Degradation of malathion, in aqueous extracts of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

Malathion was incubated in water extracts of vegetables at various temperatures and pH, and the amount of malathion present over time was analyzed by a gas chromatograph with a flame photometric detector. Malathion was degraded to a nondetectable level in a 1% asparagus extract incubated at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C for 4 h. Carrot extract showed the second highest rate of malathion degradation (76%), followed by kale extract (23.7%), spinach extract (9.7%), and broccoli extract (1.5%) under the same conditions. The highest degradation rates of malathion were observed at 37 degrees C, when three different temperatures were tested (5, 25, and 37 degrees C) at pH 7.4. Rate constants were 0.134 min(-)(1) from a 1% asparagus solution and 0.095 min(-)(1) from a 0.5% asparagus solution. The highest degradation rate of malathion was achieved at pH 9 among the pHs tested (pH 4, 7.4, and 9) in a 0.5% asparagus solution. The 0.5% asparagus solution degraded dicarboxylic acid esters by almost 100% for dimethyl succinate and diethyl adipate, by 64% for diethyl acetyl succinate, and 30% for diethyl benzyl malonate when incubated at pH 9 for 20 min. The results support the hypothesis that the enzyme that degrades malathion in the asparagus solutions is a carboxylesterase.     

水稻脆性秸秆降解特性及其对土壤团聚体的影响

水稻秸秆降解效率是衡量秸秆还田利用率的重要指标,脆秆水稻秸秆易破碎,在秸秆还田中具有重要应用价值.以脆秆水稻品种科辐粳7号的秸秆为研究对象,以扬粳113为对照,通过土壤降解(有氧+厌氧)和酸碱酶解处理揭示脆性秸秆的降解特征,明确降解后的秸秆对土壤结构的影响,为脆秆水稻的应用提供理论支持.研究发现通过酸性降解处理,科辐粳...     

Degradation and adsorption of fosthiazate in soil

Adsorption and degradation behavior of a pesticide in soil has a strong effect on its environmental fate as well as efficacy for pest control. Fosthiazate is an organophosphate compound that is currently under development as a nonfumigant nematicide. In this study, we evaluated adsorption and degradation kinetics of fosthiazate in three U.S. soils with different properties. Adsorption of fosthiazate in mineral soil was negligibly weak but appeared to increase with soil organic matter (OM) content. The half-life (T(1/2)) of fosthiazate ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 months in nonsterile soils but was prolonged to 1-3 months after sterilization. Degradation of fosthiazate in soil appeared to be caused by both chemical and microbial transformations. The persistence of fosthiazate generally decreased with increasing soil pH, but increased with increasing soil OM and clay contents. This results suggest that fosthiazate may have an enhanced leaching potential in acidic soils with low OM content, and its efficacy in high pH soils may not last as long as in neutral soils because of faster degradation.     

秸秆育苗容器在土壤中降解对微生物区系的影响

为了阐明秸秆育苗容器降解过程中对土壤及容器残体酶活性及微生物的影响,选择淀粉胶秸秆育苗容器(MSGC)和豆胶秸秆育苗容器(MBGC)两类容器的片状试材进行土培试验,设计不含容器试材土壤为对照组(CK),试验持续45 d,采用常规分析和BiologEco微平板计数技术手段测定了容器残体及土壤中的酶活变化、微生物群落多样性、菌群数量及功能多样性。结果表明:土培过程中,容器和土壤中酶活总体呈上升趋势,MSGC淀粉酶活与MBGC无显著差异,纤维素酶活初期显著高于MBGC,中后期则无显著差异。蛋白酶活MBGC全过程显著高于MSGC;秸秆容器可显著提高土壤磷酸酶和脲酶酶活,与MBGC相比,MSGC土壤中磷酸酶和脲酶酶活更高。Biolog~(Eco)分析显示,秸秆容器能够显著提高土壤中微生物碳源利用活性,土壤平均颜色变化率(AWCD)值先增大后减少,MBGC与MSGC差异在于后者土壤AWCD值下降速率显著快于前者。两种容器残体微生物功能多样性初期差异显著,后期差异减少。与MSGC比,MBGC土壤微生物对氨基酸、聚合物及胺类利用具有更强活性,这种差异主要与容器胶粘剂不同有关。本研究结果将为秸秆育苗容器田间应用与生态效应评价提供理论依据。     

