华北矿区残留态铜、铅在土壤剖面中的分布与迁移

Residual heavy metals are commonly considered to be immobile in soils, leading to an underestimation of their environmental risk. This study investigated the distribution and transport of residual heavy metals along soil profiles, using the Xiaoqinling gold mining region in North China as a case study. Soil samples were collected at three depths from three locations near the tailing heap. The speciation of copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) (exchangeable, carbonate-bound, Fe-Mn oxide-bound, organic matter-bound, and residual fractions) was determined using a sequential extraction procedure. The residual fraction’s morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that metal fraction distributions along the soil profiles were influenced by each fraction’s mobility. Residual fraction with high chemical stability cannot be transformed from or into other fractions. This led to the conclusion that the high concentration of residual metals in soils mainly resulted from residual fraction transport.The SEM analysis showed that fine particles (submicrons) were mainly attached to large particles and were likely released and transported by water flow. The more sorptive fractions (non-residual fractions) were mainly retained in the top soil, and the more mobile fractions (residual fraction) were mainly leached to the deep soil. Cu and Pb concentrations in the residual fraction decreased slightly and those in the non-residual fractions decreased significantly with soil depth. These suggest a relatively higher residual metal mobility along the soil pro?les. Therefore, residual metals can be transported in soils and their environmental risk can not be ignored in assessing soil contamination.     

利用化学和生物指标评价不同来源土壤铜的生物有效性

Bioavailability is a key parameter in assessing contaminant transfer to biota. However, the input patterns and soil use types may impact the metal bioavailability. Several soil parameters were measured including chemical properties, such as pH, organic C, and Cu solution/solid speciation, and biological properties, such as soil microbial biomass C （SMBC）, seed germination, and root elongation, to evaluate the bioavailability of Cu contaminated soils from three different sources, i.e., non-ferrous metal mining, Cu-based fungicides, and Cu-smelting. The results revealed that free Cu2＋ ion in soil solution and the ratios of Cu fractions to total Cu content in the solid phase could not be used to predict total Cu content in soils. The indexes of seed germination and root elongation appeared not to be good biomonitors of Cu contamination in soils, which were more sensitive to soil pH and soil organic carbon （SOC）. Relationships between SMBC and soil Cu forms or the ratio of SMBC/SOC and soil Cu forms showed that free Cu2＋ ion and humie acid-complexed Cu could significantly inhibit soil microbial activities. Our findings suggested that both metal chemical forms and biological bioassays should be considered as a complementary technique rather than an alternative to evaluate the metal bioavailability from different pollution sources.     

施用碱稳定固体的酸性土壤的Cu和Zn的形态分布

Fractionation of metals in a granite-derived acid sandy loam soil amended with alkaline-stabilised sewagesIudge biosolids was conducted in order to assess metal bioavailability and environmental mobility soil solution was extracted by a centrifugation and filtration technique. Metal speciation in the soil solution wasdetermined by a cation exchange resin method. Acetic acid and EDTA extracting solutions were used forextraction of metals in soil solid surfaces. Metal distribution in different fractions of soil solid phase was determined using a three-step sequential extraction scheme. The results show that the metals in the soilsolution existed in different fractions with variable lability and metals in the soil solid phase were also presentin various chemical forms with potentially different bioavail ability and environmental mobility Alkaline-stabilised biosolids could elevate solubility of Cu and proportion of Cu in organically complexed fractionsboth in soil liquid and solid phases, and may therefore increase Cu mobility. In contrast, the biosolids lowered the concentrations of water-soluble Zn (labile fraction) and exchangeable Zn and may hence decrease bioavailability and mobility of Zn. However, Fe and Mn oxides bound and organic matter bound fractions are likely to be Zn pools in the sludge-amended soil. These consequences possibly result from the liming effect and metal speciation of the sludge product and the difference in the chemistry between the metals in soil.     

γ-辐照对施用碱稳定固体土壤中Cu的提取性影响

An incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the microbial biomass associated Cu in four contrasting soils to which an alkaline stabilised sewage sludge cake was applied. The organisms of sludge-amended and control soils were killed using γ-irradiation technique, and the aqueous and acid-extractable Cu concentrations were determined. Addition of the sludge product increased significantly the concentration of both the aqueous and dilute HOAc-extractable Cu in all the irradiated soils compared to the non-sterilised sludge/soil mixtures, but the increase was more pronounced in the dilute acid-extractable Cu, indicating thatthe Cu rendered extractable in water and dilute acetic acid by γ-irradiation existed in the both soil liquidand solid phases. The additional increase in extractable Cu following the biocidal treatment is likely to bedue to release of Cu from the same fraction of soil microbial biomass.     

