Correlation of abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, bacteria and saprophytic microfungi with soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus

A significant positive correlation between the concentration of CFU of soil saprophytic microfungi and total soil carbon content, organic matter (oxid izable carbon) and available phosphorus was observed in field collected soi l samples. Concentration of CFU of culturable bacteria correlated negativel y with soil organic matter. Specific length of hyphae of arbuscular mycorrh izal fungi in the soil correlated only with soil respiration rate. The resu lts indicate that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are associated with soil mic rosites rich in some easily mineralizable fraction of soil organic matter r ather than with total or oxidizable organic carbon.