Degradation of the fungicide metalaxyl and its non-extractable residue formation in soil clay and silt fractions

The proportion of organic matter and mineral composition are important factors determining the formation and type of non-extractable residues (NERs) of pesticides in soil. In this study, we investigated the enantioselectivity in degradation and NER formation of the chiral fungicide metalaxyl in soil particle size fractions (silt and clay). Microbial and extracellular enzyme activities during these processes were monitored in incubation of silt and clay samples isolated from sterilized and non-sterilized soil samples collected from a long-term agricultural field experimental site in Ultuna, Sweden. The temporal influence on the fate of the fungicide was noted by short-term (10-d) and long-term (92-d) incubations. Besides the acquisition of quantitative data with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), stereoselective analyses were performed with chiral GC/MS. Quantitative results pointed to a higher metabolism rate of the pesticide through microbial activity than through extracellular enzyme activity. This was also confirmed by the enantioselective depletion of R-metalaxyl and the subsequent formation of R-metalaxyl acid in microbially active samples from non-sterilized soil. The silt fraction containing a high amount of organic matter exhibited a significant hydrolyzable proportion of metalaxyl NERs that was releasable under alkaline conditions. On the contrary, the clay fraction showed an enhanced affinity for covalently bound residues. Based on our results, we recommend differentiating between reversibly and irreversibly bound proportions of pesticides in persistence and environmental risk assessment because the reversible fraction contained potentially bioavailable amounts of residues that may be released under natural conditions.     

我国东南部地区土壤养分的退化

A total of 2 190 soil nutrient data in the Second National Soil Survey of China were collected to assess the degradation of soil nutrients in the hilly region of Southeast China. The definition of soil nutrient degradation is suggested firstly, then the evaluation criteria are set up and the current status of degradation of red soil and latosol is assessed. The percentages of areas in four grades of soil nutrient degradation, i.e., slightly deficient, medium deficient, severely deficient and extremely deficient, were 21.3%, 43.3%, 16.2% and 3.0% for soil total N; 0.7%, 6.4%, 16.7% and 76.2% for soil available P; and 25.4%, 26.3%, 8.6% and 5.0% for soil available K, respectively. The severity of soil nutrient degradation was in the order of P > N > K. The major factors leading to the degradation of soil nutrients in quantity include soil erosion, leaching and the consumption by crops. And the principal factor affecting the degradation of soil nutrients in availability is the fixation of N, P and K, especially the fixation of phosphorus. The average amount of P fixed by soils is 408 mg kg^-1, and upland soils can fix more P than paddy soils.     

土壤侵蚀对坡耕地耕层质量退化作用及其评价趋势展望

土壤侵蚀是导致坡耕地耕层质量退化和土壤生产力不稳定的关键驱动因素。该文从水蚀区坡耕地侵蚀控制和生产功能角度,在解析地块尺度土壤侵蚀、水土保持、农业活动对坡耕地耕层生态过程作用特征的基础上,系统分析了土壤侵蚀对坡耕地耕层质量退化作用、影响效应及作用途径。认为:1)坡耕地耕层质量变化由降雨侵蚀、耕作活动交互作用的生态过程决定,2种作用的时间、空间尺度不同;耕层土壤参数在坡耕地农业生产中作用分为保水、保土、保肥和增产潜力,由地块尺度农作物-耕层耦合效应决定土壤生产能力、坡耕地水土流失特征及耕层侵蚀性退化方向及程度。2)土壤侵蚀对坡耕地耕层质量退化作用表现为土壤性质恶化、土壤质量劣化、土地生产力衰退3个方面,耕层土壤物理性质变异程度大于化学性质变异,径流作用导致的土地生产力衰退大于土壤流失作用。3)坡耕地耕层质量评价指标体系应兼顾侵蚀下降、产量提升2个目标,地块尺度诊断指标有效土层厚度、耕层厚度、土壤容重、土壤抗剪强度、土壤有机质、土壤渗透性可作为合理耕层评价最小数据集;坡耕地合理耕层适宜性分为5级,其诊断指标分级标准宜与土壤侵蚀分级和耕地地力分级衔接。4)坡耕地合理耕层评价未来应密切关注耕层质量诊断指标最小数据集、坡耕地合理耕层阈值/适宜值分级标准、坡耕地水土流失阻控标准拟定3个主要方向。研究可为深入认识坡耕地侵蚀性退化机制,辨识坡耕地合理耕层调控途径以及坡耕地合理耕层构建技术参数提供依据。     

