Influence of microbial inoculants on soil response to properties with and without straw under different temperature regimes

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate efficacy of locally produced microbial inoculants with different concentrations on microbial respiration from soils with and without addition of wheat straw incubated at 20 and 25 degrees C temperatures for 73 days. The results indicated that the soil microbial community structure and activities were obviously influenced by microbial inoculants. In general, whereas all inoculants levels were successfully established to different extents on the straw, none significantly improved decomposition in either soils or straw amended treatments. Additions of microbial inoculants expedite the decomposition and CO2 evolution process. CO2-C emission was regularly determined and results revealed microbial inoculants had little (10%) while straw addition significantly increased decomposition rates and cumulative CO2-C by 39% in straw amended than controls. Straw addition into soil had significant relationships (p < 0.05) with cumulative amounts of C; soil organic C, microbial biomass nitrogen. There was highly significant relationship between CO2-C emission and incubation period (R-2 = 0.94). In conclusion, microbial inoculants and straw incorporation will enhance CO2-C evolution, soil carbon and microbial biomass, thus improving soil quality.