Turkish Journal of Botany

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine how carbon (C) mineralization of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L., Fabaceae) soils are affected by different temperatures (23 °C and 28 °C) and humidity [field capacity (FC), 80% and 60% of their field capacity] conditions in the laboratory. The carob soils were taken from Çukurova University campus in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. C mineralization of all soils was determined using CO₂ respiration method. The microbial activity increased together with temperature increases. The microbial activity in the soils humidified at the field capacity and 60% of it was statistically lower compared to the soils humidified with 80% of field capacity at both 23 °C and 28 °C (P < 0.000). The rate (%) of C mineralization of 80% of field capacity at 28 °C was significantly higher than field capacity (P = 0.009) and 60% of field capacity (P = 0.006) at 23 °C and 60% of field capacity (P = 0.009) at 28 °C. Based on these results, it is possible to conclude that microorganisms in the carob soil show better activities at 80% of field capacity and 28 °C in 30 days.

Key Words: Carbon mineralization, Carob, Humidity, Microbial activity, Temperature