Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE
(ISSN 1009-3095, Monthly)
2003   Vol. 4   No. 4   p.480-484

Effect of land use on microbial biomass-C, -N and -P in red soils

CHEN Guo-chao(陈国潮)(Department of Resource Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences,Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China)
HE Zhen-li(何振立)(Department of Resource Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences,Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China)

Abstract:Eleven red soils varying in land use and fertility status were used to examine the effect of land use on microbial biomass -C, -N and -P. Microbial biomass-C in the red soils ranged from about 68 mg C/kg to 225 mg C/kg, which is generally lower than that reported from other types of soil, probably because of low organic matter and high acidity in the red soils. Land use had considerable effects on the amounts of soil Cmic. The Cmic was the lowest in eroded fallow land, followed by woodland, tea garden, citrus grove and fallow grassland, and the highest in vegetable and paddy fields. There was significant correlation between Cmic and organic matter content, suggesting that the influence of land use on Cmic is mainly related to the input and accumulation of organic matter. Microbial biomass-N in the soils ranged from 12.1 Nmg/kg to 31.7 Nmg/kg and was also affected by land use. The change of Nmic with land use was similar to that of Cmic. The microbial C/N ratio ranged from 5.2 to 9.9 and averaged 7.6. The Nmic was significantly correlated with soil total N and available N. Microbial biomass-P in the soils ranged from 4.5 mg P/kg to 52.3 mg P/kg. The microbial C/P ratio was in the range of 4-23. The Pmic was relatively less affected by land use due to differences in fertilization practices for various land use systems.
Keywords:Land use, Microbial biomass-C, -N and -P, Red soils

CLC Number:S154.36 Document ID:A

Foundation Item:Project(No.40025104) supported by National Outstanding Youth Foundation of China
Author Resume:CHEN Guo-chao(陈国潮),E-mail: gchchen@zju.edu.cn

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Manuscript Received:2002 Nov. 5

Manuscript Revised:2003 Jan. 6

Published:2003 Aug. 30