QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF NITROGEN CYCLE MICROORGANISMS IN VERMICOMPOSTS BASED ON WOODY LEAF LITTER (SALICACEAE) AND COW MANURE

The quantitative composition of microorganisms – ammonificators, inorganic nitrogen fixers, oligotrophs, and free-living nitrogen fixers – was studied at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of vermicomposting mixtures based on cow manure, black ma leaf litter and brittle willow leaf litter. Free-living nitrogen fixers were not detected in the initial mixture; this group of microorganisms was detected in the middle and at the end of vermiculture. Microorganisms of the other groups were present in the vermicomposts throughout the whole period of vermiculture, their maximum number was found in the vermicompost based on cow manure. Nevertheless, a very high index of the number of nitrogen fixers in vermicomposts based on black poplar and brittle willow enables us to recommend all three types of vermicompost for use as nitrogen fertilizers.