化学添加剂对土壤和莴笋中重金属残留量的影响试验

针对重庆市蔬菜重金属污染现状,选取Hg、Cd、Pb为优先控制的目的重金属,通过盆栽试验,研究了石灰、腐殖酸、硫化钠等化学添加剂对莴笋吸收土壤重金属的效应及土壤重金属的残留机理。研究表明：适当剂量的石灰、腐殖酸能显著抑制莴笋对Hg的吸收,增加土壤中Hg的含量;而Na₂S则能显著抑制莴笋对Pb的吸收,增加土壤中Pb的含量。从农产品安全要求出发,在试验条件下,抑制Hg、Cd、Pb进入莴笋体内的最佳化学物质及剂量分别为：石灰施用量为10.0 g/kg、腐殖酸施用量为2.67 g/kg时,抑制Hg进入莴笋体内的效果最好;石灰施用量为10.0 g/kg时抑制Cd进入莴笋体内的效果最好;石灰、腐殖酸、硫化钠施用量分别为10.0、2.67 g/kg和0.47 mg/kg时抑制Pb进入莴笋体内的效果最好。     

乙二胺四乙酸在重金属污染土壤修复过程的降解及残留

为分析乙二胺四乙酸(ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid,EDTA)在修复重金属污染土壤中的环境风险,通过田间调查和培养试验研究EDTA在不同重金属污染土壤中的降解及其残留。田间调查结果表明,乐昌试验田EDTA施用6 a后,表层土壤及深层土壤中均没有检出EDTA残留。佛冈试验田在施用EDTA4个月后,表层土壤EDTA残留量为0.039~0.056 mmol/kg,仅为施入量的2%~5%,施用1a后土壤中未检测到EDTA。翁源试验田在EDTA施用45 d后,表层土壤中EDTA残留量约为施用量的一半,1 a后残留量为施入量的2,6%,深层土壤监测到EDTA残留,但地下水中并没有检测到EDTA,另外地下水中重金属含量并没有升高。因此,深层土壤对离子态和螯合态重金属具有较强的固定能力,可保护地下水免遭重金属的污染。培养试验结果表明,EDTA在土壤中降解遵循一级动力学方程,EDTA在赤红壤、褐土和重金属污染土壤中的降解速率常数分别为4.6×10~(-3)、1.4×10~(-2)和5.8×10~(-3),其降解的半衰期分别为71、25和53 d。EDTA在土壤中降解半衰期与土壤有机质含量和土壤阳离子交换量(cation exchange capacity)之间表现较好的相关性。微生物对EDTA在土壤中的降解具有显著的影响。总之,EDTA可在土壤中降解,建议在中国重金属污染土壤修复过程中可采用EDTA强化修复技术,EDTA的环境风险是可控的。     

可降解地膜的降解性能及对土壤温度、水分和玉米生长的影响

针对生产中使用普通农用塑料地膜导致农田土壤污染的现状,进行了不同厚度可降解(光、生物降解)地膜、普通地膜和露地栽培玉米对比试验,探讨可降解地膜的降解性能及对土壤水分、温度和玉米生长的影响。结果表明,0.005mm厚可降解地膜的降解速度及强度均优于0.008mm厚膜,二者在覆膜后90d分别达降解5级、4级水平,地膜质量损失率达55.48%、39.99%。两种可降解地膜对土壤水分、温度和玉米生长的影响与普通地膜相当,均使0～20、>20～40cm土壤水分含量、地表及地下10cm土壤温度明显高于露地对照,使玉米出苗率提高,生育进程加快,株高、叶面积和地上部干物质积累量增加;其中0.008mm厚膜覆盖玉米效果优于0.005mm厚膜。研究认为,以可降解地膜替代普通地膜应用于农业生产具有可行性。     

