Toxicity of chemical warfare agent HD (mustard) to the soil microinvertebrate community in natural soils with contrasting properties

A microcosm technique was used to determine the ecotoxicity of the chemical warfare agent HD (mustard) to the indigenous soil microinvertebrate communities. HD was thoroughly incorporated into Sassafras sandy loam (SSL) soil (4.9% OM) and an oak-beech forest silt loam soil (FS, 16% OM) at nominal HD concentrations ranging from 6 to 1076 mg kg⁻¹. After a 7-day incubation period, microarthropods were extracted from soils using a high-gradient extractor and sorted to Acari suborders Prostigmata, Mesostigmata, and Oribatida, and the insect order Collembola. Nematodes were extracted using Baermann funnels and were sorted into bacterivore, herbivore, fungivore and omnivore/predator trophic groups. Microarthropods were more sensitive to HD in both soil types compared with nematodes. The EC₅₀ values for total numbers of microarthropods in SSL and FS were similar (65 and 71 mg kg⁻¹, respectively). The EC₅₀ values for total numbers of nematodes were 130 and 235 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Toxicity of HD to nematodes was significantly greater in SSL soil compared to FS, based on 95% confidence intervals. Results show that community-level assessment of chemical toxicity in soil using a microcosm assay is sufficiently robust and can provide the means for validating the ecotoxicity data from standardized laboratory single-species toxicity tests.     

Toxicity of imidacloprid to the earthworm Eisenia andrei and collembolan Folsomia candida in three contrasting tropical soils

Purpose

Imidacloprid is a widely used seed dressing insecticide in Brazil. However, the effects of this pesticide on non-target organisms such as soil fauna still present some knowledge gaps in tropical soils. This study aimed to assess the toxicity and risk of imidacloprid to earthworms Eisenia andrei and collembolans Folsomia candida in three contrasting Brazilian tropical soils.

Materials and methods

Acute and chronic toxicity assays were performed in the laboratory with both species in a tropical artificial soil (TAS) and in two natural soils (Oxisol and Entisol), at room temperature of 25 °C. The ecological risk was calculated for each species and soil by using the toxicity exposure ratio (TER) and hazard quotient (HQ) approaches.

Results and discussion

Acute toxicity for collembolans and earthworms was higher in Entisol (LC₅₀?=?4.68 and 0.55 mg kg^?1, respectively) when compared with TAS (LC₅₀?=?10.8 and 9.18 mg kg^?1, respectively) and Oxisol (LC_{50collembolans}?=?25.1 mg kg^?1). Chronic toxicity for collembolans was similar in TAS and Oxisol (EC_{50 TAS}?=?0.80 mg kg^?1; EC_{50 OXISOL}?=?0.83 mg kg^?1), whereas higher toxicity was observed in Entisol (EC₅₀?=?0.09 mg kg^?1). In chronic assays with earthworms, imidacloprid was also more toxic in Entisol (EC₅₀?=?0.21 mg kg^?1) when compared to TAS (EC₅₀?=?1.89 mg kg^?1). TER and HQ values indicated a significant risk of exposure of the species to imidacloprid in all soils tested, and the risk in Entisol was at least six times higher than in Oxisol or TAS.

Conclusions

The toxicity and risk of imidacloprid varied significantly between tropical soils, being the species exposure to this pesticide particularly hazardous in very sandy natural soils such as Entisol.

     

施用碱稳定固体减轻酸性土壤的酸度和铝毒

A pot experiment was catried out to study alleviation of soil acidity and Al toxicity by applying analkaline-stabilised sewage sludge product (biosolids) to an acid clay sandy loam (pH 5.7) and a strongly acidsandy loam (pH 4.5). Barley (Hondeum vulgare L. cv. Forrester) was used as a test crop and was grownin the sewage sludge-amended (33.5 t sludge DM ha^-1) and unamended soils. The results showed that thealka1ine biosloids increased soil pH from 5.7 to 6.9 for the clay sandy loam and from 4.5 to 6.0 for the sandyloam. The sludge product decreased KCl-extractable Al from 0.1 to 0.0 cmol kg^-1 for the former soil and from 4.0 to 0.1 cmol kg^-1 for the latter soil. As a result, barley plants grew much better and grain yield increased greatly in the amended treatments compared with the unamended controls. These observations indicate that alkaline-stabilised biosolids can be used as a liming material for remedying Al phytotoxicity instrongly acid soils by increasing soil pH and lowering Al bioavailability.     

