Dynamics of the structural state and enzymatic activity of ordinary carbonate chernozem when using biologically active preparations

Abstract

The purpose is to study the influence of individual and joint application of humic preparation Lignohumate and microbiological fertilizer Baikal-EM on the structural state and enzymatic activity of ordinary chernozem. Materials and methods. Soil samples were investigated by the method of dry sieving to calculate the structural coefficient, by the method of wet sieving to determine the number of water-stable aggregates; the analysis of the dynamics of soil humus was carried out; the dynamics of catalase and invertase activity has been studied. Results. The dynamics of humus during the study period has a similar picture in all variants, however, the end of the growing season in 2011 demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the amount of humus by 0.25 % when a humic preparation and a concentrate of microorganisms are simultaneously applied into soil, in the same variant in the same period, an increase in catalase activity was noted up to 29 ml О₂/(g · min) compared to 20 ml О₂/(g · min) in the control. The application of microorganisms also revealed a correlation between humus and invertase activity: option 4 showed an increase in this indicator to a statistically significant 18 mg glucose/(g · 24 h) in the absence of a significant difference in dynamics in other options. The structural characteristics of soil showed the greatest response to treatment with Lignohumate and Baikal-EM, their application led to the increase in the structure coefficient up to 2.75 compared to 1.6–1.7 in the control variant and with the application of Lignohumate on the leaf. The content of water-stable aggregates in the control variant and with foliar treatment throughout the entire experiment was in the range of 70–75 %, while soil treatment with preparations led to the increase in water resistance of the structure to 90 %. Conclusions. Chernozem turned out to have response to the Lignohumate, application especially in combination with Baikal-EM, directly into soil, which is associated with the stimulation of its own soil microflora by the applied concentrate of microorganisms.