Hatha, A A M; Nishamol, S; Varghese, R; Suchitra, R(Journal of Advances in Developmental Research, June , 2012)
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Abstract:
Present study is focused on the spatiotemporal variation of the microbial population (bacteria,
fungus and actinomycetes) in the grassland soils of tropical montane forest and its relation with
important soil physico-chemical characteristics and nutrients. Different physico-chemical properties
of the soil such as temperature, moisture content, organic carbon, available nitrogen, available
phosphorous and available potassium have been studied. Results of the present study revealed that
both microbial load and soil characteristics showed spatiotemporal variation. Microbial population of
the grassland soils were characterized by high load of bacteria followed by fungus and actinomycetes.
Microbial load was high during pre monsoon season, followed by post monsoon and monsoon. The
microbial load varied with important soil physico-chemical properties and nutrients. Organic carbon
content, available nitrogen and available phosphorous were positively correlated with bacterial load
and the correlation is significant at 0.05 and 0.01 levels respectively. Available nitrogen and available
phosphorous were positively correlated with fungus at 0.05 level significance. Moisture content was
negatively correlated with actinomycetes at 0.01 level of significance. Organic carbon negatively correlated
with actinomycetes load at 0.05 level of significance