Studies on the microbial decomposition of thatch (I)

Effect of microbial de-thatching agent on soil microflora

Abstract

This experiment was carried out on the effect of microbial activity and decomposition of thatch by microbial de-thatching agent (Biseibutsu-bunkaizai S), and their multiplied activity against soil microflora. Microbial de-thatching agent contains micro-organisms which were saturated into dry material. The microorganisms were similar to natural organisms which decomposed organic matter.
Microbial de-thatching agent was tested on the changes of the number soil microflora of Trichoderma spp., Rhizopus spp., bacteria and actinomycetes in the sterilized soil, unsterilized soil and soil mixed with turf. The dilution plate method was used.
We subsequently studied on the time-course changes of the number of fungi under the sterilized soil as above mentioned that increased without microbial de-thatching agent. The influence on the number microflora was not clearly found by this treatment. But only among fungi, Trichoderma spp, andRhizopus spp. increased. The bacteria showed a rapid increase on number in early period by this agent treatment.
The number of fungi and bacteria of these genera in the unsterilized soil was increased by the treatmeut of microbial de-thatching agent. Moreover, an addition of turf to soil remarkably increased the number of the total micoflora. Among the microflora, Trichoderma spp. and Rhizopus spp. increased in the numder in the latest period, but bacteria was not increased by this treatment.