Anthropogenic impacts on organic matter transformation and biological activity in the meadow brown heavy loamy soils

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of continuous anthropogenic pressure on soil organic matter in three long-term, experimental, rotated crop fields established in 1963–1965. The application of the maximum dose (N3P3K3) of a mineral fertilizer partially neutralized the adverse effects of continuous anthropogenic pressure on soils, by providing plants with essential nutrients and increasing the soil biological activity. The organic matter of soils in which wheat, soybeans and oats were grown was 0.62%, 1.49% and 0.55% less, respectively than that of soils in natural ecosystems. The use of N3P3K3 resulted in 1.34 million (oats), 0.60 million (soybean), and 6.18 million (wheat) more ammonifier units than the control. It also increased amylolytic microflora by 19.57 million (oats), 17.86 million (soybean), and 50.61 million (wheat) units compared to control.