Effects of industrial liquid wastes on dinitrogen fixation and microflora of soils and waters

Abstract

Potential N2‐fixation was investigated in a number of samples representing soils and water courses under the effect of some industrial wastes in Helwan area of Egypt. Microbiological analysis of soil and water samples showed the general enrichment of fungi, actinomycetes and bacteria including N2‐fixers. Among asymbiotic N2‐fixers, azospirilla compared to azotobacters and clostridia were found to be present with rather higher densities in all samples tested. Generally, the microbial numbers increased by increasing the distance from the Industrial Complex at Helwan, which could be attributed to the high levels of salinity and total heavy metals near the factories. The results indicated that the industrial wastes near the factories exerted inhibitory effects on the acetylenereducing activity in soils, which seriously reduces their biological fertility. Such effects were decreased by getting away from the factories. Significantly negative correlations were recorded between densities of N2‐fixers or N2‐ase activity and salinity and total heavy metals content in both soil and water samples.

Concentration of Heavy Metals in the Tissues of Spiny Mouse as Bio-Indicators of Pollution Under Different Environmental Conditions in Egypt

“…Industries consume significant amounts of water that may return in many cases highly polluted wastewater, sometimes directly to the environment. Hence, these activities are considered as an important source of water pollution (Fayez and Shahin, 2007;Han et al, 2009 andMahmoodabady et al, 2010).…”