Not AvailableWe conducted an incubation study for a period of 74 days to assess the sole and combined effect of CaCl2 and CaSO4 on wheat straw amended soil carbon mineralisation. Application of salts either alone or in combination significantly reduced the cumulative carbon mineralisation. Residue carbon mineralisation was significantly affected due to interactive effect of CaCl2 and CaSO4 throughout the incubation period. Application of chloride salt has a more depressing effect on residue carbon mineralisation than the sulphate. The study clearly demonstrated that cumulative carbon mineralisation in soil was positively correlated with dehydrogenase activity (r=0.53, P=0.01), water soluble carbon (r=0.46, P=0.05), soil pH (r=0.87, P=0.01) and negatively correlated with soil electrical conductivity (r=-0.81, P=0.01). The results suggest that C mineralisation affected by both CaCl2 and CaSO4 either alone or in combination by influencing soil osmotic properties and dehydrogenase activity. The study indicates that saline soils offer an opportunity to sequester C because decomposition of added wheat straw was more strongly decreased under higher EC value.Not Availabl
