Effect of the chemical composition of industrial dusts on forest floor organic matter accumulation

Abstract

The influence of dusts from aluminium (AP), zinc and lead (ZP1, ZP2), sintering (SP) and power (PP) plants on organic matter accumulation on the forest floor of a mixed oak-pine forest was studied in Niepo~omice Forest near Krakdw, Poland. An artificial application of the dusts on experimental plots was used corresponding to 100, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 t km -2. Increased organic matter accumulation was observed 5 yr following the addition of AP, ZP1 and ZP2 dusts, while SP and PP dusts at levels > 100 t km -2 caused a slight decrease in litter accumulation. Statistical analysis indicated that Cd, Mn, Pb and Zn present in industrial dusts were responsible for the increase in litter accumulation, while some nutrients (e.g. K, Mg, Na) contained in the dusts might decrease organic matter storage to some extent.

Effects of heavy metal accumulation in apple orchard soils on the mineralization of humified plant residues

“…Several researchers have also reported that on a long-term basis, heavy metal pollution caused the accumulation of soil organic matter resulting from the inhibition of organic matter decomposition in soils (Grodzinski et al 1990;Chander and Brookes 1991;Valsecchi et al 1995). The present results suggest that the inhibition of the decomposition of humified organic matter may be responsible for the accumulation of soil organic matter in soils polluted with heavy metals.…”

Macro- and micronutrient effects on decomposition of leaf litter from two tropical tree species: inferences from a short-term laboratory incubation

“…For example, some elements including the transition metals V, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn act as co-factors in microbial enzymes (Wackett et al 1989), and thus addition of these may be expected to increase enzymatic activity. However, when some of these same metals such as Cu and Zn are present in the environment at high concentrations from industrial pollution they can reduce decomposition (Ruhling and Tyler 1973;Grodziński et al 1990) by inhibiting soil microarthropods (Strojan 1978;Lahr et al 2008) microbial communities (Duarte et al 2008;Duarte et al 2004) or extracellular enzyme activity (Tyler 1974).…”