HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Garcia, F. O. Articles by Rice, C. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Garcia, F. O. Articles by Rice, C. W. Agricola Articles by Garcia, F. O. Articles by Rice, C. W.

Microbial Biomass Dynamics in Tallgrass Prairie

Departamento Agronomia, E.E.A. INTA, C.C. 276, (7620) Balcarce, Argentina

Charles W. Rice^*

Dep. of Agronomy, Kansas State Univ., Throckmorton Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-5501

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

The temporal dynamics and effects of burning, mowing, and N fertilization on microbial biomass (MBM) in tallgrass prairie were studied in a field experiment established in 1986. Microbial C (MC) and microbial N (MN), determined by the fumigation-incubation procedure during the growing seasons of 1989 through 1991, averaged 217 mg C kg^–1 and 32.6 mg N kg^–1, respectively, for the 0- to 30-cm depth. Accumulation of litter and greater production of roots near the surface resulted in stratification of MBM. Seasonally, MBM was higher in early spring, decreased with the initiation of plant growth, and then recovered by late summer or early fall. Decreases of MN between March and July coincided with plant N uptake. The increase of MC and decrease of MN during the 3 yr of the study were related to increased plant production. Burning had a short-term and variable effect on MC. Burning tended to reduce MC during dry years and increase it in normal to wet years. Mowing and raking decreased MC and MN, probably because of reduced root biomass and removal of standing vegetation. Nitrogen addition resulted in higher MN and tended to reduce MC, possibly by modifying the composition of the microbial population. Microbial biomass seems to play a critical role in conserving N in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem.

Received for publication August 6, 1992.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. H. Davis, S. M. Griffith, W. R. Horwath, J. J. Steiner, and D. D. Myrold Fate of Nitrogen-15 in a Perennial Ryegrass Seed Field and Herbaceous Riparian Area Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., April 19, 2006; 70(3): 909 - 919. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Williams, C. W. Rice, and C. E. Owensby Nitrogen Competition in a Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem Exposed to Elevated Carbon Dioxide Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., March 1, 2001; 65(2): 340 - 346. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]