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The influence of entomopathogenic fungal strains -one Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. and seven Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. on some main groups of soil microorganisms was studied after introduction of their conidia into the soil. The soil samples were analyzed for densities of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi by decimal dilutions of soil suspensions grown on selective media.The presence of conidia of fungal strains in the soil after a month from introduction was proved by bait method. Three of the strains of B. bassiana were established to be of the highest persistence, this being expressed by mortality of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) larvae from 70% to 90%, followed by strains 224Re of B. bassiana and 31 of M. anisopliae.The obtained results showed that examined strains of the entomopathogenic fungi manifested different in manner and varying in degrees of impact on density of the main groups of soil microorganisms. Relatively insignificant changes were established under the influence of the strains 224Re B. bassiana and 31 M. anisopliae. The other strains of B. bassiana caused alterations in microbial balance expressed in different manner -stimulation or suppression on density of free-living nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, mineral nitrogen utilizing bacteria, spore-forming bacteria, cellulose degrading microorganisms, actinomycetes, soil fungi. So each strain could be characterized by specific impact on examined groups of soil microorganisms.The strain 412 of B. bassiana showed the most strongly manifested stimulation effect on the heterotrophic microorganisms, on the mineral nitrogen utilizing bacteria, on the free-living nitrogen-fixing microorganisms and the soil fungi -14, 15, 7 and 30 times higher density of the microorganisms compared to the control treatments. The same strain caused high degree of suppression on densities of cellulose degrading microorganisms -0.0064 x 10 6 compared to 0.0305 x 10 6 CFU/g in the control treatment. Densities of the soil spore-forming bacteria were not affected by the examined strains of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae. In the conducted experiments it has been established that the manifested impact on actinomycetes density by strains of the entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana and M. anisopliae was different in manner and varying in degrees, on the contrary to the stimulation influence on density of the soil fungi.

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Article Info Received : 14.03.2016 Accepted : 06.06.2016 Soil erosion is a serious environmental problem and a threat to the sustainable agriculture production. Little information is available on enzyme activities of eroded soils in Bulgaria, especially on their relations to the degree of erosion and soil properties. In this work, slightly, moderately and severely eroded Chromic Luvisols under different land use (pasture, crop field and virgin) were studied. Enzyme activities (invertase, catalase and phosphatase), total nitrogen, total carbon, available phosphorus contents and soil particle distribution were determined and possible relations between them were examined. Data showed that enzyme activities tended to lower with increasing the degree of erosion. This was better pronounced for invertase and phosphatase in pasture and virgin soils. Depending on land use, all enzyme activities decreased in the order pasture > virgin > crop field soils, showing positive impact of soil cover and negative effect of cultivation practices. Soil invertase and phosphatase activities were in close relations with soil carbon content. The activities of catalase and phosphatase correlated positively with soil clay. Invertase only was in positive relation with soil silt and in negative relation with the sand content. Data obtained are intended to contribute to development of biological indicators of eroded soils.