土法炼锌区大气沉降Pb、Zn、Cd及其对土壤质量的影响

Dust emissions from smelters, as a major contributor to heavy metal contamination in soils, could severely influence soil quality. Downwind surface soils within 1.5 km of a zinc smelter, which was active for 10 years but ceased in 2000, in Magu Town, Guizhou Province, China were selected to examine Pb, Zn, and Cd concentrations and their fractionation along a distance gradient from a zinc smelter, and to study the possible effects of Pb, Zn, and Cd accumulation on soil microorganisms by comparing with a reference soil located at a downwind distance of 10 km from the zinc smelter. Soils within 1.5 km of the zinc smelter accumulated high levels of heavy metals Zn (508 mg kg-1), Pb (95.6 mg kg-1), and Cd (5.98 mg kg-1) with low ratios of Zn/Cd (59.1--115) and Pb/Cd (12.4--23.4). Composite pollution indices (CPIs) of surface soils (2.52--15.2) were 3 to 13 times higher than the reference soils. In metal accumulated soils, exchangeable plus carbonate-bound fractions accounted for more than 10% of the total Zn, Pb, and Cd. The saturation degree of metals (SDM) in soils within 1.5 km of the smelter (averaging 1.25) was six times higher than that of the reference soils (0.209). A smaller soil microbial biomass was found more frequently in metal accumulated soils (85.1--438 μg C g-1) than in reference soils (497 μg C g-1), and a negative correlation (P < 0.01) of soil microbial biomass carbon to organic carbon ratio (Cmic/Corg) with SDM was observed. Microbial consumption of carbon sources was more rapid in contaminated soils than in reference soils, and a shift in the substrate utilization pattern was apparent and was negatively correlated with SDM (R = -0.773, P < 0.01). Consequently, dust deposited Pb, Zn, and Cd in soils from zinc smelting were readily mobilized, and weredetrimental to soil quality mainly in respect of microbial biomass.     

中国黄土高原不同树龄苹果园中干层土壤特性及其在土壤水分管理中的运用

Negative soil water balance(i.e., water input water output) can lead to soil desiccation and subsequently the occurrence of a dried soil layer(DSL). The DSLs are generally studied at a specific sampling depth(e.g., 500 cm), and the actual extent of DSLs remains unknown due to the challenge of collecting deep soil samples. To investigate the characteristics of actual DSLs under different ages of apple orchards and ascertain the optimal age of apple orchards for avoiding/controlling the formation of DSLs, soil samples were collected to a depth of 1 800 cm under apple orchards of different ages in Changwu on the Loess Plateau of China. As the ages increased, soil water content(SWC) and mean SWC in DSLs showed an overall decreasing trend, whereas while DSL thickness and the quantity of water deficit(QWD) in DSLs demonstrated an increasing trend. The DSL was the thickest(1 600 cm) under the 17-year-old orchard, the forming velocity of DSL thickness was the highest at the apple tree growth stage of 9–17 years(168 cm year-1), and the highest increasing velocity of QWD(-181 mm year-1) was also observed at this stage. The thickness of DSL was significantly correlated with growth age and root depth of apple trees(r 0.88), whereas the QWD and mean SWC in DSLs were found to have no correlation with them. The optimal age of apple orchards for avoiding/controlling the formation of DSLs was about 9 years. This information provided pertinent references for the management of deep water resources by controlling the growth age of plants.     

