Plant Soil Environ., 2004, 50(6):243-249 | DOI: 10.17221/4028-PSE

Inter-relationship between number of microorganisms and spring barley yield and degree of soil contamination with copper

J. Kucharski, J. Wyszkowska

University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland

The purpose of the study has been to determine the effect of soil contamination with copper on the modification of microbial number and spring barley yield and to assess whether spores of actinomycete Streptomyces odorifer and Streptomyces viridis were used for detoxification of copper polluted soils. The tests were performed in a pot experiment, which was conducted on two types of soil: Eutric Cambisol soil derived from light loamy sand and Eutric Cambisol soil derived from light loam. The results showed that number of all analysed microorganisms was significantly negatively correlated with a degree of soil contamination by copper, but positively correlated with the yield of spring barley. In general, the adverse impact of copper on the development of oligotrophic bacteria and their spores, eutrophic bacteria and their spores as well as actinomycetes and fungi was much weaker in more compact (light loam) than lighter (light loamy sand) soil. Copper had a strong toxic effect on spring barley and significantly inhibits the growth and development of the plants. An inoculum containing spores of Streptomyces viridis and Streptomyces odorifer did not alleviate the negative response of spring barley to copper contamination of soil, although it had positive influence on the growth of some microorganisms.

Keywords: soil contamination with copper; spring barley yield; number of microorganisms

Published: June 30, 2004  Show citation