Fluctuations in microbial biomass indices at different sampling times in soils from tussock grasslands

Microbial biomass in four topsoils from New Zealand tussock grasslands was estimated by three biochemical procedures at five sampling times over a 15 month period. In Conroy, Cluden and Tima soils, biomass C content was high in two sets of March (summer-autumn) samples and low in October (early spring) samples; in Carrick soil from a wetter, cooler environment, it was similar at all sampling times. Significant time-of-sampling variations occurred with Min-N flush in Tima and Carrick soils, and with adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) content in three of the soils. Generally, the ratios of these biomass indices also varied significantly at some sampling times. Because of this variability, common factors could not validly be used with these soils for estimating biomass C contents from Min-flush or ATP values.The contribution of bacteria and fungi to the respiratory activity of the microbial biomass was unsuccessfully investigated using streptomycin and actidione as differential inhibitors of anabolic metabolism in the presence of added glucose. In three of the soils, rates of O₂ uptake did not generally increase significantly during incubation, even with added N, P, K and S or prior incubation overnight. In Conroy soil, rates did increase significantly, but the effects of the antibiotics separately and together could not be satisfactorily balanced.