Critical Toxic Ranges of Chromium in Spinach Plants and in Soil

ABSTRACT

Long-term irrigation with untreated industrial sewage effluents causes accumulation of high concentrations of chromium (Cr) and other heavy metals in soil and subsequently in crop plants (especially leafy vegetables), which can be phytotoxic to plants and/or a health hazard to animals and humans. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Cr application on the growth of spinach (Spinacia oleracia L.) and to develop critical toxic ranges of Cr in plants and in soil. The study involved growing of spinach variety ‘Punjab Green’ in a greenhouse on silty clay loam and sandy soils equilibrated with different levels of applied Cr (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 mg Cr kg^{? 1} soil). Plants were harvested at: three growth stages 45, 60, and 90 days after sowing (DAS). Critical toxic ranges were estimated by regressing and plotting data on ammoniumbicarbonate-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (AB-DTPA) extractable Cr in soil or Cr concentration in plants versus dry-matter yield (DMY) of spinach at the three growth stages. Toxic ranges, i.e., slightly toxic (80%–90%), moderately toxic (70%–80%), and extremely toxic (< 70%) in terms of DMY relative to the attainable maximum DMY, were established for both soils and for plants at all three growth stages. There was no germination of spinach with applied Cr at 320 mg Cr kg^{? 1} rate in silty clay loam soil and at 40 mg Cr kg^{? 1} rate in sandy soil due to Cr toxicity. Roots accumulated more Cr in comparison with shoots. Chromium concentrations of 0.47–1.93 mg Cr kg^{? 1} soil in silty clay loam soil, 0.13–0.94 mg Cr kg^{? 1} soil in sandy soil, 1.08–5.40 mg Cr kg^{? 1} plant DM in silty clay loam soil and 0.54–11.7 mg Cr kg^{? 1} plant DM in sandy soil were found to be toxic. The critical toxicity ranges of Cr thus established in this study could help in demarcating Cr toxicity in soils and in plants such as spinach and other leafy vegetables due to irrigation of soils with untreated sewage water contaminated with chromium.     

Short- and long-term effects of heavy metals on phosphatase activity in soils: An ecological dose-response model approach

Summary The aim of this study was to provide manageable data to help establish permissible limits for the pollution of soil by heavy metals. Therefore the short-and long-term effects of heavy metal pollution on phosphatase activity was studied in five different soil types. The results are presented graphically as logistic dose-response curves. It was possible to construct a curve for sand and silty loam soil but it was more difficult to establish a curve for sandy loam and clay soil and nearly impossible (except for Cu) for peat. The toxicity of the various metals can be compared on the basis of mmol values. In clay soils, for Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn, the 50% effective ecological dose (ED₅₀) values were comparable (approximately 45 mmol kg^–1), but the ED₁₀ values were very different, at 7.4, 41.4, 15.1, and 0.55, respectively. At the ED₅₀ value, toxicity did not decrease with time and, in sandy soils, was approximately 2.6 mmol kg ^–1 dry soil for Cd, Cu, and Zn. In four out of five soils, the Cd toxicity was higher 1.5 years after the addition of heavy metal salts than after 6 weeks. Toxicity was least in the sandy loam, silty loam, and clay soil, and varied in general between 12 and 88 mmol kg^–1. In setting limits, the criteria selected (no-effect level, ED₁₀ or ED₅₀) determine the concentration and also the toxicity of the sequence. It is suggested that the data presented here could be very useful in helping to set permissible limits for heavy metal soil pollution.     

