SOME REGULARITIES OF DEGRADATION OF (14C)-LABELED TEA (Tea Sinensis) BIOMASS IN RED AND BROWN FOREST SOILS.

The studies using (¹⁴C)-labeled tea (Tea Sinensis) biomass have demonstrated that tea biomass is degraded in red (Nitisols Ferralic) and brown forest (Humic Cambisols) soils. The application of manganese sludge and manganese sulfate (MnSO₄) in these soils increases the mineralization in both soil taxa evidencing an active participation of Mn ions in the degradation of phenolic substances. When applying manganese sludge and/or MnSO₄ to the experimental samples, most of ¹⁴CO₂ is released during the first 60 days as a result of the labeled tea biomass mineralization. The modification (decrease) of MgCO₃ of hydrolysis pH reaction of both, the red (Nitisols Ferralic) and brown forest (Humic Cambisols) soil areas and the addition of manganese sludge and or MnSO₄ to them dramatically (almost twice or thrice) increase the tea biomass mineralization rate, which was assessed by quantifying ¹⁴CO₂. The amount of ash in all test reduces as compared to the reference what can be explained by the chemical properties of organic compounds produced as interim products during the biomass degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]