Singh, R.S. (1989) Microbial Biomass acts as a source of plant nutrients in dry tropical forest and savanna. Nature, 338 (6215). pp. 499-500. ISSN 0028-0836

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Abstract

MORE than half of all tropical soils are highly weathered, leached and impoverished, requiring the ecosystem to develop nutrient-conserving mechanisms1,2. Nutrient retention and withdrawal mechanisms are most effective in nutrient-poor systems3,4. Thus, although dry tropical forests and savanna have the potential capacity to grow at high rates5,6, this capacity is strictly limited by climate and nutrients. Our studies on these nutrient-poor ecosystems show that a reciprocal relationship exists between microbial biomass and plant growth rate. This suggests that microbial immobilization may be a main source of nutrients for the plants and may lead to nutrient conservation.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Envieronmental Management Group
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	Dr. Satyendra Kumar Singh
Date Deposited:	05 Jan 2012 06:25
Last Modified:	26 Mar 2014 09:19
URI:	http://cimfr.csircentral.net/id/eprint/583

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