Influence of diterpenes (colophony and abietic acid) and a triterpene (beta-sitosterol) on net N mineralization,net nitrification,soil respiration,and microbial biomass in birch soil

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of common diterpenes (colophony, abietic acid) and triterpene (beta-sitosterol) on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) transformations in soil under birch (Betula pendula L.). Samples were taken from the organic layer at two study sites, Kivalo (N-poor soil) and Kerimäki (N-rich soil), and incubated with the above-mentioned terpenes in laboratory conditions. Carbon dioxide evolution (C mineralization), net N mineralization, nitrification, and N and C in microbial biomass were measured. All these terpenes increased C mineralization, but decreased net N mineralization. The potential to decrease net N mineralization depended on amount of terpenes, with a stronger effect at a higher amount. Net nitrification in Kerimäki soil (N-rich soil) decreased but was not completely inhibited by terpenes. Effect of terpenes on soil microbial biomass C and N was not so clear, but they tended to increase both. Our study suggests that higher terpenes can act as a carbon source for soil microbial communities.     

Drivers of soil respiration and nitrogen mineralization change after litter management at a subtropical Chinese sweetgum tree plantation

Leaf litter decomposition transfers elements from litter to soils that are essential for regulating nutrient cycles in plantation ecosystems, especially carbon and nitrogen. However, soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in response to tree litter management remains insufficiently researched. We conducted a one-year field experiment at a fast-growing sweetgum tree plantation to evaluate the effects of leaf litter management on soil available nutrients, respiration rate and nitrogen mineralization rate. Three leaf litter treatments were applied, which were: (1) natural input (control); (2) double input and (3) non-input. It was found that the double input treatment increased soil inorganic nitrogen and microbial biomass nitrogen, but had little effect on microbial biomass carbon, dissolved organic carbon or dissolved organic nitrogen compared with natural input. The non-input treatment caused dissolved organic carbon to decrease compared with natural input. The respiration rate increased in the double input treatment, with a positive priming effect observed. Soil net ammonification, nitrification and mineralization rates also increased in the double input treatment in specific seasons. Meanwhile, positive linear relationships between respiration rate and all nitrogen transformation rates were observed for all treatments. Soil temperature was found to be an important prediction factor for predicting the respiration rate and mineralization as seasonal variations, but not for litter-induced fluctuations. Soil water content and mineral nitrogen were the primary drivers of litter-induced change to the respiration rate, whereas mineral nitrogen and microbial biomass were primary drivers of mineralization change. These results suggest that changes in soil nitrogen mineralization rate are strongly associated with the soil respiratory process, resulting in a potentially strong plant–soil feedback mechanism.     

Legacies of organic matter removal: decreased microbial biomass nitrogen and net N mineralization in New Zealand Pinus radiata plantations

The effect of variations in organic matter removal during harvesting on microbial biomass nitrogen was determined in four Pinus radiata plantations between 9 and 17 years after harvesting. Variation in microbial biomass nitrogen with season and the response of net nitrogen mineralization to organic matter removal after 9 and 17 years were also determined at two of the sites. The microbial biomass nitrogen in the fermentation-humus (FH) layer was correlated with litter fall characteristics and did not vary with organic matter removal, but the total mass of microbial biomass nitrogen in the FH layer was significantly reduced by increased organic matter removal. The microbial biomass nitrogen in the mineral soil was decreased by increased organic matter removal and was strongly correlated with moisture content and total nitrogen concentration. The FH layer microbial biomass nitrogen did not vary with season, but mineral soil microbial biomass nitrogen varied with season at one site, probably due to increased moisture availability. Net nitrogen mineralization in the mineral soil, determined by an anaerobic incubation, was decreased by increased organic matter removal and was strongly correlated with microbial biomass nitrogen. The persistence of the significant differences in microbial biomass nitrogen and net nitrogen mineralization indicated that variations in organic matter removal during harvesting have long-term effects on soil microbial properties and activity during the life of the subsequent rotation. This has implications for the selection of harvesting techniques to promote the maintenance of site productivity and to minimise disruption to the soil biota.     

