Microcalorimetric study of the effects of long-term fertilization on soil microbial activity in a wheat field on the Loess Plateau

The effects of the long-term inorganic (nitrogen, N; phosphate, P) and organic (manure, M; straw, S) fertilizers/managemenet individually and in combinations (N, NP, SNP, M, and MNP) on soil microbial activity were investigated in a wheat field on the Loess Plateau, China. Microcalorimetry was used to determine microbial activity under different treatments. Nearly 30 years of consecutive fertilization has altered the culturable population of soil bacteria and fungi, the highest ones were detected in the treatments of manure and MNP, followed by the NP and SNP treatments. The microbial growth rate constant (μ/h−1) was significantly greater in the MNP treatment than all the other treatments. The total heat exchange values (Q/J) were the highest in the MNP and NP treatments, which were significantly different from the N and M treatments. The peak height (Pt/μW) were significantly higher in MNP and NP treatments than in the remaining treatments. The peak time values (tp/h) among the MNP, NP, SNP and M, N and CK treatments were significantly different. In general, comparing with control, soil microbial activity was much higher in MNP, NP and SNP treatments, all including the phosphate fertilizer. Our results showed that the application of inorganic fertilizer and organic manure have positive effects on multiple soil chemical parameters, soil microorganism abundance and activity, and hence crop yield.