ROLE OF MICROORGANISM AND MICROFAUNA IN PLANT LITTER DECOMPOSITION

Though the fungi play a very significant role in the plant litter decomposition, studies revealed that the bacteria colonize the litters in the initial stages of decomposition. It has been observed that leaf species with low C:N ratio harbored higher number of bacteria than the more resistant species. The results of various workers outlined the development of the bacterial flora after litter fall due to improved moisture conditions but there is no change in th e species composition. The plant litter decomposition by Streptomyces flavovirens has been evidenced by using radioactive CO 2 . The bacterial population development was observed in the L2 layer following penetration by the microflora, after that, the pine n eedles were actively tunneled by the enchytraeids, sciarid larvae and oribatid mites and at the same time, were nibbled on the epigenic earthworms. The role of fungi and soil animals in the process of pine litter decomposition revealed that the late decomp osition phase after the collapse of the fungal community might be controlled by the utilization of refractory components such as lignin material by microbial and animal populations. Since the lignin degrading fungi need another carbon source to degrade lig nin, the microbial activities in the late decomposition phase might be supplied by the cellulose exposed by the combination of soil animals.