外生菌根诱导油松根际土壤重金属形态变化

To understand the role of ectomycorrhizas in improving the tolerance of its host to excessive heavy metals in soil, this study was conducted to exam the patterns of four fractions （the exchangeable, the carbonate-bound, the Fe-Mn oxide- bound and the organically bound） of both Cu and Cd in the rhizosphere of Chinese pine （Pinus tabulaeformis） seedlings grown in excessive Cu and Cd environment. The results showed that the speciation of Cu and Cd in the rhizosphere was significantly influenced by inoculation of ectomycorrhizal fungus Boletus edulis. Compared to the rhizosphere, the content of exchangeable Cu slightly decreased in the mycorrhizosphere of the seedlings grown in 166 and 400 mg kg^-1 Cu contaminated soil, whereas the exchangeable Cd in the mycorrhizosphere decreased remarkably to only 33% and to 60% that of the rhizosphere at 0.75 and 1.50 mg kg^-1 Cd levels, respectively. These indicate the potential capacity of mycorrhizas to alleviate the damage of heavy metals to the host plants by reducing the bioavailability of heavy metals in soil. Distribution of the 4 tested fractions of Cu and Cd at different contamination levels showed that there was a strong tendency of changing from loosely associated fractions to strongly associated fractions in the mycorrhizosphere. The most stable Cd fraction, organically bound Cd, was significantly larger in the mycorrhizosphere than in the rhizosphere at different Cd contamination levels. This phenomenon was also observed for Cu but the difference was not statistically significant.     

化学萃取修复尾渣土壤的金属形态变化特征

The efficiency of EDTA, HNO3 and CaCl2 as extractants to remove Pb, Zn and Cu from tailing soils without varying soil pH was investigated with distributions of Pb, Zn and Cu being determined before and after extraction using the sequential extraction procedure of the optimized European Community Bureau of Reference （BCR）. Results indicated that EDTA and HNO3 were both effective extracting agents.The extractability of extractants for Pb and Zn was in the order EDTA 〉 HNO3 〉 CaCl2, while for Cu it was HNO3 〉 EDTA 〉 CaCl2. After EDTA extraction, the proportion of Pb, Zn and Cu in the four fractions varied greatly, which was related to the strong extraction and complexation ability. Before and after extraction with HNO3 and CaCl2, the percentages of Pb, Zn and Cu in the reducible, oxidizable and residual fractions changed little compared to the acid-extractable fraction. The lability of metal in the soil and the kinds of extractants were the factors controlling the effects of metal extraction.     

中国东部太湖地区酸性水稻土团聚体上铜的专性和非专性吸附动力学研究

The Taihu Lake region in East China has become prone to soil acidification, which changes heavy metals such as copper(Cu) in soil into water-soluble species and increases the mobility and contamination risks of heavy metals in the biological environment. In this study, the kinetics of Cu2+sorption by the bulk soil and the aggregate size fractions of an acidic paddy soil collected from the Taihu Lake region, the effects of temperature on Cu2+sorption, and the p H changes of the solution were investigated by static sorption and magnetic stirring. The aggregate size fractions were prepared by low-energy ultrasonic dispersing and freeze-drying. The total sorption amounts of the bulk soil and the aggregate size fractions for Cu2+followed a descending order of clay > coarse sand > bulk soil > silt> sand, corresponding to those of organic matter content, free iron oxide content, free aluminum oxide content, and cation exchange capacity. The kinetic sorption curves of Cu2+by the bulk soil and the aggregates, which were divided into two stages(rapid and slow sequentially), were well fitted by the first-order equation, the diffusion equation, and the Elovich equation, showing significant correlations(P < 0.05). Specific and non-specific sorption dominated in the fast and slow stages, respectively, and the former was predominant throughout the sorption process. The specific sorption accelerated and the non-specific sorption decelerated with rising temperature. The p H of the solution decreased significantly during the specific sorption and remained unchanged or increased slightly during the non-specific sorption. When the specific sorption terminated, the p H of the solution was minimized nearly simultaneously.The sorption progress of Cu2+by the bulk soil significantly preceded that by the aggregates. Therefore, heavy metal contamination may be another factor reducing soil p H and metal sorption forms should be taken into consideration in studies of mitigating soil heavy metal pollution or determining environmental capacity of heavy metal in soil.     

