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Effects of a humic deposit (gyttja) on soil chemical and microbiological properties and heavy metal availability

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Abstract

The influence of a humic deposit (Gyttja, G) alone (applied at 25 kg ha−1) and in combination with mineral fertilizer (G + NP) on soil organic matter content, pH, electrical conductivity, total N content, calcium carbonate content, enzyme activities (urease, β-glucosidase, arylsulphatase, and alkaline phosphatase), microbial biomass C, soil respiration, and availability of Cd, Pb, Ni, and Zn was examined through a 180-day incubation period and compared with the behavior of no treatment (control) and NP treatment. A significant increase in organic matter content was observed in soils treated with G + NP. Compared with G and NP alone, the G + NP-amended soils showed higher values of the selected microbiological properties.

Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic-acid-extractable Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn increased significantly with increasing rates of NP, but the addition of G + NP resulted in a considerable decrease in the amount of extractable metals during the incubation period (P<0.05). Based on these results, it can be concluded that the organic matter applied in the gyttja led to an increase in the metal adsorption capacity of the amended soils. This material can be used to reduce the availability and mobility of heavy metals in the soils intensively amended with mineral fertilizers. A combination of G with NP can, therefore, be considered as an alternative approach in the applications of organomineral fertilization.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Technology Development Center of Ankara University (SBA) and Biyotar Co.

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  1. Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    Ayten Karaca, Oguz Can Turgay & Nihal Tamer

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  1. Ayten Karaca
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  2. Oguz Can Turgay
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  3. Nihal Tamer
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Correspondence to Ayten Karaca.

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Karaca, A., Turgay, O.C. & Tamer, N. Effects of a humic deposit (gyttja) on soil chemical and microbiological properties and heavy metal availability. Biol Fertil Soils 42, 585–592 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-005-0056-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-005-0056-3

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