Abstract
A study was done to evaluate the influence of soil moisture and rainfall on root and microbial biomass production under the canopy of the desert shrub Zygophyllum dumosum. During the study period the root biomass production increased following the early rains but subsequently declined, remaining fairly constant thoroughout the season. In contrast microbial biomass and soil organic matter increased during the rainy season and declined with the onset of the dry summer period. Based on our results we suggest that the moisture event and not the amount and the organic matter content regulate root and microbial biomass production at the 0 to 10 cm soil layer.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 498-500 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Oecologia |
Volume | 80 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1989 |
Keywords
- Desert
- Microbial biomass
- Root biomass
- Soil
- Zygophyllum dumosum