Biomass of microbial communities in catenas of virgin and arable chernozems and gray forest soils

Abstract

The biomass of microbial communities was studied in catenas of virgin chernozems and dark-gray forest soils within the “Belogor’e” natural reserve and vicinal arable soils developed in the same geomorphological and lithological conditions. Living and active microbial biomass was estimated from the point of the phospholipid content and respiratory responses of cells to glucose amendment respectively. In catena of virgin chernozem of the northern exposure, the biomass of microbial community changed slightly, while in catena of the southern exposure, a decrease of biomass was observed in soil on the lower part of the slope. The opposite trend of accumulation of microbial biomass towards the lower part of the slope was observed in catena of arable chernozems. In virgin gray forest soils, the biomass of microbial community did not differ on the watershed and the lower part, but distinctly decreased in the middle part of the catena. In agro-gray forest soils, the biomass tended to increase towards the lower part of the slope. In both soils plowing has led to a decrease in living and active microbial biomass.