MICROBIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL INDICATORS OF LEAD POLLUTION IN SODDY-PODZOLIC SOIL

The effect of lead pollution on the total number of microorganisms, mi crobial biomass, the number of bacteria of some ecological and systema tic groups, and the activity of biochemical processes has been studied . Increasing doses of lead exerted effects of different strength on mi crobiological and biochemical indicators. Comparative analysis of meth ods based on their sensitivity to different levels of soil pollution a nd of the variability of data obtained has shown that the nitrogen-fix ation, emission of carbon dioxide, activity of denitrification, dehydr ogenase, urease, and the number of free-living and oligotrophic bacter ia constitute the most promising indicators for detection of lead poll ution. An estimate of the impact of lead on microbiota requires knowle dge of the biological properties of nonpolluted soils, along with that of the main physico-chemical parameters, and the content of the pollu tant in the studied soil.