respiration of soil microorganisms, the biological degradation, polyethylene, polyvinylalcohol
Abstract
The both basic and potential biological soil activity along with a biological degradation capacity of soil
microorganisms through their respiratory activity were investigated after the application of polymers with the
different degree of degradation in the soil. The CO2 production was measured by the absorption method at
standard moisture and temperature under laboratory conditions. Numerous representing changes of major soil
microbial groups were determined after the application of the polyethylene. Polyethylene (PE),
polyvinylalcohol (PVA), polyvinylalcohol modified by hydrolysed collagen (PVAHC) were applied as
synthetic polymers into luvisol. The addition of all tested polymers significantly influenced the CO2
production. During 43 days of incubation period, the total amount of produced CO2 was 1271.6 mg.kg-1. The
total amount of mineralised carbon in the soil reached 4.55 %. When compared with the soil, the respiratory
activity of soil microorganisms increased 3-times, 1.2-times and 1.3-times after addition of starch, PVA and
PVAHC, respectively. The addition of granular PE reduced the soil pores size, which resulted in a significant
decrease of CO2 production and non-significant rearrangement of the major microbial groups in the soil after
three month of incubation.
