Original Articles
Bourahla Lame, Dellal Abdelkad
Abstract
This study is to assess the spatial and seasonal soil microbial biomass variation in Algerian steppe soils using the fumigation extraction method. The microbial biomass carbon ranged from 78 mg.kg-1 dry soil to 245 mg.kg-1 dry soil with an average of 146 mg.kg-1 dry soil; forming an 1,5% of total soil organic carbon. The soil microbial biomass carbon dynamics depends on the seasonal climatic conditions; the highest values were recorded in spring and autumn, while the lowest values were noted in winter and summer. The summer desiccation has a much greater influence on the reduction of microbial biomass carbon than the winter freeze. The sampling date is a key factor to assess the critical threshold of microbial biomass in these ecosystems.