ROOT CONTRIBUTION TO TOTAL SOIL METABOLISM IN A TROPICAL FOREST SOIL FROM ORISSA, INDIA

An investigation was carried out to estimate root and microbial contribution to total soil respiration in a mixed deciduous tropical forest on a hillock from Orissa, India. Large, fine and total root biomass showed linear relationships with total soil respiration. Further quantification of the relationship between the two in a regression equation yields a y-intercept value which estimates microbial respiration in the absence of root. Of the soil respiration, 50.5% was calculated due to the underground root component. From the estimation of the relative proportion of fungal and bacterial biomass, fungal and bacterial contributions to total soil respiration were estimated to be 44% and 5.5% respectively. © 1990.