Impact of alkaline dust pollution on soil microbial Biomass carbon

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Kara O., Bolat I.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, vol.31, no.3, pp.181-187, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 31 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.3906/tar-0611-2
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.181-187
  • Keywords: microbial biomass C, cement dust pollution, C(mic)center dot C(org) ratio, soil health, ORGANIC-MATTER, EXTRACTION METHOD, FOREST SOILS, FLY-ASH, PARAMETERS, DEPOSITION, VEGETATION
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The effect of alkaline dust pollution emitted from Bartin cement plant on the soil microbial biomass carbon was investigated using the chloroform fumigation-extraction (CFE) method. Microbial biomass C (C(mic)) values ranged from 157.82 to 1201.51 mu g g(-1) soils in the polluted area and from 726.70 to 1529.14 mu g g(-1) soils in the control area. Soils polluted with alkaline cement dust resulted in significant reductions in C(mic) levels compared to control soils. Microbial biomass C correlated negatively with CaCO(3) content (r = -0.52, P < 0.05) and positively with soil organic C (r = 0.67, P < 0.01). C(mic):C(org) ratio proved to be a reliable soil microbial parameter for describing the change in the man-made ecosystem. Mean C(mic):C(org) 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 C(mic):C(org) ratio in cement dust-polluted soils also indicated that this parameter can serve as a good indicator of soil health.