Microbial biomass and metabolic activity in four acid soils

The fumigation method was used to estimate microbial biomass C in four Haplumbrepts developed over different kinds of rock. In order to investigate the relationship between metabolic activity and microbial biomass and population density, CO2 release from the glucose-enriched and unenriched soils was measured during 28 days of incubation. Biomass C levels lay between 36 and 112 mg 100 g−1 of dry soil, and made up only a small proportion of total soil C (0.77–1.38%). Only a small fraction of this biomass was detected by counting viables, but the microbial population was nevertheless significantly correlated with the biomass determined by fumigation. Among the physico-chemical properties of the soils, microbial biomass and population size were both chiefly affected (favourably) by humidity, total C and N and Al gel content. Metabolic activity was slight, either because part of the micro-organisms are inactive or because of a limited supply of substrate (the organic matter present may be unsuitable as a substrate or protected from microbial attack). Percentage C mineralization was inversely related to organic matter, silt and Al gel contents, and likewise failed to exhibit positive correlation with respiration, the biomass determined by fumigation or the counted population. The metabolic activity of the biomass appeared to depend upon the quality and nature of soil organic matter rather than its quantity, which nevertheless controlled microbial population size. Neither microbial biomass estimates nor viable population counts faithfully reflected metabolic activity in the soils.

We thank Sr J. Caballo for drawing the figures and Sr Nieves and Sra Fernindez for typing the manuscript. This research was supported by Conselleria de Educatión from the Xunta de Galicia.

Peer reviewed