Salt-dependent mineralization of organic matter in acacia cyanophylla L. soils

Soil samples at depths of 0-10 cm of richly root zone and leaves and litters of Acacia cyanophylla L. (Orange wattle), are taken from beach dunes of Turan Emeksiz Forests (Tarsus) and Cukurova University Balcalı Campus. Some physical and chemical properties of soils, carbon and nitrogen contents of leaves and litters have been determined. Carbon mineralization has been measured after addition of NaCl (% 0.5, %0.75 and %1 concentrations) and leaves that its carbon contents were equivalent to soil carbon amount. Carbon contents of Turan Emeksiz sandy soils and Balcalı sandy loam soils were respectively 0.64 % and 3.23 %. Carbon contents of leaves were 50.10% and 43.87% while carbon contents of litters were 50.85% and 39.26% respectively. Carbon mineralization for 30 days (mg C(CO2)/100 g dry soil) of Tarsus soils (12.92 mg) were lower than Balcalı soils (17.77 mg). Except 0.5% NaCl ,in other two doses of NaCl concentrations added to soils, carbon mineralization have been increased in Tarsus soils but decreased in Balcalı soils. Addition of both NaCl and leaves has increased the carbon mineralization of Tarsus soils but no significant change has been found in Balcalı soils (P>0.05). Addition of leaves to the soils have decreased carbon mineralization rate but this decrease in 0.5 % NaCl containing soils were found significantly (P<0.01).