Einfluß von Witterung und Kulturpflanzenbestand auf bodenbiologische Leistungen

Abstract

Summary In a comparison of the orders of precedence, with 16 pedological test parameters (climate, root mass, humus condition, enzyme activity, soil respiration, micropopulation, stock of animals, and others), eight cultivated plants (sugar beet, potato, maize, oats, barley, wheat, rape-seed, and broad bean) grown on a loess habitat in their second year are assessed. It appeared that the cereals have a mid-position within the order and that the broad bean with its high soil biological activity has made more use of the store of humus in the soil than potato and sugar beet. A comparison of these annual cultures with annual and perennial forage plants grown on a sandy soil habitat revealed that here, too, the annual leguminosae showed the lowest level of root mass formation, but they rank among the first as regards the promotion of soil biological activities during their most active phase of growth. With respect to the preservation of the store of humus in the soil the present assessment of the annual leguminosae in pure seed may perhaps require a correction to be made.