The Relationship Between Soil Heterogeneity and Cellulolytic Activity

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between soil heterogeneity and cellulolytic activity. The investigated substrate was a typical chernozem (black soil). Cellulolytic activity was studied by the application method across a regular grid of 7×15 points (21×45 m). The distance between the measurement points was 3 m. Soil heterogeneity determined by the measurement of soil penetration resistance using a hand penetrometer Eijkelkamp. Measurements of soil penetration resistance were fixed to a depth of 100 cm at intervals of 5 cm. Geostatistical analysis showed a high level of spatial dependence of soil cellulolytic activity. Significant correlations were obtained between the spatial distribution of cellulolytic activity and soil penetration resistance at different depths. The results reflect a significant correlation of soil conditions at different depths.

Keywords

• soil cellulolytic activity
• soil heterogeneity
• soil penetration resistance
• geostatistics