Microbial decomposition of leaf litter as influenced by fertilizers

Abstract

A urea and NPK-mixture at concentration of 5, 10 and 15 mg g-1 air dry litter stimulated microbial populations, microbial activity and rate of decomposition of the litter. The stimulation was more pronounced as the concentration of the fertilizers was increased. However, this trend was reverse after two months in case of urea except for bacterial population. Fewer fungal species were isolated from the fertilizer-treated litter, together with a certain degree of alteration in the composition of mycoflora. © 1982 Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers.