MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON AN ORCHARD SOIL UNDER THREE CULTURAL PRACTICES

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Abstract
Respiration studies using aeration and manometric techniques have shown that maximum respiratory activity occurred in mulched soil, followed in descending order by sod and 'clean cultivation: buckwheat cover-crop' methods of soil management. Less effect was noted in cellulose decomposition studies, though the fact that the decomposition of added cellulose began with the shortest lag period in the mulched soil suggests that this treatment maintained cellulose decomposing organisms at the highest level. Enumeration of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes at monthly intervals over a period of 15 months revealed only minor differences due to the mulch, sod, or clean cultivation treatments. Distinct seasonal fluctuations in numbers of bacteria and fungi were noted.