Transformation of 14C-labelled wheat and berseem plant material in different Indian soils under green-house condition

In an incubation study with 14C-tagged wheat and berseem plant materials added to four different soils, laterite, red, black and alluvial, it was observed that the decomposition proceeded at a higher rate in the laterite soil and it was impeded in the black soil. Decomposition was highest during the first ten days and decreased sharply thereafter regardless of soil, plant and moisture differences. Incorporation of plant matter into humus fractions was affected by the soil reaction, plant characteristics and moisture. Red soil and the wheat plant yielded more of fulvic acid while the alluvial, laterite and the black soils and the berseem plant material produced either more of humic acid or humin. In general, humus formation was higher at the 30 percent moisture content. (author)