Microbial Activity of Cu Contaminated Soils and Effect of Lime and Compost on Soil Resiliency

In vineyards, the long-term use of copper fungicides has increased soil Cu concentrations that can adversely affect the number and activities of soil microorganisms. To better understand this phenomenon and to ameliorate such harmful effects, an incubation experiment was carried out with a sandy loam and a sandy soil to which increasing rates of CuSO₄ were added. By this treatment, the basal soil respiration (7-55%) and decomposition of added vine branches (46-86%) was inhibited. At the application rate of 500 mg Cu kg^?1, soil microbial biomass-C was inhibited (7-66%) in the sandy soil and stimulated (2-10%) in the sandy loam soil. The specific respiration rate was a reliable indicator for Cu stress, and it increased with time and higher Cu concentrations before lime and compost applications. Total number of bacteria and streptomycetes were also strongly inhibited. Fungal population was significantly more tolerant to copper toxicity than the bacteria. A stimulation of fungal population at a dose of 500 mg Cu kg^?1 in both soils was observed. A criterion such as “stimulation” lasting for more than 60 days can also be used as indication of Cu contamination of soils. The order of inhibition (on day 125) at a dose of 500 mg Cu kg^?1 soil was as follows: A. sandy loam soil (pH> 7.0) — fungi < biomass-C < basal soil respiration < bacteria < streptomycetes; B. sandy soil (pH< 6.0) — fungi < basal soil respiration < biomass-C < bacteria < streptomycetes. The application of lime increased soil recovering ability at a moderate rate (for CO₂ production – 22-70% and for biomass-C- 39-156%), but the combination of lime and compost significantly increased soil resiliency (for CO₂ production- 16-518% and for biomass-C- 103-693%). The soil resiliency assessed by number of bacteria in compost treatments was 30-120% in sandy loam soil and 92-700% in the sandy soil. Compost and lime application increased the number of streptomycetes from 52 to 500% in sandy loam soil and from 100 to 700% in sandy loam soil. Fungal population was less increased in sandy soil as compared to sandy loam soil. The ecological dose higher than 5% inhibition of microbial processes and microorganisms appears to be suitable to assess Cu contamination of soils. CO₂ production, biomass-C and specific respiration rate were less sensitive indicators as compared to streptomycetes and bacteria. It appears that compost application effectively promoted the recovery of soil microbial activity and soil fertility of Cu contaminated soils.     

Influence of phosphorus application on growth and cadmium uptake of spinach in two cadmium‐contaminated soils

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of phosphate (P) application on diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable cadmium (Cd) in soil and on growth and uptake of Cd by spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Two soils varying in texture were contaminated by application of five levels of Cd (NO₃)₂ (0, 20, 30, 40, and 60 mg Cd kg^–1). Three levels of KH₂PO₄ (0, 12, and 24 mg P kg^–1) were applied to determine immobilization of Cd by P. Spinach was grown for 60 d after seeding. Progressive contamination of soils through application of Cd affected dry‐matter yield (DMY) of spinach shoot differently in the two soils, with 67% reduction of DMY in the sandy soil and 34% in the silty‐loam soil. The application of P increased DMY of spinach from 4.53 to 6.06 g pot^–1 (34%) in silty‐loam soil and from 3.54 to 5.12 g pot^–1 (45%) in sandy soil. The contamination of soils increased Cd concentration in spinach shoots by 34 times in the sandy soil and 18 times in the silty‐loam soil. The application of P decreased Cd concentration in shoot. The decrease of Cd concentration was higher in the sandy soil in comparison to the silty‐loam soil. Phosphorus application enhanced DMY of spinach by decreasing Cd concentration in soil as well as in plants. The results indicate that Cd toxicity in soil can be alleviated by P application.     

An emerging energetic soil contaminant,CL-20, can affect the soil invertebrate community in a sandy loam soil

