Microbial Biomass in Relation to Soil Properties under Integrated Farming Systems of Meghalaya, India

Abstract

The effects of different integrated farming systems on microbial biomass was studied 20 years after their adoption at Meghalaya, India. The soil fertility was relatively greater in agricultural and agri‐horti‐silvi‐pastoral systems as a result of accumulation of leaf litter/crop residues and addition of inorganic and organic manures. Microbial biomass carbon was greatest in agricultural (378 mg kg−1) followed by the agri‐horti‐silvi‐pastoral systems (291 mg kg−1). The most microbial biomass nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) (32.4 and 17.07 mg kg−1, respectively) were recorded in agricultural followed by agri‐horti‐silvi‐pastoral systems. Microbial biomass carbon (C) had a significant relationship with organic C, microbial biomass N, and biomass P, indicating that the living part of soil organic matter is involved in the transformation of nutrients into the labile pool and governs their availability to the plants. Application of inorganic fertilizers and organics along with lime has contributed more microbial biomass that led to more biological activity attributed in nutrient transformations and also maintained the soil fertility.