Physical, Chemical Properties and Microbial Population of Soil as Affected by Application of Chemical Fertilizer and Swine Manure Fermented with Sawdust on Cheju Brown Volcanic Ash Pasture Soil

A trial was carried out to investigate the effect of fermented saw-dust pig manure (FSP) and N fertilizer application on physical, chemical properties and microbial population of soil on Cheju brown volcanic ash pasture during the period from September, 1997 to January, 1999. Average soil N contents during 3 different periods, August and October, 1998, and January, 1999 were 0.39, 0.41 and 0.39% for fertilizer N level 0, 150 and 300kg/ha, respectively. Soil N contents determined in January, 1999, was significantly increased by an increase of fertilizer N. Nitrogen contents in the soil applied with 0, 3, 6 and 12 tons 1 ha of FSP were 0.43, 0.40, 0.38 and 0.38%, respectively, showing decreasing tendency of soil with increasing levels of FSP application. Soil N contents determined in August, 1998 and January, 1999, were significantly decreased by increasing levels of FSP application. Organic matter contents of the soil applied with N 0, 150 and 300 kg/ha was 8.04, 8.37, and 9.08%. Soil organic matters determined on the 1st and 2nd period trended to increase with increasing level of fertilizer N. FSP application significantly decreased organic matter contents of pasture soil, (9.14, 8.79, 8.28 and 7.78% OM in soil applied with FSP 0, 3, 6 and 12 tonlha of FSP), respectively. Soil OM determined in October, 1998, also showed a significant decrease with increasing level of FSP. Soil pH, available phosphorus, exchangeable K, Ca, Mg and Na in soil studied were not influenced by fertilizer N or FSP application during all three periods. N application tended to increase soil bacteria count, ($27.0\;{\times}\;10^4\;cfu/g,\;29.4\;{\times}\;1-^4\;cfu/g$ and $53.6\;10^4\;cfu/g$ in the soil applied with 0, 150 and 300 kg N/ha, respectively). The number of colonies of soil bacteria and fungi determined in June and October, 1998 was not increased remarkably by FSP application, but the number of colonies of bacteria determined in March, 1998 showed a significant increase with increasing level of FSP application. In conclusion, N contents and OM of soil increased with increasing level of N application, but decreased with increasing level of FSP application.