Decomposition Processes 



103 



Taui.i; Hi. l\KLLi;.NCE OK Atiio UK Hyp; I'i-ants ipdn Tiikiu Chkmicu- ('i)\ii'i>.srrr(i\ 

 (from AVaksiiiaii ami 'I'cimry) 



IVr fciil of (Ir\- iii;il('ri;il. 



Constituent 

 Fats and waxes 

 Cold- water-soluble 

 Pentosans 

 Cellulose 

 Lignin 

 Ash 

 Total nitroKen 



Table 17. Composition of Indian Corn at Different Stages of Growth 

 (from Morrison and Henry) 



plants and containing 0.6 gm of nitrogen was added to 13 kg of soil; 

 the nitrate produced during 3 months was measured. With an in- 

 crease in the nitrogen content of the plant material, there is an 

 increase in the formation of nitrate. Only when the nitrogen con- 

 tent is 1.7 per cent is the rate of decomposition sufficient to supply 

 the requirements of the microorganisms for cell synthesis. The 

 lower the nitrogen content of the plant residues, the more nitrogen 

 is required by the microorganisms from an outside source, the soil, 

 and, therefore, the lower is the nitrate content of the soil itself or 

 the amount of nitrate a\ailable for plant growth. 



