Effect of Utilization of Organic Waste as Agricultural Amendment on Soil Microbial Biomass
Rajeev Pratap Singh
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
Abhijit Sarkar
Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kalyani, Kalyani – 741 235, West Bengal, India and Research Laboratory for Biotechnology and Biochemistry (RLABB), P.O.Box: 13265, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Chandan Sengupta
Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kalyani, Kalyani – 741 235, West Bengal, India.
Pooja Singh
Division of Bio-resource, Paper and Coatings Technology, School of Industrial Technology Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800, Penang, Malaysia.
Roberta Lima Miranda
Agricultural Science Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
Luis Alfredo Pinheiro Leal Nunes
Agricultural Science Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
Ademir Sérgio Ferreira de Araujo *
Agricultural Science Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
Wanderley José de Melo
São Paulo State University, Department of Technology, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The use of organic wastes, from municipal and industrial activities, as source of plant nutrients and soil conditioners increased worldwide. However, there is a concern with the environmental pollution.
Currently, these organic wastes are disposed in open dump in developing countries or in landfills in the developed ones. The main soil indicator used to evaluate the effect of organic wastes on soil is soil microbial biomass.
Soil microbial biomass is very sensitive to environmental impact and there are already several studies evaluating the effect of organic wastes on soil microbial properties. Nowadays, the studies are focusing soil microbial diversity as the use of molecular biology tools.
The current review addresses the effects of use of organic waste, from municipal and industrial sources, in agriculture and their effects on soil microbial biomass.
Keywords: Wastes management, agricultural soil, heavy metals, soil microorganisms