The effect of aggregate disruption on the activity of microorganisms in the soil

Abstract

Laboratory tillage of soils causes an increase in the oxygen uptake of soil microorganisms. The effect is closely related to the extent of aggregate disruption caused by the tillage treatment and is attributed largely to exposure of organic matter that was previously inaccessible. In some soils drying and rewetting after tillage causes a further increase in microbial activity, but this is not accounted for by disaggregation. As drying and rewetting commonly follow tillage in the field the resultant higher microbial activity could contribute to the faster mineralization of organic matter in arable land.