Effect of microbial organic fertilizer application on soil microbial activity

Microbial organic fertilizer (which is a typical functional fertilizer) was used in a corn pot culture under greenhouse condition to determine the effect of microbial organic fertilizer on soil microbial ecology via plate count and BIOLOG ECO methods. The study shows significantly enhancement in the number of soil microbes under microbial organic fertilizer compared with chemical fertilizer. AWCD values and carbon source utilization analyses show that microbial organic fertilizer noticeably increases carbon source utility by microbes, especially utility of carboxylic, amino acids, and miscellaneous carbon sources. More carbon source is used under microbial organic fertilizer application than under other treatments. Microbial organic fertilizer increases carbon source utilization, improves soil microbial nutrient level, and also increases soil microbial community activity and diversity.