Changes in Mineralization Activity of Microbial Communities Depending on Physico-Chemical Properties of Soils and Cadmium Contamination

Abstract

The effects of glucose and cadmium addition, as well as their combination on the CO2 efflux from soils, which differed by the total organic carbon content and texture, were studied. Glucose (10 g/kg) addition induced an increase in the CO2 efflux from soil and a decrease in the content of dissolved organic carbon. The intensity of this effect reduced in samples with the low total organic carbon content. Cadmium (300 mg/kg) addition alone did not affect the studied parameters. In case of combined addition of glucose and cadmium, the mineralization activity of microbial community was mainly determined by glucose amendment.

Keywords

• soil respiration
• cadmium
• glucose
• carbon mineralization
• ecology of soil microorganisms