Abstract
Coastal soils of Bangladesh are affected by salinity. This study investigated salinity as a stress factor on coastal soils in Bangladesh. It was also observed if incorporation of rice straw could remediate negative impacts of soil salinity (if any) on microbial activ-ity. The microbial biomass carbon ranged from 137.85 to 614.88 μg/g among the soils (n = 11). Microbial biomass carbon content and number of both cultivable bacteria and fungi decreased in the soils with higher ECes (electrical conductivity). Respiration was measured over 30 days with each soil pre incubated at 50% of water holding capacity. Basal respiration rate as well as soil organic carbon content (r = 0.88, p - 37.73 mS/cm) (12.91 - 16.89 mg CO2/g dry soil) than in the nonsaline soils (0.98 - 2.33 mS/cm) (5.79 - 6.51 mg CO2/g dry soil). Application of rice straw at 0.50%, 1.00%, 1.50% and 2.00% reduced the negative impact of soil salinity especially at higher ECes (6.63 - 37.73 mS/cm). Application of 1.00% rice straw appeared to be acceptable for successful amelioration of saline soils of the study area.
Highlights
Salt in soil is one of the most important environmental problems of Bangladesh
It was observed if incorporation of rice straw could remediate negative impacts of soil salinity on microbial activity
Microbial biomass carbon content and number of both cultivable bacteria and fungi decreased in the soils with higher electrical conductivity of saturated paste (ECe)
Summary
Salt in soil is one of the most important environmental problems of Bangladesh. Reduction of freshwater flow from upstream causes salinity intrusion and salinization of ground water in Bangladesh [1]. Low water content and increased salinity are common in coastal soils of Bangladesh [1] and these can be important stresses for soil microbial communities in this area. Both matric potential (a measure of how strongly the water is held onto soil surfaces) and osmotic potential (a function of the concentration of soluble salts in the soil solution) need to be considered to understand better what happens to the microbial biomass and its activity in saline soils [4]. When the water content of the saline soil decreases; the salt concentration in the soil solution increases. An incubation experiment was conducted after application of different levels of rice straw to study the improvements of microbial activity communities to gradient of salinity
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