Difference in Some Biological Properties of Saline and Non-saline Soil under Sugarcane Cultivation.

Microorganisms as essential components of soils have important roles in biochemical cycles of organic matter conversion into nutrients available for an uptake by plants. Soil salinity is an important factor that affects microbial diversity and activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of soil salinity on microbial biomass, nitrification rate and urease activity within the rhizosphere of sugarcane. Microbial activity, i.e., urease activity and nitrification rates in saline soil were lower than those in non-saline soil under sugarcane cultivation. Microbial diversity was assessed using different techniques for DNA extraction from the studied soils and the single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of DNA extracts. It was found that saline soil had lower microbial biomass and respiration rate, but higher diversity of soil bacteria as compared to those within non-saline soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]