Impact of Alkaline Dust Pollution on Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon

Authors : Ömer KARA, İlyas BOLAT

Pages : 181-187

View : 14 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 2007-05-01

Article Type : Research Paper

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 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CFE); method. Microbial biomass C insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(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 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = -0.52, P < 0.05); and positively with soil organic C insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(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.
Keywords : Microbial biomass C, cement dust pollution, Cmic Corg ratio, soil health