四川省紫色土天然和添加的镍不同形态的分布及转化

The distribution and transformation of added and native Ni in purple soils were investigated with both sequential extraction procedure and isotopic tracer technique.The distribution of added and native Ni was greatly dependent on soil properties.Low soil pH was favorable for soluble plus exchangeable(EX) Fraction,while Fe/Mn oxides and clay for Fe/Mn oxide bound(OX) and residual(RES) fractions.The added Ni,however,has not yet reached the distribution equilibrium up to the 150th day after incubation.This was reflected in the fact that the proportion of EX fraction from added Ni was 150%-600% as much as that of native Ni,while that of RES fraction was only about 80%,Once entering soil,the applied soluble Ni was rapidly transformed into other fractions,but the organic complexe (OM) fraction of added Ni was relatively stable during incubation.The carbonate bound(CAB)fraction showed a progressive increase and attained a peak value after 0-14d of incubation and thereafter decreased gradually.The occurrence time of this peak advanced as initial soil pH increased.but the peak would disappear when initial soil pH was higher than 7.5(or containing free CaCO3).The transformation processes of the EX,OX and RES fractions could be described by Elovich and two-constant rate equations,and the rate were positively correlated with soil pH,CEC and clay.These finding could explain why there are differences in ecological and environmental effects of Ni in different soils and at various intervals.     

天水苹果园土壤重金属富集状况评价及来源分析

对天水果园表层（0~20 cm）219件土壤样品进行研究,测定5种重金属（Zn、Cu、Pb、Cr和Cd）及有机质含量,以天水小陇山土壤为对照,运用相关分析和主成分分析方法区分土壤中重金属的来源。结果表明,①Zn、Cu、Pb、Cr和Cd含量分别为77.39、23.03、23.62、61.49 mg.kg-1和0.07 mg.kg-1,其中Cd极显著（P〈0.01）高于小陇山土壤,其余4种重金属虽高于小陇山土壤但无显著差异性（P〉0.05）;②研究区土壤Cu、Pb、Cr三者间在0.01或0.001水平上具有显著正相关性,且这3种重金属与土壤有机质具有显著正相关性,其余重金属间不存在显著相关性;③主成分分析显示Cu、Pb和Cr来源相似,主要来自于成土母质,Cd来源于人为施肥因素,Zn的富集受多种因素影响。研究评价结果显示,天水地区果园土壤Cd受人为施肥影响较大,具有一定程度的富集。     

不同树龄苹果园土壤微生物生态特征研究

为了评价苹果园种植年限对土壤微生物和土壤肥力的影响,选择不同种植年限的果园,利用平板培养和脂肪酸甲酯(FAME)图谱法研究不同树龄苹果园土壤微生物生态特征变化。结果表明,壮龄果园的土壤微生物活性最高,是幼龄果园的1.23倍,老龄果园的1.37倍;幼龄和壮龄果园微生物生物量差异不显著,但均远大于老龄果园,约为老龄果园的3倍;随着树龄增大,细菌/真菌的比例下降,放线菌的含量也随树龄增大而降低;土壤微生物的多样性随树龄增大先增高后降低,以壮龄果园的微生物多样性为最好。果树的长期种植引起了土壤理化性质及土壤微生物数量、活性、多样性及种群结构的改变。通过研究不同树龄苹果园的土壤微生物生态特征,以期能为根据不同树龄果园土壤状况进行合理管理和解决重茬障碍提供一定的依据。     

Microbial and enzyme properties of apple orchard soil as affected by long-term application of copper fungicide

Copper-based fungicides have been applied in apple orchards for a long time, which has resulted in increasing soil Cu concentration. However, the microbial and enzyme properties of the orchard soils remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of long-term application of Cu-based fungicides on soil microbial (microbial biomass carbon (C_mic), C mineralization, and specific respiration rate) and enzyme (urease, acid phosphatase, and invertase activities) properties in apple orchards. Soil samples studied were collected from apple orchards 5, 15, 20, 30, and 45 years old, and one adjacent forest soil as for reference. The mean Cu concentrations of orchard soils significantly increased with increasing orchard ages ranging from 21.8 to 141 mg kg⁻¹, and the CaCl₂-extractable soil Cu concentrations varied from 0.00 to 4.26 mg kg⁻¹. The soil mean C_mic values varied from 43.6 to 116 mg kg⁻¹ in the orchard soils, and were lower than the value of the reference soil (144 mg kg⁻¹). The ratio of soil C_mic to total organic C (C_org) increased from 8.10 to 18.3 mg C_mic g⁻¹ C_org with decreasing orchard ages, and was 26.1 mg C_mic g⁻¹ C_org for the reference soil. A significant correlation was observed between total- or CaCl₂-extractable soil Cu and soil C_mic or C_mic/C_org, suggesting that the soil Cu was responsible for the significant reductions in C_mic and C_mic/C_org. The three enzyme activity assays also showed the similar phenomena, and declined with the increasing orchard ages. The mean soil C mineralization rates were elevated from 110 to 150 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹ compared with the reference soil (80 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹), and the mean specific respiration rate of the reference soil (0.63 mg CO₂-C mg⁻¹ biomass C d⁻¹) was significantly smaller than the orchard soils from 1.19 to 3.55 mg CO₂-C mg⁻¹ biomass C d⁻¹. The soil C mineralization rate and the specific respiration rate can be well explained by the CaCl₂-extractable soil Cu. Thus, the long-term application of copper-based fungicides has shown adverse effects on soil microbial and enzyme properties.     

