Distribution of soil microorganisms in selected farming systems in Laguna, Philippines

Issue Date

12-2009

Abstract

Soil management practices must be aimed at improving and sustaining the quality of the soil physical, chemical, and biological practices. An understanding of the management of soil through the enhancement of the microorganisms in the soil is essential in the development of sustainable land management system. This study evaluated the populations of microflora in three major soils with different farming systems in Laguna, Philippines. Soil samples were collected and soil chemical properties such as pH, organic C, total N, available P, exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg were determined. Populations of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhiza, and nematodes were determined. The study revealed that soil with higher soil available P, exchangeable bases and pH favored the growth of soil microflora. The same parameters are generally affected by farming practices. Microbial population generally decreased with increasing soil depth, that followed the changing amount of organic C at the different layers within the 50 cm soil depth. In contrast to the general microflora, Luisiana clay had higher populations of Glomus, Gigaspora, and Acaulospora than Calumpang clay. The results showed that acidic and less fertile Luisiana clay is more favorable for the growth of the group of VA mycorrhiza. As in the case of VA mycorrhiza, the nematode populations were higher in Luisiana clay than in Calumpang clay.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463x

Volume

34

Issue

3

Page

90-101

Document Type

Article

Frequency

tri-quarterly

Physical Description

tables, map, graphs

Language

English

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