The Comparison of Cellulolytic Activity of the Modified Soil Treated with Roundup

Abstract The activity of soil microorganisms affects soil fertility and structure, what leads to satisfactory crop yields, thanks to changes in the decay of organic matter. Their activity may be impaired as a result of application by farmers both fertilizers and pesticides. The degradation of cellulosic biomass represents an important part of the carbon cycle within the biosphere. Cellulolitic microorganisms are responsible for this decomposition, as they produced the enzymes of the cellulase complex. The aim of the study was to compare the cellulolytic activity of soil with Roundup and modified using urea phosphate and / or manure. The pot experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions. The studied material was brown soil (pH of 5.5) fertilized with manure and/or urea phosphate. To each earthenware vase were fed 0.5 kg of the tested soil supplemented with 1% carboxymethyl cellulose. The cellulolytic activities of soil in different experimental variants were expressed in % of C using a colorimetric Petkov method. Modification of soil cellulolytic activity varied considerably depending on the additive manure and/or urea phosphate and Roundup. The lowest soil cellulolytic activity was observed in the presence of manure and urea phosphate, and the highest in the soil with manure and Roundup. The objects of Roundup independently of the other additives urea phosphate stimulate the activity of the cellulolytic microflora compared to objects containing only urea phosphate. The presence of manure in soil treated with Roundup clearly accelerated degradation of cellulose, what can be used in agriculture in the degradation of crop residues. The study shows that pesticides and fertilizers have a big impact on cellulolytic activity in soil. Changes in cellulolytic activity can be used as an ecological indicator of soil pollution level.