Long-term effects of soil pollution near an aluminium smelter on microbial biomass, soil respiration and enzyme activities

摘要

The aim of this research was to assess the impact caused by a long-term pollution in an alluvial soil (Gleysol) near an aluminium smelter in Slovakia, on soil microbial biomass C (MBC), soil respiration (SR) and enzymes activities involved in the C, N and P biogeochemical cycles. The same soil type without pollution from another sampling site was used as control. During decades, the contaminated soil suffered a progressive alkalinisation due to drainage of liquid wastes stored in the dumping area, and combined with atmospheric emissions of numerous organic pollutants (PAHs) fluoride and heavy metals, were affecting soil ecological functions. Polluted soil exhibited larger MBC and catalase activity, and much larger SR and dehydrogenase activity than the control. There were no significant differences for urease and protease activities in soils, meanwhile phostatase and β-glucosidase showed some degree of inhibition in the polluted soil. These results may indicate that soil biota activities in the polluted soil are affected by some stress possibly caused by the alkaline conditions or the high fluoride content in soil.