Changes in Soil Microbial Biomass and Activity under Different Land-Use Types in Bartın, Northwestern Türkiye

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine microbiological soil properties under three different land-use types within the borders of the Ulus Forestry Operations Directorate in the Bartin Stream Basin of Northwestern Turkiye. Samples of topsoil were taken to determine soil microbial biomass carbon (C-mic) and basal respiration (microbial respiration). C-mic contents of the topsoils belonging to the different land-use types ranged between 219.87 and 777.09 mu g g(-1). The highest average C-mic, basal respiration, and metabolic coefficient (qCO(2)) values of the soils were noted in the black pine forest site, whereas the average C-mic/C-org percentage was the highest in the agricultural site. Moreover, these characteristics were found to be statistically different (p < 0.05) among the black pine, rangeland, and agricultural site topsoils. This demonstrated that microbial properties, in particular, are potential biological indicators for assessing ecological changes brought about by management practices and usage of the land.