HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stroo, H. F. Articles by Jencks, E. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Stroo, H. F. Articles by Jencks, E. M. Agricola Articles by Stroo, H. F. Articles by Jencks, E. M.

Enzyme Activity and Respiration in Minesoils¹

ABSTRACT

Microbial respiration and soil enzyme activity measurements were made in both native soils and in minesoils varying in age and vegetation in order to determine the levels of microbial activity during the initial stages of soil genesis. By all indices, microbial activity was lower on unfertilized minesoils than in native soils. Amylase and phosphatase activities increased with time, as did respiration rate, so that after 20 years, activity levels in the surface 10 cm approached those of native soils. Recovery was related to the accumulation of organic matter and nitrogen (N). Recent minesoils receiving high inputs of lime and fertilizers had the highest activity levels found, resulting in a depletion of organic matter and nitrogen which suggests that a self-sustaining ecosystem has not yet developed on these sites.

Respiration rate, and amylase and phosphatase activities were all significantly correlated with each other. Oxidizable carbon (C) and total and mineralizable nitrogen were the soil factors most closely correlated with respiration rate, while clay content also affected amylase activity. Urease activity was not correlated with any of the other indices or soil factors studied.

No evidence for enzyme inhibition in minesoils was found, but phosphatase activities were lower in minesoils, suggesting that P mineralization may be slower on minesoils. Mineralizable N increased rapidly with age on unamended sites, but after 20 years it was only one-half that found in native soils.

The presence of vegetation was critical for the recovery of microbial activity. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) was similar to grasslegume vegetation in its effect on microbial activity and N accumulation. Compaction of the soil during reclamation caused slow organic matter and N accumulation, and thus low microbial activity.

¹ Contribution from the Div. of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506. Published with the approval of the Director of the West Virginia Agric. and Forestry Exp. St. as Scientific Paper no. 1,710. This work was sponsored in part by the WVU Mining and Mineral Research Inst. under project no. MI 8050R.

² Graduate Assistant, West Virginia Univ., presently at USDA Fruit Res. Lab., Kearneysville, WV 25430, and Associate Professor, Div. of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia Univ., Morgantown.

Received for publication September 10, 1981. Accepted for publication January 14, 1982.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. A. N. Ussiri and R. Lal Method for Determining Coal Carbon in the Reclaimed Minesoils Contaminated with Coal Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 11, 2008; 72(1): 231 - 237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Machulla, M. A. Bruns, and K. M. Scow Microbial Properties of Mine Spoil Materials in the Initial Stages of Soil Development Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., June 2, 2005; 69(4): 1069 - 1077. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]