Spatial distribution of microbial populations in soils under various farming systems in Batangas Province, Philippines

Issue Date

7-2016

Abstract

Soil quality and farming systems influence the microbial population, distribution and their activity in the soil. Soil physical, chemical and biological properties interact with the management practices in each farming system which play a role in determining the number, type and activity of soil microorganism that influence soil fertility. In the past, the biological property of the soil has not been given attention in assessing the fertility of soil and in fertilizer recommendations. This study evaluated the soil microflora and chemical properties in various farming systems. Five farming systems were selected in Batangas Province, Philippines rice-based farming system (RBFS), corn-based farming system (CBFS), sugarcane-based farming system (SBFS), coconut-based farming system (CoBFS) and mango-based farming system (MBFS). Soil samples were collected from three soil depths: 0-10, 10-20 and 20-50 cm of eight soil types. Soil chemical properties and populations of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, N2 fixers, P solubilizers and mycorrhiza were determined. In Lipa loam under CBFS, CoBFS, and MBFS, significantly higher populations of total culturable bacteria, fungi and mycorrhiza were observed in MBFS. Actinomycetes and P solubilizers were not significantly different. In Guadalupe clay significantly high population of mycorrhiza was likewise observed in the MBFS while P solubilizers were significantly higher in the CBFS. The RBFS had significantly lower microflora. The population distribution pattern of the microflora generally follow the decreasing supply of carbon and nutrients down the soil layer but not in the MBFS, CoBFS and CBFS.

Source or Periodical Title

Asia Life Sciences

ISSN

0117-3375

Volume

25

Issue

1

Page

221-243

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

graphs ; tables; references

Language

English

Subject

Soil fertility--Batangas ; Soil composition--Batangas

En – AGROVOC descriptors

SOIL TYPES; SOIL MICROORGANISMS; FARMING SYSTEMS; SOIL; QUALITY; SOIL CHEMICOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES; SOIL FERTILITY; PHILIPPINES

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