Studyof the influence of different forest species on the microbial activity insoils

• Published in: Journal of thermal analysis and calorimetry 2006-04, Vol.84 (1), p.7-13
• Main Authors: Nunez-Regueira, Lisardo, Rodriguez-Anon, JA, Proupin-Castineiras, J, Villanueva-Lopez, Maria, Nunez-Fernandez, O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Eucalyptus
• ISSN: 1388-6150; 1572-8943
• DOI: 10.1007/s10973-005-7200-z

Microcalorimetry was usedto study the seasonal evolution over one year of the microbial activity ina humic-eutrophic Cambisol soil as a function of its forest cover. The studywas carried out on three soils with identical origin but covered with differentforest species: pine, eucalyptus, and a typical Atlantic-humid riverside forest.Some other physical, chemical and biologicalproperties and environmental parameters, mainly humidity and environmentaltemperature, were considered to analyze their influence on soil microbialactivity.The study was performed using a microcalorimeter ThermalAnalysis Monitor 2277 in which the experiments were carried out with 1 g soilsamples treated with 1.25 mg glucose g super(-1)soil. From the measured results it follows that pine forest soil is the leastproductive of the three, as it generates an average heat of 2.7 vs. 5.9 J g super(-1) generatedby the eucalyptus forest soil and 3.1 J g super(-1)generated by the riverside forest soil. These results are dependent on theremaining physical, chemical and biological features analysed and becauseof this, pine forest soil, with a pH value 3.3 in spring, shows a small capacityto maintain a stable microbial population which is the lowest of the three(0.079.10 super(8) to 0.46.10 super(8)microorganisms g super(-1) soil) while riversidesoil microbial population is in the range from 7.9.10 super(8)to 17.10 super(8) microorganisms g super(-1)soil.