Ecological effects of combined organic or inorganic pollution on soil microbial activities

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 1997-05, Vol.96 (1/4), p.133-143
• Main Authors: Gong, P, Sun, T.H, Beudert, G, Hahn, H.H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene; Abiotic factors; Alfalfa; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Anthropogenic factors; Applied ecology; arsenic; autumn; Biological activity; biological activity in soil; Biological and medical sciences; biomass; Cadmium; chlorinated hydrocarbons; copper; Covering; Ecological effects; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental monitoring; enzyme activity; fields; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Inhibition; Larix kaempferi; lead; Lime; liming; Medicago lupulina; Microbial activity; Microorganisms; oxidoreductases; paclobutrazol; Parameter sensitivity; Parameters; Phenanthrene; Plants (organisms); Pollutants; polluted soils; Poplar; populus tomentosa; respiration; Sensitivity analysis; Soil; Soil (material); soil enzymes; Soil lime; soil microorganisms; Soil pollution; summer; Terrestrial environment, soil, air; Toxicity; Trichlorobenzene; Zea mays; Zinc
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02407200

Combined effects of organic or inorganic pollutants on soil microbial activities were investigated in field plots grown with four types of covering plants. It was derived from this study that combined effects were dependent not only on the type and dose of pollutants, addition of soda lime, plant type and season variation, but also on test parameters. When jointly added, higher doses of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and As caused significant inhibition. Addition of soda lime could even enhance inhibition. Joint effects of phenanthrene, MET (active ingredient: paclobutrazol) and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene were not significant, and may be covered by other biotic or abiotic factors. Compared with other two parameters (respiration and microbial biomass), dehydrogenase activity appeared to be more sensitive for evaluating the toxicity of anthropogenic pollutants in soil. Soil samples collected in summer often had higher microbial activities than those in fall. The microbial activity in soil decreased with covering vegetation in the order alfalfa > pine > poplar and maize, albeit some exceptions were observed.