Scholarly record

THE DYNAMICS OF MICROBIOTA ON SOILS DEGRADED BY MINING ACTIVITIES

S. Dunca, M. Stefan, C. Tanase, A. Cojocariu

Abstract

The aim of this study is to provide data on biological state of soil in depth, using the comparative study of general microbiota frequency and activity. For the quantitative analysis of soil microbiota, we have used soil samples for dilutions (10-1 - 10-6). The results were expressed in colony-forming units/g soil (CFU). The soil was sampling from Calimani National Park (The Oriental Carpathians) in October 2006, June and September 2007. The soil microbiota registers quantitative variations from one sample point to other and between the analyzed depths. The higher number of microorganisms was registered at Dumitrelu Dump (29 x 106 CFU/g soil), 0-6 cm, and the lower number of microorganisms was register at Puturosu Dump (172 x 103 CFU/g soil), 0-10 cm. The number and specific composition of microbiota can vary in accordance with the soils type and characteristic features. Regarding the vertical distribution of microbiota, the number of microorganisms present in soil can decrease with depth. We can also find some sterile layers between that populated by microorganisms. We can suppose that the continuous decrease of microbiological activity into the inferior layers of soil is due to air privation, or to soil solution alcalinization, nutritive substances inadequacy, or to the complex action of all these factors.

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