Microbial biomass and microbial C:N ratio in bulk soil and buried bags for evaluating in situ net N mineralization in agricultural soils

The in situ net nitrogen mineralization (N_net) was estimated in five agricultural soils under different durations of organic farming by incubating soil samples in buried bags. Simultaneously, soil microbial C and N was determined in buried bags and in bulk soil under winter wheat and after harvest. The aim was to check for variations in soil microbial biomass contents and microbial C:N ratios during the incubation period, and their importance for N_net rates. Microbial C and N contents were highest in soils that had been organically farmed for 41 years, whereas N_net rates were highest in a short‐term organically managed soil that had been under grassland use until 36 years ago. The mean coefficient of variation in the bulk soil for microbial C estimates ranged from 5 to 12 %. Microbial N contents were similar inside buried bags and in the bulk soil at the end of the incubation periods. Under winter wheat during the incubation period until harvest, microbial C contents and microbial C:N ratios (in 10—27 cm depth only) decreased more strongly inside buried bags than in the bulk soil. Following harvest of winter wheat and ploughing, microbial biomass increased while in situ N_net decreased, presumably due to N immobilization. The N_net rates were not correlated with microbial N contents or changes in microbial N contents inside buried bags. At the end of the vegetation period of winter wheat, N_net rates were negatively correlated with microbial C:N ratios. Because these ratios concurrently decreased more inside buried bags than in the bulk soil, the N_net estimates of the buried bag method may differ from the N_net rates in the bulk soil at that time.     

Substantial net N mineralization during the dormant season in temperate forest soils

In temperate forest soils, N net mineralization has been extensively investigated during the growing season, whereas N cycling during winter was barely addressed. Here, we quantified net ammonification and nitrification during the dormant season by in situ and laboratory incubations in soils of a temperate European beech and a Norway spruce forest. Further, we compared temperature dependency of N net mineralization in in situ field incubations with those from laboratory incubations at controlled temperatures. From November to April, in situ N net mineralization of the organic and upper mineral horizons amounted to 10.9 kg N (ha · 6 months)^–1 in the spruce soil and to 44.3 kg N (ha · 6 months)^–1 in the beech soil, representing 65% (beech) and 26% (spruce) of the annual above ground litterfall. N net mineralization was largest in the Oi/Oe horizon and lowest in the A and EA horizons. Net nitrification in the beech soil [1.5 kg N (ha · 6 months)^–1] was less than in the spruce soil [5.9 kg N (ha · 6 months)^–1]. In the range of soil temperatures observed in the field (0–8°C), the temperature dependency of N net mineralization was generally high for both soils and more pronounced in the laboratory incubations than in the in situ incubations. We suggest that homogenization of laboratory samples increased substrate availability and, thus, enhanced the temperature response of N net mineralization. In temperate forest soils, N net mineralization during the dormant season contributes substantially to the annual N cycling, especially in deciduous sites with large amounts of litterfall immediately before the dormant season. High Q₁₀ values of N net mineralization at low temperatures suggest a huge effect of future increasing winter temperature on the N cycle in temperate forests.     

The effect of a perennial cover crop on net soil N mineralization and microbial biomass carbon in coconut plantations in the humid tropics

The decrease in soil fertility in agroecosystems due to continuous harvesting, loss of fine soil and oxidation of soil organic carbon (SOC) is well known. This study evaluates for a humid tropical climate in South Andaman Island, India, the impact of a 15-yr old Pueraria cover crop (CC) under a coconut plantation, with and without phosphorus (P) application, on the soil N mineralization rate (NMR), the mineral N pool (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N), microbial biomass carbon (MB-C) and SM under four treatments, (1) no cover crop (NCC), (2) no cover crop + phosphorus (NCC+P), (3) CC, and (4) cover crop + phosphorus (CC+P) during three seasons, wet (May–October), post-wet (November–January) and dry (February–April). The NCC treatment served as a control. In addition, an ex-situ experiment was conducted to verify the effect of P application on NMR and MB-C under 100% field capacity (FC), 50 and 25% FC representing the different seasons. The NMR, mineral N pool and MB-C increased by 37, 46 and 41%, respectively under the CC compared to the control. SOC and fine soil particles were also greater under the CC by 41 and 461%, respectively, compared to the control. The application of P to the CC increased soil N mineralization, the mineral N pool and MB-C by 33, 16 and 14%, respectively. The amount of mineralized N was greater under the CC and CC+P treatments by 39 and 73%, respectively than the control. The ex-situ experiment showed that the P application increased NMR and MB-C, but the increases were highest in the 50% FC and lowest in 100% FC. It is proposed for the humid tropics that a CC could be used for enhancing SOC and increasing soil N mineralization under coconut plantations and other similar agroecosystems.     

