Can fauna impoverishment affect humus content in cultivated soils?
1989
Kajak, A. (Polska Akademia Nauk, Dziekanow Lesny (Poland). Ins. Ekologii)
The paper attempts to show that the changes in the humus content are usually associated with the changes in the number and biomass of soil fauna. The disturbance in the functioning of the ecosystem, cultivation of the primeval area, clear-cut, swamp drainage, is followed by permanent, or at least temporary, decrease in the content of organic matter and the number of animals in soil. Moreover, the highest rate of humus decrement is associated with the minimum number of soil fauna. The decrease of the amount of organic matter in the ecosystem involves not only a reduction of animal biomass, but also deep changes in the structure of animal communities. Presented data indicate that fauna biomass and humus content are closely interrelated. However, they do not determine how the soil fauna affects the latter. The results of the experiment described prove that, if the decomposition of organic matter takes place under similar habitat conditions, then more humus is formed in the site rich in biomass of soil fauna. From the information obtained it may be concluded that agricultural treatments which pauperize the soil fauna, at the same time cause a decrease in the organic matter content in soil. Hence they adversely affect one of the crucial factors of soil fertility
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