[Microbiological investigations into soil in a fertilizer trial with spruce in the fume-damaged zone of the Erzgebirge (author's transl)]. / Bodenmikrobiologische Untersuchungen an einem Fichtendüngungsversuch im Rauchschadgebiet des Erzgebirges.

In the heavily fume-damaged spruce stands on crest sites in the eastern parts of Erzgebirge the composition of microbe population and organic matter conversion in the A0 horizon can be positively changed with a lasting effect by fertilization using CaNP. Ammonification, nitrification, urea transformation, and decomposition of cellulose are enhanced by the increased occurrence of bacteria and actinomycetes. As a result of fertilization acidity was reduced from pH (KCl) 3.0 to 3.6 as a maximum. The influence of the nutrient status is clearly manifest in the humus form (raw humus in the case of quartz porphyry, mull-resembling moder in the case of basalt), but scarcely in the chemical and microbiological properties of the Of subhorizon. No pronounced effect of the SO2 fallout on the microbiological conditions in the A0 horizon was observed. The increased soil fertility after application of Ca and P can lead to an increased and a more stable yield of wood only under certain conditions.

[Microbiological and chemical investigations into amelioration of spruce raw humus on phosphorus-deficient sites in the Mittelgebirge (author's transl)]. / Mikrobiologische und chemische Untersuchungen zur Melioration von Fichtenrohhumus auf phosphorarmen Mittelgebirgsstandorten.

In spruce stands on quartz-porphyry sites raw humus is formed on strongly acid, calcium and phosphorus-deficient soils which were treated with lime, phosphate, and ammonium nitrate individually and in combined form. The most favourable microbiological and chemical effect was attained by CaNP fertilization, which is suitable for raising the yield of spruce stands with simultaneous amelioration of raw humus. The long-term effect of the phosphate is bound to simultaneous liming which ensures the persistence of phosphorus in the A0 horizon. The nitrification-based nitrate content of the soil is increased in the variants CaNP, CaNP and, to a somewhat lesser extent, also in NP. Simple treatment with N hardly raises the bacteria content, the combinations CaN, NP, and particularly CaNP, on the other hand, gave a favourable effect. Germination number and number of species of actinomycetes are also furthered most effectively by CaNP. The percentage of fungi in the total number of germs is reduced by fertilization without negatively influencing the species spectrum. Liming has a negative effect on the absolute germination number of the fungi, treatment with N gives a positive effect. The metabolism conditioned by microbes in the raw humus is not activated by N, moderately by NP, and strongly by CaNP.

[Ascertaining the effect of KMg fertilization on the organic matter cycle in pine stands with special reference to the cellulose test (author's transl)]. / Nachweis der Wirkung einer KMg-Düngung auf den Stoffkreislauf von Kiefernbeständen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Zellulosetests.

The biological nutrient cycle was activated by applying KMg in relatively young and older pine stands growing in the plain of the GDR on former agricultural sandy soils with substrats from the Younger Pleistocene. Application of KMg stimulated tree growth and had a persistent effect on the microbiological processes of organic matter conversion in the AO horizon and in the humous mineral soil. The cellulose test proved to be suitable for assessing the formation and conversion processes of soil organic matter caused by fertilization as to their effect on soil fertility.