Award details

Soil microbial, organic matter and nutrient interactions

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004168
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Philip Charles Brookes
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	1,367,963
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1999
End date	31/03/2008
Duration	108 months

Abstract

By considering the soil microbial biomass as a single pool, estimates of nutrient fluxes (e.g. N, P and S) can be made by isotopic labelling techniques. The annual P-flux through the biomass is considerably larger than the P offtake from U.K. arable crops or grassland (Kouno et al. Soil Biol. Biochem. 34, 617-622). By encouraging the synthesis of microbial biomass P, it is possible to increase the availability of P to crops in strongly P fixing soils. The biomass acts as a reservoir of protected P, which becomes plant-available during the process of biomass turnover. An understanding of mechanisms adopted by the biomass for survival is crucial if we are to successfully introduce selected or modified micro-organisms to soil. Traces (i.e. µg quantities) of glucose, amino acids or root extracts cause the biomass to respire 2 -5 times more C than was initially supplied. We believe that our results describe a hitherto unknown response of the microbial biomass which equip it for survival in the, generally, substrate poor soil environment.The value of microbial lipids (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters -FAMES) and phospholipid Fatty Acids (PLFAs) as indicators of changes in microbial community structure was studied in soils amended with different substrates and in soils contaminated with heavy metals. Microbial lipid analyses could also detect significant changes in microbial community structure, even in soils contaminated with heavy metals at below current EU permitted limits.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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