Dynamics of microbial activity of the highly present soil types of Montenegro

Abstract

Some physiological microorganism groups and their activity per soil types frequently encountered in the continental part of Monte Negro were studied in terms of their number and distribution. 57 profiles of differing soil types were opened – brown district (acid), brown eutric, alluvial-deluvial, alluvial and lime-dolomite humus.

Distribution of the microbial activity per profiles of the soils was monitored by analysing quantitative and qualitative content of the microorganisms and proteinase activity.

In all the soil types, the number of the microorganisms (the total number, ammonifiers, actinomycetes, oligonitrophiles, fungi) increased by the soil depth all to the lowly-lying horizons (60 cm and lower), when their number abruptly decreased. Except for lime-dolomite humus, proteinase activity increased as the soil depth increased to visibly decrease in the deeper horizons. Positively correlated microorganism number and proteinase activity existed only in the alluvial-deluvial and in the alluvial soil to some extent. No correlation was revealed between the profile altitude of each of the soil groups and proteinase activity.