We investigated the effects of nitramine explosive CL-20 (China Lake compound 20) on the indigenous soil invertebrate community in Sassafras sandy loam (SSL) soil using a 12-week soil microcosm assay. Freshly collected SSL soil was amended with CL-20 to prepare multiple treatment concentrations ranging from 0 (acetone control) to 10,300 mg kg⁻¹. The selected concentration range of CL-20 adequately assessed the concentration–response relationships for total microarthropods, and for individual microarthropod groups. The overall composition of microarthropod community in SSL soil was not affected by exposure to CL-20, based on the number of taxonomic groups present in the individual treatments after 12 weeks. However, community structure analysis revealed greater sensitivity to CL-20 by predatory mesostigmatid mites. Microarthropod and nematode communities showed contrasting sensitivities to CL-20 in SSL soil. Total numbers of nematodes were either unaffected or significantly (p < 0.05) increased in CL-20 treatments compared with control. Only predator group among nematodes was consistently adversely affected by exposure to CL-20. The abundance of predatory nematodes decreased in a concentration-dependent manner throughout the 12-week exposure. Microcosm assay with corresponding community structure analysis can provide the means for validating the ecotoxicity data from standardized laboratory tests, both complimenting and expanding upon the ecotoxicological significance of data from standardized single-species toxicity tests.     

Carbon and net nitrogen mineralisation in two forest soils amended with different concentrations of biuret

Biuret is a known contaminant of urea fertilisers that might be useful as a slow release N fertiliser for forestry. We studied carbon (C), net nitrogen (N) mineralisation and soil microbial biomass C and N dynamics in two forest soils (a sandy loam and a silt loam) during a 16-week long incubation following application of biuret (C 23.3%, N 40.8%, O 30.0% and H 4.9%) at concentrations of 0, 2, 10, 100 and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ (oven-dried) soil to assess the potential of biuret as a slow-release N fertiliser. Lower concentrations of biuret specifically increased C mineralisation and soil microbial biomass C in the sandy loam soil, but not in the silt loam soil. A significant decrease of microbial biomass C was found in both soils at week 16 after biuret was applied at higher concentrations. C mineralisation declined with duration of incubation in both soils due to decreased C availability. Biuret at concentrations from 10 to 100 mg kg⁻¹ soil had a significantly positive priming effect on soil organic N mineralisation in both soils. The causes for the priming effects were related to the stimulation of microbial growth and activity at an early stage of the incubation and/or the death of microbes at a later stage, which was biuret-concentration-dependent. The patterns in NH₄⁺-N accumulation differed markedly between the two soils. Net N mineralisation and nitrification were much greater in the sandy loam soil than in the silt loam soil. However, the onset of net nitrification was earlier in the silt loam soil. Biuret might be a potential slow-release N source in the silt loam soil.     

Zeolite Effects on Immobile Water Content and Mass Exchange Coefficient at Different Soil Textures

The concern for groundwater pollution by agrichemicals through solute movement within the soil is widespread. Zeolite is a type of soil amendment that is utilized to improve physical properties of soil and ameliorate polluted soil. The high negative charge of the zeolite and its open space structure allows adsorption and access of heavy metals and other cations and anions. The objectives of this research were (i) to determine the effects of different application rates of zeolite (0, 2, 4, and 8 g kg^?1) on the immobile water content and mass exchange coefficient in a loam soil and then (ii) to determine the effects of optimum application rate of zeolite on the immobile water content and mass exchange coefficient of sandy loam and clay loam soils in saturated conditions by a mobile and immobile (MIM) model. In a disturbed soil column, a method was proposed for determination of MIM model parameters, that is, immobile water content (θ_im), mass exchange coefficient (α), and hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient (D_h). Breakthrough curves were obtained for different soil textures with different zeolite applications in three replicates, by miscible displacement of chloride (Cl^?1) in disturbed soil column. Cl^?1 breakthrough curves were evaluated in terms of the MIM model. The results showed that the pore water velocity calculated based on the total soil volumetric water content (θ_im+ θ_m) and real pore water velocity calculated based on the mobile water content (θ_m) increased in the loam soil with an increase in zeolite application rate, so that, between these different rates of zeolite application, the maximum value of pore water velocity and real pore water velocity occurred at zeolite application rates of 8.6 and 11.5 g kg^?1, which are indicated as the optimum application rates. However, the comparison between different soils showed that the zeolite application rate of 8 g kg^?1 could increase pore water velocity of sandy loam and loam soils by 31% more than that of clay loam soil. The immobile water content and mass exchange coefficient of loam soil were correlated with the zeolite application rate and reduced with an increase in the rate of applied zeolite. In a comparison between different soils at zeolite application rate of 8 g kg^?1, the immobile water contents of the zeolite-treated soil decreased by 57%, 60%, and 39% on sandy loam, loam, and clay loam soils, respectively, compared with the untreated soil. Furthermore, zeolite application could reduce mass exchange coefficient by 9%, 43%, and 21% on sandy loam, loam, and clay loam soils, respectively. A positive linear relationship was found between θ_im and α. Zeolite application increased real pore water velocity of sandy loam soil by 39% and 46% compared with loam and clay loam soils, respectively. In other studies there was a decrease in ammonium and nitrate leaching due to the zeolite application, and therefore, an increase in real pore water velocity due to zeolite application in sandy loam soil, as compared with the loam and clay loam soils, may not show more rapid movement of solute and agrichemicals to the groundwater.     

