Microbial activities in forest soils exposed to chronic depositions from a lignite power plant

Abstract

Atmospheric emissions of fly ash and SO 2 from lignite-fired power plants strongly affect large forest areas in Germany. The impact of different deposition loads on the microbial biomass and enzyme activities was studied at three forest sites (Picea abies (L.) Karst.)along an emission gradient of 3, 6, and 15 km downwind of a coal-fired power plant (sites Ia, II, and III, respectively), representing high, moderate, and low emission rates. by the content of organic C and cation exchange capacity, while those of enzyme activities were governed by the soil pH and concentrations of mobile heavy metals. We concluded that chronic fly ash depositions decrease litter decomposition by influencing specific microbial and enzymatic processes in forest soils.

Vertical Profiles of Soil Properties and Microbial Activities in Peatbog Soils in Slovakia

“…This parameter shows the highest values on the site which is localized at the centre of peatbog, where carbon mineralization is very fast and decreases with increasing depth. These results agree to those of other authors (Maková et al 2011;Klose et al 2004), and from various types of ecosystems.…”

Influence of soil acidity on depth gradients of microbial biomass in beech forest soils

“…Besides the possibility of direct destruction of the microbial biomass and changes in organic matter quality, pH related changes in community structure, especially changes in fungi to bacteria ratios have to be taken into account (Ba˚a˚th and Anderson 2003). Klose et al (2004) suggested a relationship between fungi to bacteria ratio and microbial biomass C to soil organic C ratio. However, Bauhus and Khanna (1999) suggested that microbial biomass C to soil organic C ratios below 5 (g C mic kg À1 C org ), as found here, could be caused by acidity more than by consumable parts of soil organic matter.…”

Effects of liming on soil properties and plant performance of temperate mountainous grasslands

“…As abovementioned, we found some positive correlations between soil pH and enzyme activities. Previous reports have also described positive correlations between soil pH and urease (Ekenler and Tabatabai, 2004), acid phosphatase (Klose et al, 2004), arylsulphatase (Wang et al, 2006), dehydrogenase (Rodríguez-Loinaz et al, 2008) and b-glucosidase (Acosta-Martínez and Tabatabai, 2000;Wang et al, 2006). In contrast, many authors (Acosta-Martínez and Tabatabai, 2000;Dick et al, 2000;Wang et al, 2006;Rodríguez-Loinaz et al, 2008) have reported a negative correlation between soil pH and acid phosphatase.…”