红壤水稻土微生物生物量氮与总氮矿化的关系

通过田间采样并布置室内培育试验,研究了红壤水稻土微生物生物量N和总N的矿化动态及其相互关系。结果表明,红壤水稻土微生物生物量N矿化速率和矿化量随培养时间延长而降低,随水稻土肥力水平提高而增加。12周培养期内,红壤水稻土微生物生物量N的一半以上被矿化,其中约1/2的矿化量出现在前4周;不同熟化程度红壤水稻土的累积矿化N量为73.0～127.8mg/kg,平均矿化速率为6.09～10.7mg/(kg·wk)。用双指数方程和一级动力学方程可以很好地模拟红壤水稻土微生物生物量N和总N的矿化过程。微生物生物量N和总N的矿化过程均可分为快速和缓慢2个阶段,培养的前8周是快速矿化阶段。2个模拟方程参数的比较表明,微生物生物量N矿化量占总N矿化量的比例为10.8%～49.5%,其矿化潜力大,持续矿化时间长,对保证土壤N素的持续供应有积极作用。     

Pasture and forest soil microbial communities show distinct patterns in their catabolic respiration responses at a landscape scale

Catabolic responses to specific substrates can be used to differentiate soil microbial communities. We hypothesized that the catabolic respiration responses of microbial communities from pastures would differ from those of forest soils, and that the differences would be consistent at a landscape scale, due to inherent differences in litter quality and management regimes. We analysed respiration responses to 25 different substrates of 20 pasture soils (dominated by rye grass and white clover) and 20 forest soils (indigenous forest species or the plantation species Pinus radiata) over a wide geographical range in New Zealand.Within each pasture or forest category, the catabolic responses showed a similar pattern, suggesting similarities in functional catabolic capability and microbial community Indigenous forests and pine forests microbial communities did not differ in their responses. Pasture soil communities had significantly higher relative responses to carbohydrate and amino-acid substrates and significantly lower relative response to carboxylic acid substrates, than microbial communities from forest soils. Forest soils had relatively greater responses to carboxylic acids as a group, as well as citric acid, α-ketobutyric acid, α-ketoglutaric acid, and α-ketovaleric acid, than did the pasture soils. A subset of 6 substrates was equally as effective at differentiating the microbial catabolic response of pasture soils from forest soils as the entire set of 25 substrates. The results demonstrated distinct differences in the respiration responses of the soil microbial communities of pastures and forests, but showed strong similarities within each vegetation class, despite the wide geographical spread, different soils and plant species.     

Changes in net N mineralization rates and soil N and P pools in a pine forest wildfire chronosequence

The concern that climate change may increase fire frequency and intensity has recently heightened the interest in the effects of wildfires on ecosystem functioning. Although short-term fire effects on forest soils are well known, less information can be found on the long-term effects of wildfires on soil fertility. Our objective was to study the 17-year effect of wildfires on forest net mineralization rates and extractable inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations. We hypothesize that (1) burned forest stands should exhibit lower net mineralization rates than unburned ones; (2) these differences would be greatest during the growing season; (3) differences between soil variables might also be observed among plots from different years since the last fire; and (4) due to fire-resistant geochemical processes controlling P availability, this nutrient should recover faster than N. We used a wildfire chronosequence of natural and unmanaged Pinus canariensis forests in La Palma Island (Canary Islands). Soil samples were collected during winter and spring at 22 burned and unburned plots. We found significantly higher values for net N mineralization and extractable N pools in unburned plots. These differences were higher for the winter sampling date than for the spring sampling date. Unlike extractable N and N mineralization rates, extractable P levels of burned plots exhibited a gradual recovery over time after an initial decrease. These results demonstrate that P. canariensis forest soils showed low resilience after wildfires, especially for N, and that this disturbance might induce long-term changes in ecosystem functioning.     

Effect of N addition,moisture, and temperature on soil microbial respiration and microbial biomass in forest soil at different stages of litter decomposition

Purpose

The objective of the present study was to investigate the interactive effects of nitrogen (N) addition, temperature, and moisture on soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass, and metabolic quotient (qCO₂) at different decomposition stages of different tree leaf litters.