施用蛋鸡粪的龙眼园土壤质量现状评价

本文调查了蛋鸡养殖场粪便产生量及处理利用现状等基本资料,选点采集养殖场配套龙眼园的土壤样品,通过分析测定有机质、全氮、全磷、铜、锌等指标,探讨了施用蛋鸡粪对龙眼园土壤质量的影响,并对龙眼园土壤环境现状进行评价。结果表明,该养殖场龙眼园土壤粪便当量负荷为19.14t·hm-2,未超过以氮计的土壤粪便当量负荷警戒值。四个季节施用蛋鸡粪的龙眼园土壤中有机质、全氮、全磷、铜、锌等指标均高于未施用蛋鸡粪的橡胶园土壤,但无显著差异;施用过蛋鸡粪的龙眼园土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、铜、锌全年平均含量分别为18.71g·kg-1、0.97g·kg-1、0.79g·kg-1、19.65mg·kg-1和43.05mg·kg-1,均显著高于未施用过蛋鸡粪的橡胶园土壤。四个季节龙眼园土壤和橡胶园土壤铜、锌单项污染指数均小于1,属于安全级别。由于龙眼园施用的蛋鸡粪仅占养殖场蛋鸡粪产生总量的2%,而且采用直接施用鲜鸡粪的方式,因此仍存在环境污染的隐患。本文所得结果可为评估蛋鸡养殖场环境污染风险及与果园结合的蛋鸡养殖模式的合理性提供依据。     

棕壤中长期低剂量铜胁迫对苹果幼树的毒性效应

通过600d的土培试验,研究了棕壤中土壤环境质量二级标准附近的低剂量Cu长期胁迫对苹果幼树（藤木一号/八棱海棠）生长的毒害效应,并利用PAGE同工酶电泳研究了植株的保护性反应。结果表明,苹果树通过增强4条过氧化物酶（peroxidases,POD）同工酶的表达,弥补了6条POD同工酶活性的降低,使POD总活性显著增强（P〈0.05）,叶片细胞膜透性未出现显著变化（P〉0.05）,在一定程度上保护了机体免于长期胁迫致死;但是长期低剂量铜胁迫（160～320mg·kg-1）仍导致苹果树生长迟缓,春梢快速生长期推迟17～37d,土壤施加铜160和240mg·kg-1的苹果树生物量比对照分别降低25.87%和29.84%（P＆lt;0.01）,而且胁迫600d后所有铜处理植株根系均伴有感染真菌病害（白纹羽病）的间接毒害效应。表明长期的、即使是低剂量的铜胁迫仍会对苹果树生长造成显著的毒害效应,土壤铜含量在土壤环境质量标准（果园二级标准为150～200mg·kg-1）附近的果园重金属铜污染问题仍需引起进一步重视。     

黄土高原不同树龄苹果园土壤水分及硝态氮剖面特征

为揭示黄土高原农田转变为苹果园后土壤水分及硝态氮剖面变化特征,以洛川县为研究区,采集农田(对照)和8,17,25年苹果园共40个0-600 cm剖面土样,分析土壤水分、NO3--N浓度及其储量。结果表明:与农田相比,8年苹果园0-600 cm土壤水分含量及贮水量偏高(旧县镇)或相当(槐柏镇),而NO3--N浓度及其累积量则没有显著差异;17,25年苹果园0-600 cm土层贮水量则显著降低(P<0.05),分别下降150,230 mm,且该差异主要与300 cm以下土层水分变化有关;0-500 cm土层NO3--N浓度随苹果种植年限显著增加,17,25年苹果园0-600 cm土层NO3--N累积量分别为6 830,8 370 kg/hm2,二者显著高于农田(695 kg/hm2)和8年果园(440 kg/hm2)。综合可知,农田转变为苹果园这一土地利用方式变化可导致深层土壤水分亏缺(>300 cm)和硝态氮累积,黄土高原大力发展苹果种植过程中应重视蓄水保墒及氮肥减施等措施。     

