Plant tissue decomposition microorganisms

Soils amended with arsenic-contaminated plant tissues were not measurably affected in C02 evolution and nitrification, suggesting that the effects of adding arsenic to soils does not influence the decomposition rate of plant tissues by soil microorganisms (Wang et al. 1984). The half-life of cacodylic acid is about 20 days in untreated soils and 31 days in arsenic-amended soils (Hood 1985). Estimates of the half-time of inorganic arsenicals in soils are much longer, ranging from 6.5 years for arsenic trioxide to 16 years for lead arsenate (NRCC 1978). 

Allelopathy is defined as biochemical interactions between one plant or microorganism (alga, bacteria, or virus) and another plant through the production of chemical compounds - secondary metabolites (allelochemicals), which influence, direct or indirect, harmful or beneficial, plant growth and development (Rice 1984). Allelochemicals are present in almost all plants and in many tissues, like leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, seeds, roots, or pollen and may be released from plants into the environment by volatilization, leaching, root exudation, and decomposition of plant residues (Chou 1990). 

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