Applicability of Microbial CO2 Production and Phosphatase Enzyme Activity as Indicators of Pollution Loads into Brown Forest Soils

Biological activity of brown forest soils was studied in three sessile oak stands affected by different levels of air pollution. For the estimation of the biological activity soil microbial CO2 production was measured and extracellular phosphatase activity was tested. We found an essential difference between the sampling sites regarding the average levels of biological activity. There was a decrease in the biological activity of soils as the intensity of pollution loads became stronger. Our results suggest that these parameters reflect the intensity of pollution loads into the forest ecosystems and can be used as indicator of the environmental loading especially when air pollution is being considered.