Observations on the effect of „Fertosan“- and „QR“- preparations upon the humification of straw

Authors

• Armi Kaila University of Helsinki, Department of Agricultural Chemistry
• Anha-Meri Pohjanpää University of Helsinki, Department of Agricultural Chemistry

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.71319

Abstract

The effect of the bacterial preparation »Fertosan» and of the possibly biodynamic preparation »OR» upon humification of rye straw was investigated in experimental series both under laboratory conditions and on a larger scale in the field. In all these experiments no evidence indicated that either of these preparations had accelerated the decomposition of rye straw. This could be established under the less favourable conditions in the field composts without mineral fertilizers as well as under the almost ideal conditions in pot experiments where applications of nitrogen and phosphorus were sufficient to satisfy the needs of a large microbial population. Consequently, according to the results of these experiments there seems to be no reason for using such preparations as »Fertosan» and »QR» in humifying rye straw. The decomposition of organic matter seems to depend more on the nitrogen and perhaps even on the phosphorus supply than on an inoculation of some bacteria or on an application of microbial »activators».