Effect of exposure to atmospheric pollution on microbial activity in soil

Summary Surface samples of a brown earth soil, showing signs of podzolization were transferred from an unpolluted woodland site and exposed to heavy atmospheric pollution for a period of one year. Although exposure resulted in a decrease in soil pH from 4.2 to 3.7, no significant changes in microbial numbers; nitrification rate; respiration rate; solubilization of insoluble phosphate; or the activity of a range of soil enzymes occurred. The rate of ammonification was, however, higher in the exposed than the control soil.Microbial activity in the unpolluted soil was not, therefore, substantially impaired by exposure to heavy atmospheric pollution, despite the fact that the pH of the soil was reduced.