinson and G J F Pugh. vol. 2, Academic Press, London.
Witkamp M 1966 Rates of carbon dioxide evolution from the forest floor. Ecology 47, 492–494.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rai, B., Srivastava, A.K. Microbial decomposition of leaf litter as influenced by fertilizers. Plant Soil 66, 195–204 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02183978
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02183978