Catechol and chlorocatechols in soil: Degradation and extractability

Catechol and chlorocatechols occur as intermediary metabolites during the degradation of naturally-occurring and synthetic aromatic compounds. Their degradation in soil was assessed under laboratory conditions using ¹⁴C-tracing techniques. Degradation of all compounds to CO₂ was rapid during the first 2 weeks (5–10% week^?1, but gradually decreased to below 1% week^?1 after 3 months. After 6 months. 44% of 4,5-dichlorocatechol, 38% of 4-chloro- and tetrachlorocatechols, and 30% of catechol were degraded to CO₂. In comparison, chlorophenols were degraded at similar rates, and chloroanilines were degraded more slowly. A mixed extradant of citric acid-ascorbic acid-acetone (1:1:2) was found to be most effective in extracting the catcchols from variously-treated soil samples. Recovery of added ¹⁴C from freshly fortified soils ranged from 74% for catechol to 98%, for tetrachlorocatechol. After equilibration of ¹⁴C-chemical with soil for 5–20 days, the extractability decreased to 38% for catechol, but remained over 86% for tetrachlorocatechol. Sterilization of soil before ¹⁴C addition had little effect on ¹⁴C extractability. After incubation of treated soil for 5 months, only 20–35% of residual ¹⁴C could be extracted. More than half of the nonextractable ¹⁴C-residues from incubated soil could be further removed by Na-pyrophosphate extraction.     

氧化生物双降解地膜降解性能及其对东北雨养春玉米田间水热和生长的影响

为解决当前农田大量残膜污染问题,设置3种不同降解速率的氧化生物双降解地膜（降解a、降解b、降解c）和普通塑料地膜覆盖及露地对照5个玉米种植试验,研究氧化生物双降解地膜田间降解性能（降解率、拉伸强度和断裂伸长率）及其对土壤水热、玉米生长状况及产量的影响。结果表明：1）不同降解速率氧化生物双降解地膜降解梯度与预期基本相符,3种降解速率的地膜全生育期降解率分别为14.2%、10.0%和6.5%,差异达显著水平。降解a、降解b和降解c地膜在田间覆盖120 d后,垄上地膜拉伸强度损失率分别为30.4%、20.3%和19.1%,断裂伸长率损失率为10.4%、13.5%和5.0%,垄侧地膜拉伸强度损失率为59.0%、50.7%和45.6%,断裂伸长率损失率为71.7%、55.6%和51.0%,其中降解a拉伸强度和断裂伸长率与降解b和降解c相比均达显著差异水平,且垄侧各降解地膜机械性能损失率显著大于垄上地膜。2）氧化生物双降解地膜显著提高了玉米生育前期5~25 cm层土壤温度和0~40 cm层土壤含水率,与露地相比,降解a、降解b和降解c处理下5~25 cm土层平均温度分别提高了4.5℃、4.4℃和4.4℃,0~40 cm土层含水率分别提高了3.2%、2.9%和2.2%。3）氧化生物双降解地膜加快了玉米生育进程,使玉米植株提前3 d出苗,缩短生育期5~7 d,且玉米株高和叶面积指数均显著高于露地处理,略优于普通地膜。4）在产量构成和最终产量方面,氧化生物双降解地膜与普通塑料地膜覆盖均较露地处理增加了玉米穗长、穗粗及百粒重,降解a、降解b、降解c和普通地膜处理较露地对照增产率分别达14.3%、14.3%、10.4%和13.2%。研究认为,氧化生物双降解地膜覆盖具有明显的增温保墒效应,与普通地膜相同,能够显著提高玉米产量,并且可以通过改变配方调节其降解速率。本研究成果可为氧化生物可降解地膜替代普通地膜及其在东北地区推广应用提供科学依据。     

Degradation of Sevin by soil microorganisms

Microorganisms capable of transforming the pesticide 1-naphthyl N-methyl-carbamate (Sevin) were isolated from soil. Three isolates were able to accelerate the hydrolysis of Sevin to 1-naphthol. Several unidentified intermediates were separated by thin-layer chromatography and also by following the decomposition of Sevin-methyl-¹⁴C. Since 1-naphthol is a biological as well as a chemical decomposition product of Sevin, its transformation by the isolated microbes was also studied. A fungus, identified as Fusarium solani, altered 1-naphthol rapidly. Whereas one strain of bacterium degraded the hydrolysis product gradually, another strain accumulated it under certain conditions. Mixed cultures of the investigated microbes were more effective in transforming Sevin than pure cultures, and this phenomenon was also observed with 1-naphthol as substrate with the exception of one bacterial strain.     

