Microbial biomass C and N in limed soil of norway spruce stands

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry 1994, Vol.26 (4), p.503-509
• Main Authors: Smolander, A., Mälkönen, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Picea abies; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
• ISSN: 0038-0717; 1879-3428
• DOI: 10.1016/0038-0717(94)90183-X

The aim was to study long-term effects of liming on soil chemical properties and microbial biomass C and N. The study sites were twelve, 40–80 yr old Norway spruce ( Picea abies L.) stands growing on mineral soil sites of varying fertility. Finely-ground limestone had been spread about 30 yr ago at a dose of 21 ha −1 and reliming was carried out about 20 yr later at a dose of 41 ha −1. In both the upper and lower half of the humus layer, liming increased soil microbial biomass C, determined by the fumigation-extraction method. Microbial biomass C in the eluvial and illuvial layers was determined in four stands only. The difference between the extractable C values of fumigated and unfumigated soils, i.e. the extractable microbial biomass C, was low in these mineral soil layers, and the validity of the results is discussed. Microbial biomass N was determined for the humus layer of seven stands. Liming increased microbial biomass N and its proportion of total N in both the upper and lower half of the humus layer, but the differences were not statistically significant. Liming did not change the microbial C:N ratio. Liming raised pH, and increased total and extractable Ca and Mg concentrations, and total B concentration in the humus layer.