Microbial communities in microcosm soils treated with battery waste

Abstract

Abstract Battery waste is one of the most destructive hazards to our environment, especially to the soil. In order to understand the effect of the battery waste on the microbial communities in soil, microcosm soils were treated with the powder made from the battery waste. Microbial biomass and respiration were measured after 15,30,45, and 60 days of the treatments, while microbial respiratory quotient, catabolic capability were enhanced. Although microbial biomass recovered after a period of incubation, microbial respiratory quotient, catabolic capability and community structure remained significantly affected. Our results also suggest that microbial; respiratory quotient and Biology parameters are more sensitive than microbial biomass to the battery stress on bioavailability. *Supported by the Outstanding Young Scientists Foundation of Shandong Province (Grant No. 2005BS08010), the China Geological Survey Project (No. 1212010310306) and Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No. ...