JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

Abiotic stresses such as salinity and contamination individually have a negative effect on the soil enzyme activities, whereas addition of organic matter to soil can alleviate the negative impacts of stresses on the enzyme activity. However, the combined effects of these stresses (multiple stresses) on soil biochemical conditions and the role of organic matter addition in these interactions are largely unknown. The objective of this research was to explore the interaction effect of NaCl salinity and cadmium (Cd)-pollution on the activities of catalase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis in a Cd-contaminated calcareous soil treated with alfalfa residue over 3 months of incubation. A factorial experiment with 2 levels of Cd, 3 levels of salinity and 2 plant residue treatments was conducted using a completely randomized design with 4 replications. The results indicated that salinity increased the Cd availability in both uncontaminated and contaminated soils and reduced the soil enzymatic activity. Nevertheless, addition of alfalfa residue reduced the detrimental effects of salinity and Cd-pollution on the soil enzyme activities. This indicated that in saline Cd-contaminated soils with low organic matter, adding plant residues could lower the concentration of available Cd and the effect of soil salinity with a concomitant increase of enzyme activities. So, this study showed that the joint effect of NaCl salt and Cd on enzyme activity was mostly synergistic in plant residue-untreated soils, but it was antagonistic in the plant residue-treated soils.