Journal article
Microbial biomass and activity in composts of different composition and age
Publication Details
Authors: | Gattinger, A.; Bausenwein, U.; Bruns, C. |
Publication year: | 2004 |
Journal: | Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science |
Pages range : | 556-561 |
Journal acronym: | J Plant Nutr Soil Sc |
Volume number: | 167 |
ISSN: | 1436-8730 |
Abstract
The aim of this study was to perform a comparison of microbial activity and biomass in biowaste (BWC), yard waste (YWC), and cattle-manure composts (CMC) of different age. Two different methods for either biomass (microbial C following fumigation-extraction and microbial lipid phosphate) or activity measurements (CO2-production rate and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) provided comparable information, as judged from their strong correlation. Microbial biomass and activity declined with time in all composts. Microbial biomass C was strongly correlated with microbial activity but was even stronger correlated with pH. CIVIC proved to be very distinct from the two other compost types by having the highest biomass and the lowest specific activity (i.e., activity per unit biomass). The microbiological properties analyzed allow us to discriminate among different compost types, helping to assign their potential applications.
The aim of this study was to perform a comparison of microbial activity and biomass in biowaste (BWC), yard waste (YWC), and cattle-manure composts (CMC) of different age. Two different methods for either biomass (microbial C following fumigation-extraction and microbial lipid phosphate) or activity measurements (CO2-production rate and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) provided comparable information, as judged from their strong correlation. Microbial biomass and activity declined with time in all composts. Microbial biomass C was strongly correlated with microbial activity but was even stronger correlated with pH. CIVIC proved to be very distinct from the two other compost types by having the highest biomass and the lowest specific activity (i.e., activity per unit biomass). The microbiological properties analyzed allow us to discriminate among different compost types, helping to assign their potential applications.