Reduction in Ammonia Loss by Applying Urea in Combination with Phosphate Sources

A laboratory experiment was carried out to study the influence of 100 mg phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) kg^–1 soil from various phosphate sources on ammonia losses from soils amended with urea at 200 mg nitrogen (N) kg^–1 soil. Irrespective of soil type, ammonia (NH₃) loss was significantly greater from untreated soil (control) than from the soil treated with phosphorus (P) sources. A maximum decrease in ammonia loss (56%) was observed by applying phosphoric acid followed by triple and single superphosphate. Ammonia losses were significantly greater from sandy clay loam than from clay. Rate of ammonia volatilization was maximum during the first week of incubation and became undetectable for both soils at 21 days after incubation. The addition of phosphate sources significantly decreased pH in the sandy clay loam, but in the clay a significant decrease was observed only with the phosphoric acid addition. Addition of phosphate fertilizers was beneficial in reducing NH₃ losses from urea.     

Washing agents from sewage sludge: efficiency of Cd removal from highly contaminated soils and effect on soil organic balance

Purpose

To compare Cd removal from different soils with three washing agents recovered from sewage sludge (dissolved organic matter (DOM), soluble humic-like substances (HLS), soluble humic substances (SHS)). Also, to investigate how washing with these agents changes soil organic-matter composition (OM).

Materials and methods

Sandy clay loam (S1) and clay (S2) highly contaminated with Cd (300 mg kg^?1) were washed with DOM, HLS, or SHS solutions at various pHs, and with various washing times and washing modes (single or double). Cd distribution and OM composition were determined (including content of humic substances (HS), fulvic fraction (FF), labile humic acids (L-HA), and stable humic acids (S-HA)).

Results and discussion

Cd removal proceeded with pseudo-second-order kinetics. Equilibrium was reached in 30 min (S1) and 60 min (S2). DOM, HLS, and SHS removed 75–82% of Cd from S1, and 80–87% from S2. The most mobile fraction of Cd was removed after one wash. S2 retained more OM, including HS, than S1. Although washing did not change the HA/FF ratio in most variants, washing with DOM and HLS increased the percentage of L-HA in both soils. Washing with SHS increased S-HA content in both soils, but the percent content of S-HA was similar to that in the unwashed soil.

Conclusions

DOM, HLS, and SHS derived from sewage sludge can effectively remediate clay and sandy clay soils highly contaminated with Cd. Washing with an SHS solution can increase the content of the most stable carbon forms (HA), which is beneficial for carbon sequestration in remediated soils.

     

Nitrogen transformations in copper-contaminated soils and effects of lime and compost application on soil resiliency

 A neutral and an acidic soil were treated with different doses (0–3,000 mg Cu kg^–1 soil as CuSO₄) of copper. The percentages of inhibition of nitrification in both soils varied from 5 to 97%, but for the N mineralization these percentages varied from 8 to 65%. The toxic effect of Cu for basal nitrification and N mineralization was assessed as critical. Nitrification was more sensitive than ammonification to copper toxicity. It appears that an ecological dose of inhibition for nitrification and N mineralization higher than 10% is suitable as an indicator for Cu contamination. Soil resiliency assessed by N mineralization in the lime treatments varied from 11 to 154% in the sandy soil and from 70 to 168% in the sandy loam soil. A combined application of lime and compost significantly increased soil resiliency. The percentage increase varied from 904 to 1,390% in the sandy soil and from 767 to 2,230% in the sandy loam soil. It appears that compost was a powerful agent for recovering the soil fertility of Cu-contaminated soils as assessed by N transformation. The acidic sandy soil showed a lower capacity for recovery after Cu toxicity stress. Received: 27 February 1999     

