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Changes in Aggregate Stability, Nutrient Status, Indigenous Microbial-Populations, and Seedling Emergence, FOllowing Inoculation of Soil with Nostoc-Muscorum

Rogers, Sally L., Burns, Richard G. (1994) Changes in Aggregate Stability, Nutrient Status, Indigenous Microbial-Populations, and Seedling Emergence, FOllowing Inoculation of Soil with Nostoc-Muscorum. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 18 (3). pp. 209-215. ISSN 0178-2762. (doi:10.1007/bf00647668) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:20003)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00647668

Abstract

The potential of the N-2-fixing cyanophyte Nostoc muscorum for improving the aggregate stability of a poorly structured silt loam soil was studied in a greenhouse experiment. Inoculum rates 1.61x10(5) cells g(-1) soil dry weight (low rate) 4.04x10(5) cell g(-1) soil dry weight (high rate), approximately equivalent to a field application of 2 and 5 kg ha(-1) cells dry weight, respectively. N. muscorum numbers had increased 8-fold (low rate) and 10-fold (high rate) by 300 days after inoculation, indicating not only survival but proliferation. Increases in soil polysaccharides, determined as soil carbohydrate C, were 2.96-3.49 times the values in the non-inoculated soils and aggregate stability had incrased by an average of 18% on day 300. Inoculation with N. muscorum also had a pronounced effect on soil chemical and biological properties, with total C increasing by 50-63% and total N increasing by 111-120%. Increases in the soil indigenous microbial population were recorded, with numbers of bacteria 500, fungi 16, and actinomycetes 48 times the non-inoculated values on day 300 in the high-rate soil. The emergence of lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa var. Saladin) in undisturbed inoculated 300-day soils was 56% (low rate) and 52% (high rate) higher than in non-inoculated soils. However, homogenising soils and irrigating (to simulate ploughing and surface crusting) significantly reduced this increase in both treatments, although emergence in inoculated soils was still greater by 45% (low) and 24% (high). It is recommended that inoculated soils be left undisturbed prior to planting. The effects of N. muscorum on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties indicate the possible benefits of cyanobacteria

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/bf00647668
Uncontrolled keywords: AGGREGATE STABILITY; SOIL POLYSACCHARIDE; SOIL FERTILITY; SOIL INOCULATION; SEEDLING EMERGENCE; NOSTOC MUSCORUM; CYANOBACTERIA
Subjects: S Agriculture
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: P. Ogbuji
Date Deposited: 19 Jun 2009 14:21 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2023 11:31 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/20003 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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