Abstract: A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to study the effect of copper as cupric sulfate (CuSO₄·5H₂O), and lead as lead acetate (Pb(OAc)₂) on the size of the microbial biomass in red soil. The metals were applied, separately at six different levels: Cu at 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 600 μg·g^-1 soil and Pb at 100,200,400,600,800,and 1000 μg·g^-1 soil. In comparison to uncontaminated soil, the microbial biomass carbon (C_mic) and biomass nitrogen (N_mic) decreased sharply in soils contaminated with Cu and Pb. The microbial biomass C:N ratio in the metal contaminated soil was observed to be considerably higher than that in untreated control. Between the two tested metals, Cu displayed greater biocidal effect on microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen than Pb, showing their relative toxicity in the order: Cu>>Pb.

Key words: copper, lead, microbial biomass, red soil

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