Response of phosphorus fractions to land-use change followed by long-term fertilization in a sub-alpine humid soil of Qinghai–Tibet plateau

Purpose

Identification of phosphorus (P) species is essential to understand the transformation and availability of P in soil. However, P species as affected by land use change along with fertilization has received little attention in a sub-alpine humid soil of Tibet plateau.

Materials and methods

In this study, we investigated the changes in P species using Hedley sequential fractionation and liquid-state ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy in soils under meadow (M) and under cropland with (CF) or without (CNF) long-term fertilization for 26 years in a sub-alpine cold-humid region in Qinghai–Tibet plateau.

Results and discussion

Land-use change and long-term fertilization affected the status and fractions of P. A strong mineralization of organic P (OP) was induced by losing protection of soil organic matter (SOM) and Fe and Al oxides during land-use change and resulted in an increase of orthophosphate (from 56.49 mg kg^?1 in M soils to 130.07 mg kg^?1 in CNF soils) and great decreases of orthophosphate diesters (diester-P, from 23.35 mg kg^?1 in M soils to 10.68 mg kg^?1 in CNF soils) and monoesters (from 336.04 mg kg^?1 in M soils to 73.26 mg kg^?1 in CNF soils). Long-term fertilization boosted P supply but failed to reclaim soil diester-P (from 10.68 mg kg^?1 in CNF soils to 7.79 mg kg^?1 in CF soils). This may be due to the fragile protection from the combination of SOM with diester-P when long-term fertilization had only improved SOM in a slight extent.

Conclusions

These results suggest that SOM plays an important role in the soil P cycling and prevents OP mineralization and losses from soil. It is recommended that optimization of soil nutrient management integrated with SOM was required to improve the P use efficiency for the development of sustainable agriculture.

     

Decontamination of Chromium by Farm Yard Manure Application in Spinach Grown in Two Texturally Different Cr-Contaminated Soils

ABSTRACT

Chromium (Cr) is an environmental pollutant and its accumulation up to toxic levels in the soil and plants by applying irrigation with untreated industrial effluents has become a major problem throughout the world, especially in developing countries like India. Various inorganic as well as organic compounds are known for their ability to reduce mobilization of heavy metals in soils for plant uptake and leaching to ground water. The present study was undertaken under controlled glasshouse conditions to assess the effectiveness of farm yard manure (FYM) applications (equivalent to 0, 1, and 2% organic matter on w/w basis) to ameliorate Cr toxicity in spinach grown in two texturally different soils (silty loam and sandy) contaminated artificially with five levels of Cr (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg Cr kg^{? 1} soil as K₂Cr₂O₇). The diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Cr in soil (before seeding and after harvest), Cr concentration, and its uptake by shoots and roots of spinach increased with increasing level of applied Cr. Roots accumulated more Cr than shoots, which depicts limited translocation of Cr from roots to shoots. A significant decrease was observed in dry matter yield (DMY) of shoots as well as roots by raising levels of applied Cr (0 to 10 mg Cr kg^{? 1} soil) in both soils, but the extent of the DMY decrease was higher in the sandy loam soil. Application of FYM showed mitigating effects on Cr toxicity. The DMY was higher in the presence of FYM, than its absence, at all rates of applied Cr in both soils. The FYM application caused decline in the DTPA-extractable Cr in soil, and concentration of Cr and its uptake by shoots and roots of spinach at a given level of applied Cr. The magnitude of Cr toxicity and its amelioration by FYM application was higher in sandy soil compared to silty loam soil. The results of this study indicated that FYM application to the soil could be used as an effective measure for reducing Cr toxicity to crop plants in Cr-contaminated soils irrigated by untreated industrial effluents.     