不同种植年限苹果园土壤磷状况和无机磷组分特征

通过采集胶东地区不同年限苹果园0—100 cm土层土壤,分析了不同种植年限苹果园土壤全磷、有效磷、无机磷含量和无机磷组分特征,以期为苹果园科学施用磷肥提供依据。结果表明:胶东地区苹果园0—40 cm土层土壤全磷、无机磷、有效磷平均含量为0.76 g/kg,681.10 mg/kg,73.05 mg/kg。种植年限显著影响了苹果园土壤磷含量,随着种植年限的增加耕层土壤全磷、有效磷和无机磷含量呈上升趋势。不同种植年限的苹果园土壤全磷、有效磷及各无机磷组分均随着土层的加深整体呈递减趋势。无机磷组分主要以Al-P、O-P的形式存在,其次为Fe-P、Ca-P。种植年限明显影响了无机磷各组分的组成,11～15年苹果园Al-P比例最高,而16～20年苹果园O-P比例最高。相关性分析及通径分析结果表明,Al-P是该地区相对较为有效的磷源。     

CaCl_2和SrCl_2提取土壤氮钾的比较

为了探讨0.01mol L-1 CaCl2和0.02mol L-1 SrCl2提取土壤氮、钾能力的差异,用0.01mol L-1 CaCl2和0.02mol L-1 SrCl2提取14个土壤样品,再分别用流动分析和火焰光度法测定提取液中的硝态氮和亚硝态氮之和和钾的含量,以1mol L-1 KCl和1mol L-1中性醋酸铵提取液作为无机氮和钾的对照提取剂,同时选择部分土壤样品用盆栽试验测定提取数量与土壤氮、钾有效性的关系。结果表明,两种方法和对照方法提取氮和钾数量的相关性均达到p<0.01水平,对照提取剂、0.01mol L-1 CaCl2和0.02mol L-1 SrCl2对于14个土壤的硝态氮和亚硝态氮之和提取含量平均值分别为13.36、15.33和26.62mgkg-1,14个土样的提取钾含量的平均值分别为120.4、33.58和54.24mgkg-1。盆栽试验结果表明,对照提取剂和0.01molL-1CaCl2和0.02molL-1SrCl2提取氮的数量与植物吸氮量的相关性达到p<0.05显著水平,钾的相关性达到p<0.01显著水平。与对照提取剂的氮、钾分别提取相比,SrCl2和CaCl2提取剂均可大大降低样品提取中试剂费用。以上结果表明,0.01mol L-1 CaCl2和0.02mol L-1 SrCl2提取对土壤氮和钾的提取能力均可反映土壤硝态氮和亚硝态氮、有效钾的含量和供应能力,而提取能力以0.02mol L-1 SrCl2为高。     

Factors Affecting Microbial Biomass and Dehydrogenasc Activity in Apple Orchard Soils with Heavy Metal Accumulation

The size of the microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity were measured in air-dried and rewetted apple orchard surface soils with accumulation of Cu, Pb, and As due to the application of Bordeaux mixtures and lead arsenate. The largest amounts of total Cu, Pb, and As found in the soils used were 1,108, 1,271, and 209 mg kg^-1 soil, respectively. The amounts of 0.1 M HCl-extractable heavy metals were strongly correlated with the total amounts, while those of 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable heavy metals, except for As, increased significantly with decreasing soil pH. The amounts of microbial biomass C and N, expressed on a soil organic C and total N basis, respectively, were each negatively correlated with the amounts of total and 0.1 M HCl-extractable Cu. On the other hand, the dehydrogenase activity was not affected by the amounts of total and 0.1 M HCl-extractable heavy metals, and was negatively correlated with the amount of 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu and positively with the soil pH. Higher significant correlations were observed when the dehydrogenase activity was calculated per unit of soil organic C. Thus the microbial biomass was adversely affected by the slightly soluble fractions of Cu accumulated in apple orchard soils, whereas the dehydrogenase activity was affected by the water-soluble and exchangeable Cu of which amount depended on the soil pH. It is suggested that the microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity expressed on a soil organic matter basis could become useful indicators for assessing the effects of heavy metals on the size and activity of the microbial biomass in soils differing in organic matter contents.