Dergiler / Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry / 2007 / Cilt: 31 - Sayı: 3
Impact of Alkaline Dust Pollution on Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon
- Sayfa
- 181–187
- DOI
- —
Özet
The effect of alkaline dust pollution emitted from Bartın cement plant on the soil microbial biomass carbon was investigated using the chloroform fumigation-extraction (CFE) method. Microbial biomass C (Cmic) values ranged from 157.82 to 1201.51 µg g-1 soils in the polluted area and from 726.70 to 1529.14 µg g-1 soils in the control area. Soils polluted with alkaline cement dust resulted in significant reductions in Cmic levels compared to control soils. Microbial biomass C correlated negatively with CaCO3 content (r = -0.52, P < 0.05) and positively with soil organic C (r = 0.67, P < 0.01). Cmic:Corg ratio proved to be a reliable soil microbial parameter for describing the change in the man-made ecosystem. Mean Cmic:Corg ratio was 2.55 and 3.09 in the polluted soils and control soils, respectively. The decrease in this ratio was an indication of soil degradation in the polluted soils. A significant decline in the Cmic:Corg ratio in cement dust-polluted soils also indicated that this parameter can serve as a good indicator of soil health.
Abstract
The effect of alkaline dust pollution emitted from Bartın cement plant on the soil microbial biomass carbon was investigated using the chloroform fumigation-extraction (CFE) method. Microbial biomass C (Cmic) values ranged from 157.82 to 1201.51 µg g-1 soils in the polluted area and from 726.70 to 1529.14 µg g-1 soils in the control area. Soils polluted with alkaline cement dust resulted in significant reductions in Cmic levels compared to control soils. Microbial biomass C correlated negatively with CaCO3 content (r = -0.52, P < 0.05) and positively with soil organic C (r = 0.67, P < 0.01). Cmic:Corg ratio proved to be a reliable soil microbial parameter for describing the change in the man-made ecosystem. Mean Cmic:Corg ratio was 2.55 and 3.09 in the polluted soils and control soils, respectively. The decrease in this ratio was an indication of soil degradation in the polluted soils. A significant decline in the Cmic:Corg ratio in cement dust-polluted soils also indicated that this parameter can serve as a good indicator of soil health.