Carbon Mineralization of Acacia cyanophylla Soils under the Different Temperature and Humidity Conditions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine how carbon (C) mineralization of acacia (Acacia cyanophylla, Fabaceae) soil are affected by the different temperature (23°C and 28°C) and humidity (80% and 60% of their field capacity) conditions in the laboratory. The acacia soils were collected from Cukurova University campus in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. C mineralization of all soils was determined using CO 2 respiration method. The microbial activity increased together with temperature increases. The microbial activity in the soils humidified to 80% of field capacity was significantly different from field capacity and 60% of field capacity at both 23°C and 28°C temperatures (p<0.001). The ratios (%) of C mineralization of 80% of field capacity at 23°C and 28°C were also significantly higher than all of the others (p<0.001). These findings might suggest that 80% of field capacity of acacia soil is better humidity for microbial activity at both 23°C and 28°C temperatures into 30 days.