Effect of Reactive black 5 azo dye on soil processes related to C and N cycling

Azo dyes are one of the largest classes of synthetic dyes being used in textile industries. It has been reported that 15-50 % of these dyes find their way into wastewater that is often used for irrigation purpose in developing countries. Although the effect of azo dye contamination on soil nitrogen (N) cycling processes has been studied but there is no such study on soil carbon cycling. Therefore, we assessed the effect of azo dye contamination (Reactive Black 5, 30 mg kg-1 dry soil), bacteria that decolorize this dye and dye + bacteria in the presence or absence of maize leaf litter on soil respiration, soil inorganic nitrogen and microbial biomass. We found that dye contamination did not induce any change in soil respiration, soil microbial biomass or soil inorganic nitrogen availability (P> 0.05). Litter evidently increased soil respiration. Our study concludes that the Reactive Black 5 azo dye (applied at low level i.e. 30 mg kg-1 dry soil) contamination did not modify organic matter decomposition, N mineralization and microbial biomass in silty loam soil.