Cadmium speciation as influenced by soil water content and zinc and the studies of kinetic modeling in two soils textural classes

Background and aimsSince few studies have existed in the literature about the effect of zinc (Zn) on cadmium (Cd) chemical forms in soils. Therefore, this study has been performed to determine the impact of Zn on cadmium Cd chemical forms in two soil textural classes in Fars province-Iran at two soil water content (SWC) (flooded soil water content (FSWC) and field capacity soil water content (FCSWC)) and study the kinetic modeling of Cd.Methods and materialsVariables were three levels of Cd (0, 30 and 60 mg kg^-1 of soil as CdSO₄·8H₂O), three levels of Zn (0, 5 and 10 mg kg^-1 of soil as Zn-EDTA) three level Incubation times (2, 4 and eight weeks), two soil textural classes (clay and sandy clay loam) and two SWC. The randomized completed block design (RCBD) was used for this experiment. The Tessier sequential extraction method was used to determine the Cd concentration in (WsEx), (Fe-MnOx), (Car), (Om) and (Res) chemical forms.ResultsIn the FSWC, Zn reduced the Cd concentration in Fe-MnOx, Car and Om forms and increased the WsEx but had no significant effect on the Res form. Changes in the Cd chemical forms under the influence of Zn in both soils followed a similar trend. In the FCSWC, Zn reduced the Cd concentration Car and Om forms and increased the Cd concentration in the Fe-MnOx and WsEx forms while had no significant effect on Res form in the sandy clay loam soil. In the clay soil adding Zn reduced the Cd concentration in Car and Om fractions and increased the Fe-MnOx and Res forms while has no significant effect on WsEx form. The competitive transport and adsorption Interactions between these two ions caused the changing in the Cd concentration in its chemical forms. Zn reduces the Cd concentration in the forms which are easily released into the soil solution from where they can be absorbed by plants. The power function kinetic mode is the best fitted model which can describe the Cd adsorption in our soil samples. The clay and organic compounds control the Cd adsorption in soils. The higher rate of Cd adsorption in almost all shaking times shows that Cd has more ability to occupy the adsorption sites in soils.     

Nitrogen mineralization and CO2 and N2O emissions in a sandy soil amended with original or acidified pig slurries or with the relative fractions

The following six pig slurries obtained after acidification and/or solid/liquid separation were used in the research: original (S) and acidified (AS) pig slurry, nonacidified (LF) and acidified (ALF) pig slurry liquid fraction, and nonacidified (SF) and acidified (ASF) pig slurry solid fraction. Laboratory incubations were performed to assess the effect of the application of these slurries on N mineralization and CO₂ and N₂O emissions from a sandy soil. Acidification maintained higher NH₄ ⁺-N contents in soil particularly in the ALF-treated soil where NH₄ ⁺-N contents were two times higher than in LF-treated soil during the 55–171-day interval. At the end of the incubation (171 days), 32.9 and 24.2 mg N kg⁻¹ dry soil were mineralized in the ASF- and SF-treated soils, respectively, but no mineralization occurred in LF- and S-treated soils, although acidification decreased N immobilization in ALF- (−25.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) and AS- (−12.7 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) compared to LF- (−34.4 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) and S-treated (−18.6 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) soils, respectively. Most of the dissolved CO₂ was lost during the acidification process. More than 90% of the applied C in the LF-treated soil was lost during the incubation, indicating a high availability of the added organic compounds. Nitrous oxide emissions occurred only after day 12 and at a lower rate in soils treated with acidified than nonacidified slurries. However, during the first 61 days of incubation, 1,157 μg N kg⁻¹ soil was lost as N₂O in the AS-treated soil and only 937 in the S-treated soil.     

