Soil microorganisms are less susceptible than crop plants to potassium deficiency |
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Authors: | Hitoshi Moro Tatsuji Saito Naoki Yaguchi Tsuyoshi Sato |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan;2. Nagano Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Experiment Station, Shiojiri, Japan |
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Abstract: | To evaluate the relationship between the potassium (K) status in the microbial community and the exchangeable K concentration in soils, the effects of K addition on microbial activity were assessed in cultivated Andisols not having received K fertilizer. Potassium limitation was not observed in the microbial community, even in a soil amended with only nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) but not K since 1938, though crop plants in this soil showed severe K deficiency symptoms. Furthermore, in a soil amended with NP + compost, microbial activity was limited by K only after limitation of carbon (C) and N. These results suggest that soil microorganisms demand more C and N than K, even in soils with low K availability, and also that the soil microbial community is less susceptible to K deficiency than are crop plants. |
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Keywords: | potassium dehydrogenase activity microbial potassium deficiency |
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