EFFECT OF PHENOLIC-COMPOUNDS ON SELECTED SOIL PROPERTIES

The effects of five phenolic compounds, catechol, protocatechuic, p-co umaric, p-hydroxybenzoic, ferulic acids and their mixture were studied on pH, organic matter, organic-nitrogen, total phenolic content and c ertain inorganic ions of forest mineral soils (Ae and B horizons). The Ae- and B-horizon soils, were amended with 10(-4) M concentration of each phenolic compound and their mixture. In general, soil properties were affected by phenolics amendement. However, soils amended with cat echol did not influence any of the soil characteristics. Contents of o rganic matter, nitrogen and phosphate were lower in soils amended with different phenolic compounds compared to the unamended control soil. Significance of the effects of phenolic compounds on soil properties i s discussed with regard to allelopathic interactions.