Soil microbial community as bioindicator of the recovery of soil functioning derived from metal phytoextraction with sorghum

A three-month microcosm study was carried out in order to evaluate: (i) the capacity of sorghum plants to phytoextract Cd (50 mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (1000 mg kg⁻¹) from artificially polluted soil and (ii) the possibility of biomonitoring the efficiency of phytoremediation using parameters related to the size, activity and functional diversity of the soil microbial community. Apart from plant and soil (total and bioavailable) metal concentrations, the following parameters were determined: soil physicochemical properties (pH, OM content, electrical conductivity, total N, and extractable P and K), dehydrogenase activity, basal- and substrate-induced respiration (with glucose and a model rhizodeposit solution, both adjusted to 800 mg C kg⁻¹ DW soil and 45.2 mg N kg⁻¹ DW soil), microbial respiration quotient, functional diversity through community level physiological profiles and, finally, seed germination toxicity tests with Lepidium sativum. Sorghum plants were highly tolerant to metal pollution and capable of reaching high biomass values in the presence of metals. In the first two harvests, values of shoot Cd concentrations were higher than 100 mg Cd kg⁻¹ DW, the threshold value for hyperaccumulators. Nonetheless, in the third harvest, the bioconcentration factor was 1.34 and 0.35 for Cd and Zn, respectively, well below the threshold value of 10 considered for a phytoextraction process to be feasible. In general, microbial parameters showed lower values in metal polluted than in control non-polluted soils, and higher values in planted than in control unplanted pots. As a result of the phytoextraction process, which includes both plant growth and metal phytoextraction, the functioning of the phytoremediated soil, as reflected by the values of the different microbial parameters here determined, was restored. Most importantly, although the phytoextracted soil recovered its function, it was still more phytotoxic than the control non-polluted soil.     

Soil organic C stabilization and thresholds in C saturation

When building soil organic matter (SOM) contents in agricultural production systems, stabilization of both pre-existing as well as added C is important. A laboratory mineralization experiment was conducted over 374 days to evaluate the effect of pre-existing SOM on soil C mineralization after addition of organic matter (OM) using sugar cane. The SOM gradient used here stretched from 21 to 106 g C kg⁻¹ soil and was a result of different periods of continuous cultivation of 5, 20, 35 and 105 years in comparison to a forest soil. The rate of organic C mineralization was found to be dependent on the status of pre-existing soil organic C (SOC). Highly degraded soil which had been under continuous cultivation for 35 years and more showed the highest rate of C mineralization per unit SOC (117.9 mg C g⁻¹ C) while forest soil had the lowest amount of C mineralized per unit SOC (73.5 mg C g⁻¹ C). Forest soil had the highest amount of increased C mineralization as a result of organic matter (OM) additions (8.0 mg C g⁻¹ soil) followed by the highly degraded soil that had been under cultivation for 105 years (5.5 mg C g⁻¹ soil). Additional mineralized C as a function of time after forest conversion declined progressively within the first 20 years of continuous soil use. Soil which had been under continuous cultivation for 20 years had the lowest amount of additional mineralized C (4.0 mg C g⁻¹ soil). SOM stabilization efficiency in the studied soils appears to be highest with intermediate cultivation history of about 20 years. These soils that have been recently converted to cultivation also appear to have a greater ability to stabilize added OM than the most degraded soils investigated in this study. It is thus advisable to provide intervention strategies to reverse SOM decline for farming communities at an intermediate stage before the soils are highly depleted of SOC.     

Alleviation of Soil Acidity and Aluminium Phytotoxicity in Acid Soils by Using Alkaline-Stabilised Biosolids

A pot experiment was carried out to study alleviation of soil acidity and Al toxicity by applying an alkaline-stabilised sewage sludge product (biosolids) to an acid clay sandy loam (pH 5.7) and a strongly acid sandy loam (pH 4.5). Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Forrester) was used as a test crop and was grown in the sewage sludge-amended (33.5 t sludge DM ha-1) and unamended soils. The results showed that the alkaline biosloids increased soil pH from 5.7 to 6.9 for the clay sandy loam and from 4.5 to 6.0 for the sandy loam. The sludge product decreased KCl-extractable Al from 0.1 to 0.0 cmol kg-1 for the former soil and from 4.0 to 0.1 cmol kg-1 for the latter soil. As a result, barley plants grew much better and grain yield increased greatly in the amended treatments compared with the unamended controls. These observations indicate that alkaline-stabilised biosolids can be used as a liming material for remedying Al phytotoxicity in strongly acid soils by increasing soil pH and lowering Al bioavailability.