Materials and methods

A laboratory incubation experiment with and without litter addition was conducted for 80 days at two temperatures (15 and 25 °C), two wetting intensities (35 and 50 % water-filled porosity space (WFPS)) and two doses of N addition (0 and 4.5 g N m^?2, as NH₄NO₃). The tree leaf litters included three types of broadleaf litters, a needle litter, and a mixed litter of them. Soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass, and qCO₂ along with other soil properties were measured at two decomposition stages of tree leaf litters.

Results and discussion

The increase in soil cumulative carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux and microbial biomass during the incubation depended on types of tree leaf litters, N addition, and hydrothermal conditions. Soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and N and qCO₂ were significantly greater in all litter-amended than in non-amended soils. However, the difference in the qCO₂ became smaller during the late period of incubation, especially at 25 °C. The interactive effect of temperature with soil moisture and N addition was significant for affecting the cumulative litter-derived CO₂-C flux at the early and late stages of litter decomposition. Furthermore, the interactive effect of soil moisture and N addition was significant for affecting the cumulative CO₂ flux at the late stage of litter decomposition but not early in the experiment.

Conclusions

This present study indicated that the effects of addition of N and hydrothermal conditions on soil microbial respiration, qCO₂, and concentrations of labile C and N depended on types of tree leaf litters and the development of litter decomposition. The results highlight the importance of N availability and hydrothermal conditions in interactively regulating soil microbial respiration and microbial C utilization during litter decomposition under forest ecosystems.

     

华北平原农田生态系统土壤C、N净矿化及尿素转化研究

以华北平原区4个农田生态系统[京郊蔬菜大棚(GH)和河北栾城(LF)、河北南皮(NF)、山东惠民(HF)3个粮田]为研究对象,采用室内好气、恒温、避光条件下培养30.d,对比研究了不同海拔和不同农业扰动强度下的农田生态系统中耕层(020.cm)土壤的净N矿化、净硝化、净C矿化以及尿素的转化,旨在探索人类农业扰动强度和地理海拔对土壤供N潜力和尿素N转化的影响。结果表明,4个地区的土壤供N潜力分别为:14.4、13.2,17.7和16.5.mg/kg,说明高度熟化的华北区农田土壤供N潜力相对稳定。以施用有机肥为主的蔬菜大棚和以施用化肥为主的粮田对土壤供N没有显著影响。农田土壤净矿化后的供N形式主要是NO3--N。以施用有机肥为主的蔬菜大棚积累了较高的土壤有机质和全N,但是土壤净C矿化以及施用尿素后CO2的排放量均低于以施用化肥为主的粮田。尿素在各区域农田土壤中水解转化后均主要以NO3--N形式存在,NO3--N占尿素水解后无机N增量的98%9～9%;华北平原农田生态系统施入尿素态N.30d后,水解成有效态无机N的转化率为63.4%8～3.2%,即每克尿素态N在京郊蔬菜大棚(GH)、栾城高产农田(LF)、南皮农田(NF)和惠民农田(HF)土壤中转化为NO3--N的量分别为0.69、0.82、0.64和0.63.g/kg,同时可使相应区域农田的CO2排放量分别增加CO21.20、1.360、.67和1.58.g/kg。     

Effect of the rate of N fertilizer on apparent net mineralization of N during and after cultivation of cereal and sugar beet crops

Apparent net N mineralization (mineralization minus immobilization) in fertilized and unfertilized treatments was determined in 133 fertilizer trials with cereals and sugar beet over 3 years (1988-90). Apparent net mineralization was defined as follows: Apparent net N mineralization = (crop N at harvest - crop N in spring) - (N_min in spring - N_min at harvest) - N fertilizer applied. Results can be summarised as follows:

• 1 For both crop species, apparent net N mineralization decreased in the following order: unfertilized > optimally fertilized > overfertilized.
• 2 The decrease in apparent net mineralization of N with increasing rate of N fertilizer was attributed to immobilization. This was confirmed by measurements of increased remineralization during the following autumn, winter and during the growing season in the following year.
• 3 Both the soil N_min at harvest and fertilizer N which was immobilized and remineralized during autumn and winter, is at risk of being leached. At optimal fertilizer doses 30 kg N/ha and 74 kg N/ha were leached on average over winter from loamy and sandy soils respectively.
• 4 Apparent net mineralization was not important for optimally fertilized cereals and therefore does not need to be considered for fertilizer recommendations for winter cereals. This does not apply to land receiving slurry applications before or during the growth period.
• 5 In contrast to cereals, apparent net mineralization contributed considerably to the nutrition of sugar beet. Approximately 140 kg N/ha were mineralized at the optimum rate of N fertilizer application. However, the EUF- and CaCl₂-methods were unable to predict N mineralization and were therefore unable to improve the prediction of fertilizer requirement even in combination with the NO₃ soil N fraction.

