Journals Proceedings

Abstract

Mining activities alter the normal soil properties and negatively affect the ecosystem and environment by many ways. Assessing the damage done to the soil is very important to know the actual status of soil health. Soil health and fertility can be measured by the amount of microorganisms present and activity of different soil enzymes. Number of microorganisms shows amount of stress and unfavorable conditions. In the present study, colony forming units of microorganisms were found relatively higher in natural forest soils in comparison to soil collected from dump sites. Soil enzyme activities are very sensitive to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances and show a quick response to the induced changes so they can express the changes that may have happened in the soil due to mining. Soil phosphatase and dehydrogenase activity in natural forest have been found higher as compared to dump soil. In contrast, higher catalase activity was observed in dump soil and lower in Natural Forest soil.