SOUMENDRANATH CHATTERJEE, KUNTAL KANTI CHATTORAJ, PUJA BANERJEE, MAINAK KUMAR DE AND ARIJIT MAJUMDAR
Abstract
Six soil samples were collected from four different locations with different micro-environment namely, Batabari farm side area, Batabari village area (two samples), Murti river side (two samples) and Mahakal Mandir forest area of Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal. Topography, land slope, vegetation coverage, water logging condition and anthropogenic influences were considered as basis of the sample selection. The population dynamics, diversity of different groups of microorganisms were determined. Soil chemical and physical characteristic features were also analyzed. Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, Nitrifying bacteria, Gram(-) bacteria, Phosphate solubilising bacteria, Nitrogen fixing bacteria and Fungi population were quite high in Mahakal Mandir forest part with high percentage of organic carbon. These populations were somewhat low in other two areas of Batabari village area and Batabari farm side area due to human interference. Murti river bank areas showed a different picture where all bacterial groups were very low due to low organic carbon, leaching activity and low water holding capacity in coarse grained soil.