     

Potential net soil N mineralization and decomposition of glycine-C in forest soils along an elevation gradient

The objective of this research was to better understand patterns of soil nitrogen (N) availability and soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition in forest soils across an elevation gradient (235-1670 m) in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Laboratory studies were used to determine the potential rate of net soil N mineralization and in situ studies of ¹³C-labelled glycine were used to infer differences in decomposition rates. Nitrogen stocks, surface soil (0-5 cm) N concentrations, and the pool of potentially mineralizable surface soil N tended to increase from low to high elevations. Rates of potential net soil N mineralization were not significantly correlated with elevation. Increasing soil N availability with elevation is primarily due to greater soil N stocks and lower substrate C-to-N ratios, rather than differences in potential net soil N mineralization rates. The loss rate of ¹³C from labelled soils (0-20 cm) was inversely related to study site elevation (r=−0.85; P<0.05) and directly related to mean annual temperature (+0.86; P<0.05). The results indicated different patterns of potential net soil N mineralization and ¹³C loss along the elevation gradient. The different patterns can be explained within a framework of climate, substrate chemistry, and coupled soil C and N stocks. Although less SOM decomposition is indicated at cool, high-elevation sites, low substrate C-to-N ratios in these N-rich systems result in more N release (N mineralization) for each unit of C converted to CO₂ by soil microorganisms.     

Definition of priority areas for soil protection at a continental scale

Resources for achieving better soil protection are limited and need to be effectively targeted. Spatial variability is high for soil types and related quality and for the risk of degradation because of the threats of organic matter decline, erosion, compaction and salinization. A framework is presented for mapping priority areas for soil protection based on assessing where there is greater risk of degradation and evaluating its acceptability. A conceptual model is proposed which links anthropogenic hazards, threats and the risk of degradation with soil functions. It is recommended that a set of test areas is defined according to dominant soil types, and the probabilities of changes to soil properties relevant to soil functions are then estimated. The risk of exceeding a particular degradation threshold within these test areas can then be assessed and assigned to risk categories to provide the basis for the identification of priority areas.     

Temperature functions of the rate coefficients of net N mineralization in sandy arable soils. Part II. Evaluation via field mineralization measurements

The aim of this study was to evaluate experimentally derived temperature functions for the rate coefficients of net N mineralization in sandy arable soils from NW Germany via field measurements. In part I of this paper (Heumann and Böttcher, 2004), different temperature functions for the rate coefficients of a two‐pool first‐order kinetic equation were derived by long‐term laboratory incubations at 3°C to 35°C. In this paper, field net N mineralization during winter of 25 plots was measured in undisturbed soil columns with a diameter of 20 cm to the depth of the A_p horizon. Mean simulated net N mineralization with the most adequate multiple functions corresponded also best with the mean of the measured values despite of an overestimation of about 10%. Distinctly larger deviations under use of other temperature functions (Arrhenius, Q₁₀) were directly related to their deviations from mean, experimentally derived rate coefficients. Simulated net N mineralization in the soil columns was significantly correlated with measured values, regardless of the temperature functions. Yet the goodness of fit was generally relatively low due to the spatial variability of measured net N mineralization within replicate soil columns, although the mean CV (38%) was by far not extraordinary. The pool of slowly mineralizable N contributed considerably to net N mineralization during four to five winter months, on an average 10.0 kg N ha^–1, about one third of total simulated N mineralization. Sometimes, it contributed even 21.3 kg N ha^–1, which is almost sufficient to reach the EU drinking‐water limit for nitrate in these soils. Simulations with widely used functions that were once derived from loess soils overestimated mineralization from pool N_slow in the studied sandy arable soils by a factor of two.     

