Influence of cadmium and zinc on carbon dioxide evolution from litter and soil from a black oak forest

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1978.00472425000700010023x· OSTI ID:6642728

Chaney, W R; Kelly, J M; Strickland, R C

Studies have shown that heavy metals can reduce decomposition rates. Since litter decomposition is an essential part of forest mineral cycles, understanding the degree of impact that these substances have on such a key process is important. Two similar black oak forests, East Chicago (impacted) and Willow Slough (background), were chosen as study areas. Microcosms containing litter and mineral soil were collected at each site and returned to the laboratory where comparative measurements of carbon dioxide evolution were taken at 0, 12, 36, and 84 hours, and at 23 days. Measurements indicated a higher decomposition rate for the Willow Slough microcosms (138 mg CO/sub 2//hour per kg at 23 days) compared to the East Chicago microcosms (94 mg CO/sub 2//hour per kg). Additional microcosms from Willow Slough were treated with solutions containing all possible combinations of 0, 0.1, or 10 ppM CdCl/sub 2/ and 0, 100, or 1,000 ppM ZnCl/sub 2/. Metal concentrations applied were equivalent to litter and soil levels at East Chicago. Statistically significant differences were detected only 36 hours and 23 days after treatment. Reduced respiration rates were associated with high concentrations of CdCl/sub 2//ZnCl/sub 2/. Suppression of respiration rates due to osmotic effects of metal salts was rejected after microcosms treated with KCl and CaCl/sub 2/ exhibited no change in respiration. While high levels of cadmium and zinc produced reductions in respiration rates compared to controls, low level treatments may have stimulated decomposition slightly.

• Research Organization: Purdue Univ., Lafayette, IN
• OSTI ID: 6642728
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 7:1; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CADMIUM
CADMIUM CHLORIDES
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM HALIDES
CALCIUM CHLORIDES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM HALIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DECOMPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FOREST LITTER
FORESTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INHIBITION
KINETICS
METALS
MINERAL CYCLING
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM CHLORIDES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
RESPIRATION
SOILS
STIMULATION
ZINC
ZINC CHLORIDES
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC HALIDES