Scholarly record
INTERCROPS AS A SOURCE OF SUGARS STIMULATING SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES
Abstract
A significant component of soil organic matter (SOM) is constituted by disintegrating plant residues containing particularly cellulose and lignin which are resistant to microbial decomposition. Yet, the degradation of lignin may begin already in the early stages of organic matter decomposition if there is a sufficient amount of available saccharides in the soil as these serve as a quick source of energy allowing the microorganisms to produce enzymes for lignin decomposition. The aim of this study was to verify whether the content of simple sugars in the biomass of intercrops can promote microbial processes related to lignin degradation in the soil. Results show that the post-harvest residues markedly differ in their degradability with an important factor being the ratio of sugars and lignin in the plant material. Species identified by the evaluation of the degradability of intercrop biomass as the best degradable were oil radish and watercress. Fast energy is provided to microorganisms by sugar beet heads without leaves. In contrast to that, plant materials with a higher content of lignin such as straw or organic fertilizers such as cow manure contribute to the long-term stabilization of soil organic matter. The highest content of ADL was detected in cow manure (15.03 % DM) and horse manure (13.05 % DM). In contrast to that, the biomass of selected intercrops and post-harvest residues exhibited an ADL concentration that was lower by 10 - 50 % (P less than 0.05). In the case of sugar content, the situation was opposite with the lowest content of sugars found in chicken (0.04 % DM) and cow (0.78 % DM) manure, and the highest content of sugars observed in the intercrops of oil radish (13.92 % DM) and watercress (11.66 % DM) and in the biomass of sugar beet heads without leaves (66.30 % DM). From the viewpoint of soil fertility it is therefore useful to combine these materials purposefully so that both the short-term needs of microbial activity are met as well as the long-term requirements for the maintenance and development of soil organic matter.
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