Temperature and soil moisture interactively affected soil net N mineralization in temperate grassland in Northern China

Intact soil cores from three adjacent sites (Site A: grazed, Site B: fenced for 4 years, and Site C: fenced for 24 years) were incubated in the laboratory to examine effects of temperature, soil moisture, and their interactions on net nitrification and N mineralization rates in the Inner Mongolia grassland of Northern China. Incubation temperature significantly influenced net nitrification and N mineralization rates in all the three grassland sites. There were no differences in net nitrification or N mineralization rates at lower temperatures (−10, 0, and 5 °C) whereas significant differences were found at higher temperatures (15, 25, and 35 °C). Soil moisture profoundly impacted net nitrification and N mineralization rates in all the three sites. Interactions of temperature and moisture significantly affected net nitrification and mineralization rates in Site B and C, but not in Site A. Temperature sensitivity of net nitrification and N mineralization varied with soil moisture and grassland site. Our results showed greater net N mineralization rates and lower concentrations of inorganic N in the grazed site than those in the fenced sites, suggesting negative impacts of grazing on soil N pools and net primary productivity.     

Multivariate conditional stochastic simulation of soil heterotrophic respiration at plot scale

Soil heterotrophic respiration fluxes at plot scale exhibit substantial spatial and temporal variability. Within this study secondary information was used to spatially predict heterotrophic respiration. Chamber-based measurements of heterotrophic respiration fluxes were repeated for 15 measurement campaigns within a bare 13 × 14 m² soil plot. Soil water contents and temperatures were measured simultaneously with the same spatial and temporal resolution. Further, we used measurements of soil organic carbon content and apparent electrical conductivity as well as the prior measurement of the target variable. The previous variables were used as co-variates in a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis to spatially predict bare soil respiration. In particular the prior measurement of the target variable, the soil water content and the apparent electrical conductivity, showed a certain, even though limited, predictive power. In the first step we applied external drift kriging and regression kriging to determine the improvement of using co-variates in an estimation procedure in comparison to ordinary kriging. The improvement using co-variates ranged between 40 and 1% for a single measurement campaign. The difference in improving the prediction of respiration fluxes between external drift kriging and regression kriging was marginal. In a second step we applied sequential Gaussian simulations conditioned with external drift kriging to generate more realistic spatial patterns of heterotrophic respiration at plot scale. Compared to the estimation approaches the conditional stochastic simulations revealed a significantly improved reproduction of the probability density function and the semivariogram of the original point data.     

Studying the dynamics of the net N mineralization rate in a catena on loess deposits using time series analysis

Data on the dynamics of the net N mineralization rate in four soils of catenas in the western Kraichgau region (Germany) were processed using time series analysis, including Census I decomposition. It was shown that the annual cycle of the net N mineralization rate in the Calcaric Regosols is significantly related to the annual cycle of the soil temperature, and its long-term trend is similar to that of the soil moisture. The risk of mineral nitrogen leaching beyond the soil profile is rather high in Calcaric Regosols because of the seasonal dynamics.     

C and N mineralization and microbial biomass in heavy-metal contaminated soil

Heavy metals such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) can be found in large concentrations in mine spills in Mexico. Interest in contamination by these heavy metals has increased recently as they can change the functioning of soil ecosystems qualitatively and quantitatively. They disturb the activities of soil fauna and contaminate drinking water in large parts of the world, which severely affects human health. Little, however, is known how heavy metals might affect the biological functioning of a soil. Soil was sampled from eight locations along a gradient of heavy-metal contamination with distance from a mine in San Luis Potosí (Mexico) active since about 1800 AD. Microbial biomass was determined with the original chloroform fumigation incubation (CFI) as well as extraction (CFE) techniques and the substrate induced respiration (SIR) technique while C and N mineralization were measured. Total concentrations of As in the top 0–10 cm soil layer ranged from 8 to 22992 mg kg^–1, from 31 to 1845 mg kg^–1 for Pb, from 27 to 1620 mg kg^–1 for Cu and from 81 to 4218 mg kg^–1 for Zn. There was a significant negative correlation (P < 0.0001) between microbial biomass, soil organic carbon, total N and C mineralization and the heavy metal content of the soil. The microbial biomass C to organic C ratio, which varied from 0.4 to 1.9%, specific respiratory activity (qCO₂), and oxidation of NO₂^– were not affected by heavy metals. It was found that long-term contamination of soil with heavy metals had an adverse effect on the amount of soil microorganisms as evidenced by a marked decrease in microbial biomass C, but not some of their characteristics. According to principal components analysis (PCA), the correlation matrix showed three distinct factors explaining 71% of the variance. A first factor including heavy metals (As, Pb, Cu and Zn) with a negative loading and total N, organic C, soil microbial biomass with a positive loading characterized the soil organic matter and contamination status. Loam and sand combined for the second factor characterizing the textural classification while the third factor was loaded by CEC and clay content.