The effect of organic manures on the auxin content of soils and the “auxin balance” in soils

✍ Scribed by Hamence, J. Hubert

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1948
• Weight: 613 KB
• Volume: 67
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0368-4075
• DOI: 10.1002/jctb.5000670705

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Quantitative data for the rate of decomposition of β‐indolyl acetic acid added to soils have been obtained and the rate of decomposition shown to be very rapid. Normal dressings of organic manures such as dung and dried blood have been found to increase the auxin content of soils towards the maximum value in what has been previously described as the “normal auxin range” of soils. This increase may be maintained for a period of some months, and in the dried blood type of manures additional auxins arc produced as a result of their decomposition in the soil. It has been shown that β‐indolyl acetic acid is one of the auxins thus produced. Heavy dressings of organic manures may produce a considerable increase in auxin content of the soil but this increase is rapidly followed by a reduction to a value within the normal range. Moreover specially washed soils with a low auxin content show an increase in auxin content on ageing to a value within the normal range. These facts suggest the existence of a mechanism within the soil to control the soil auxin content within certain limits or suggest what is tentatively described as an “auxin balance” in the soil.