Carbon Mineralization in the Industrial Lands of Eastern Mediterranean Region

Abstract

In this study; it was determined some trace element contents [Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn (mg/kg)] and carbon mineralization (28° C, 45 days) in three soil sampled depending on the distance from three different plots of Industrial Zone which has a great number of iron and steel and metal industry enterprises and one soil sample from Osmaniye Korkut Ata University campus which is located far from this Industrial Zone. CO2 respiration method was used in carbon mineralization experiments. It was determined that trace element contents of these four soils was lower than the limit values. Carbon mineralization [15.0 mg/C(CO2)/100 g DS] of the soil number 1 sampled nearly the Industial Zone was significantly lower than campus soil numbered 4 [30.0 mg/C(CO2)/100 g DS]. The similarity were also observed among the carbon mineralization rates of four soils and three soils of the Industrial Zone were found significantly lower than the campus soil. All these findings exhibited that the carbon mineralization and trace element contents of the soils did not change with distance of Industrial Zone; the soil may vary depending on the organic carbon and nitrogen contents together with pH.