The influence of cattle slurry on soil microbial population and nitrogen cycle microorganisms

https://doi.org/10.1016/0269-7483(88)90037-7Get rights and content

Abstract

Variations in microbial population and nitrogen cycle microorganisms have been studied over one crop cycle in an acid Ranker over granite, under grass fertilized with cattle slurry and in the unfertilized soil. Cattle-slurry treatment brought about a great rise in total microbial population but affected different groups differently, though without changing the order of their population sizes. Bacteria were favoured, while the numbers of actinomycetes, fungi and algae were reduced, the latter especially. Slurry treatment increased the capacity for degradation and mineralization of nitrogen compounds by increasing the populations of proteolytics, ammonifiers and nitrifiers, though the latter group survived only briefly, their numbersfalling sharply again after a short time. The populations of denitrifiers and anaerobic free-nitrogen fixers also increased when slurry was applied, though much less strikingly than the groups mentioned above, whereas aerobic free-nitrogen fixers were depressed. Proteolytics, ammonifiers and denitrifiers were affected more by the first application of slurry than by the second, whereas the reverse was true of nitrifiers and anaerobic free-nitrogen fixers. All the groups studied except the algae tended to return to their initial population levels after some time.

References (27)

  • T.D. Brock

    Biología de los microorganismos

    (1973)
  • T. Carballas et al.

    Evolución de las propiedades del suelo por aporte de purin de vacuno

  • Cited by (20)

    • Long-term effects of integrated soil fertility management practices on soil chemical properties in the Sahel

      2020, Geoderma
      Citation Excerpt :

      The application of supplemental organic manure inputs buffered the decline in soil pH due to N fertilizers (Table 2), thus alleviating the reduction in microbial activity due to acidification (Marschner and Noble, 2000; Naramabuye and Haynes, 2007). Manure has also been shown to increase the microbial biomass and change the microbial community structure compared to chemical fertilization (Peacock et al., 2001; Acea and Carballas, 1988). Additionally, the application of manure may also have enhanced the retention of microbial byproducts (Jiao et al., 2006; Whalen and Chang, 2002), thus leading to the accumulation of microbial byproducts for the treatments with high manure inputs.

    • Spatial shifts in microbial population structure within poultry litter associated with physicochemical properties

      2007, Poultry Science
      Citation Excerpt :

      Their microbial diversity varies from one type of litter to the next, which makes their study interesting. Thus, many investigators have increased their efforts in trying to understand the biotic properties of these poultry and other animal wastes (Lovett et al., 1971; Finstein and Morris, 1975; Corominas et al., 1987; De Bertoldi et al., 1987; Acea and Carballas, 1988a,b; Nodar et al., 1990; Martin et al., 1998; Lu et al., 2003b; Thaxton et al., 2003; Fries et al., 2005). Poultry litter is a valuable fertilizer source for crop production.

    • Soil microbial community responses to dairy manure or ammonium nitrate applications

      2001, Soil Biology and Biochemistry
      Citation Excerpt :

      Indeed, the use of organic nutrient sources depends on microbial activities for the mineralization of plant available nutrients. Soil management methods that increase carbon inputs to the soil, such as no-tillage (Doran, 1980), use of cover crops (Kirchner et al., 1993; Mullen et al., 1998), and manuring (Acea and Carballas, 1988; Dormaar et al., 1988; Ritz et al., 1997; Witter et al., 1993), are often observed to enhance microbial biomass, populations and activities. While animal manures are typically applied to supply crop N, P and K needs, the impact on the soil, and consequently, crop growth and microbial activities, goes beyond the application of those nutrients.

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    This work was supported by Comiisión Asesora de Investigación Cientíca Técnica Grant 260 10-06 from the Spanish Ministerio de Educatíon y Ciencia.

    View full text