Effect of two selected herbicides (Nicosulfuron + Atrazine and Dimethylammonium Acetate) on microbial activities and physicochemical properties of soil samples
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of Dimethylammonium Acetate and Nicosulfuron + Atrazine on soil microbial activities and physicochemical properties, applied at X1, X2, and X3 rates. Dehydrogenase activity, Microbial biomass carbon, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, organic matter, mineral content, electrical conductivity, exchangeable acidity and pH were determined in the soil samples. There were significant reductions (P≤0.05) in the dehydrogenase activities of soil samples treated with the two herbicides compared to the control. Treatment with the herbicides also resulted in significant increases (P≤0.05) in the total nitrogen and available phosphorus content of soil samples compared to the control soil samples. Dimethylammonium Acetate treated soils had the lowest dehydrogenase activity (26.33±0.9 µgg-1h-1) of the two herbicides. Soil treatment with Dimethylammonium Acetate resulted in significant increases (P≤0.05) in calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, manganese, copper, and zinc content of soil samples. The manganese content of the soil samples was highest (7.29 ± 0.20 mg/kg) in soils treated with Dimethylammonium Acetate. Dimethylammonium Acetate treated soils also had the highest exchangeable acidity and electrical conductivity values of 0.85 ± 0.08 Cmol kg -1 and 1.75 ± 0.14 Cmol kg -1, respectively, at X3. Conclusively Dimethylammonium Acetate caused a noticeable increase in dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass carbon content, while application of Nicolsufuron + Atrazine resulted in an increase in dehydrogenase activity and a decrease in microbial biomass carbon.
Keywords
Microbial biomass carbon, Available phosphorus, Total nitrogen, Organic matter, Mineral content
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