Importance of fungi in a 63 years old long-term field experiment with 20 years of maize growth

Microbial diversity and their activity in the rhizosphere bulk soil areas were measured a long-term field trial (started 1956), where maize has been grown for last 20 years with without N fertilisation. Various microbial groups substrate feeding strategies (i.e. demonstrating activities) identified through phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) analysis ?13C values. abundance (esp. fungi) remained unaffected by However, fungi dominated over bacteria 2–3 times higher biomass than soil. The of PLFAs showed that had highest values, particularly fertilised areas, indicating this was most active group (than any other group) assimilation rhizodeposits.