engleski

The importance of the soil microbial status - A review of research and practical experience in the Pannonian region

Microorganisms are the largest group of soil- borne organisms in terms of both number and mass. As soil is their habitat, any changes in the soil physical state and the addition of any materials – whether raw organic and inorganic materials or chemicals – to the soil ; will affect their activity and real functioning. The crop-oriented tillage practices applied over centuries and the large number of – often ill- timed –, tillage operations have had negative impacts on soil condition and biological activity. In the Pannonian region studies of the impacts of tillage on soil microbiological activity were started in the 1930s. Scientists have identified the main circumstances, in which the various tillage interventions can be beneficial or deleterious to the soil-borne organisms. More recent studies have clarified the microbial background and consequences of tillage-induced compaction (qualifying as environmental damage) and of soil tillage operations of various impacts. Research about the soil microbiological activities enables us for a precise identification and qualification of the impacts of tillage among them the ploughing – as highly popular practice in this region despite its high costs – on the activity of soil-borne organisms, the soil’s respiration and thereby on the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Reasonable controlling of the soil biological activities could be highly important not only from the aspect of its economic implications but also from the environmental protection.

microorganisms ; soil ; tillage ; microbiological activities

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