Effect of Heavy Metal on Soil Respiration

Abstract

Gopalpur soil was taken to understand the effect of heavy metals on soil respiration. Solutions of analytical grade sulphate (SO₄) salt each of zinc, copper and cadmium was applied singly and in combinations. Soil sample which receives no metal amendment was served as control. Control, Cu (3000 ppm), Cd (3000 ppm), Zn (3000 ppm), Cu:Cd (1500 ppm:1500 ppm), Cd:Zn (1500 ppm:1500 ppm), Cu:Zn (1500 ppm:1500 ppm), and Cu:Cd:Zn (1000 ppm:1000 ppm :1000 ppm) were the treatments of this experiment.  All treatments were replicated three times.  0 day, 14 days, 30 days, 45 days and 60 days were selected as incubation periods. Zn (3000 ppm) showed higher decreasing rate of respiration. Decrease rate of respiration was in minimum for Cu and Cd combination where maximum decrease rate was observed in Cu and Zn pair