Degradation kinetics of manure-derived sulfadimethoxine in amended soil

Spreading of contaminated manure into agricultural lands as fertilizer is one of the major routes through which veterinary antibiotics enter the environment. In this study, the degradation of manure-derived sulfadimethoxine, a widely used veterinary sulfonamide antibiotic, in manure-amended soil was investigated. A kinetic model, called the availability-adjusted first-order model based on the first-order kinetics and an assumption of the availability of target compound during the degradation process, was developed and was found to fit sulfadimethoxine degradation well. The effect of initial sulfadimethoxine concentration showed that the degradation rate constant increased with decreasing initial concentration, indicating that the bioactivity of the degrading microorganisms in manure-amended soil was sensitive to sulfadimethoxine concentration. Sulfadimethoxine degradation was accelerated with increasing manure content in amended soil. Degradation in nonamended soil was significantly slower than in manure-amended soil. This indicated that sulfadimethoxine may become more persistent once it reaches soil after leaching from manure and that storage of manure for a certain period before application is needed to diminish sulfadimethoxine contamination. Sulfadimethoxine degradation was effectively enhanced with increasing moisture of amended soil. No adverse effect was observed with manure storage on the degradation of manure-derived sulfadimethoxine in amended soil.     

Degradation of an acylated starch-plastic mulch film in soil and impact on soil microflora

Degradation of an acylated starch-plastic mulch film was evaluated in two soil types, a gray lowland soil (A) and a volcanic andosol (V). Weight loss, tensile strength (TS) loss and loss of percentage elongation (%E) were measured under laboratory conditions (black and white mulch films), and in the field (black films). Changes in the counts of total bacteria, total fungi, gram-negative bacteria, total Fusarium, ATP (adenosine triphosphate) content, % nitrification, pH (H₂O), and total C and total N contents were determined at 4,8, 12, and 20 months in the field test soils where the mulch was repeatedly applied, and compared with controls. Film weight loss was greater in soil V than in soil A in both the laboratory and the field, and the losses were greater in the laboratory than in the field in both soils A and V. Significant TS losses and considerable %E losses were observed. Values were similar in the laboratory and in the field. No significant changes in the counts of bacteria, fungi, gram-negative bacteria, and Fusarium were observed. The ATP content of the test soils increased slightly compared with the initial values. The ATP content in the control soils initially fell, and then increased in response to weeding. Nitrification remained almost unchanged in the test soils, but fell in the control soils until the last sampling. However, the mulch film underwent a definite process of degradation in the soils, with great loss of physical properties and lesser weight loss. This degradation had no adverse impact on the soil microflora.     

Chlordane uptake and its translocation in food crops

Chlordane is a member of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs), a group of chemicals characterized by extremely long residence in the environment after application. Technical chlordane, composed of a large number of components, is a synthetic organochlorine substance that was used primarily as an insecticide. Uptake by root crops of persistent soil residues of chlordane was noted early in the chronology of the material. The present report is the first comprehensive study of the uptake of weathered soil residues of chlordane and its translocation throughout the tissues of food crops under both greenhouse and field conditions. The data show that for all 12 crops chlordane is not limited to root tissue but is translocated from the root to some of the aerial tissues. Chlordane accumulation in edible aerial tissue appears to be dependent on plant physiology. As expected, chlordane was detected in the edible root tissue of the three root crops examined, carrots, beets, and potatoes. In the remaining crops chlordane was detected in the edible aerial tissue of spinach, lettuce, dandelion, and zucchini, whereas it was not detected in edible aerial tissue of tomatoes, peppers, and corn; trace amounts of chlordane were detected in the edible aerial tissue of bush beans and eggplant. Under the conditions of the field trial the data indicate that for weathered chlordane residues, the soil-to-plant uptake route dominates over the air-to-plant uptake route. This is the case even when the soil concentration of the recalcitrant, weathered residues, for which volatilization is expected to be minimal, is as high as it would be directly following application. Greenhouse trials confirm this observation for zucchini, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, which bioaccumulates weathered chlordane very efficiently in its edible fruits.     

Relationship of root necrosis potential of soil to asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) decline in Switzerland

Summary The possible relationship between asparagus decline and the root necrosis potential (RNP) of soil was investigated for 11 asparagus and 4 nonasparagus soils. Asparagus seedlings were grown in each soil in climate chambers. A root necrosis index was used to determine RNP. RNP was correlated with the decline observed in the field for seven white asparagus crops, but not for three white and one green asparagus crops. Low RNP values were obtained from the soils not planted to asparagus.Fusarium oxysporum andF. oxysporum var. redolens accounted for 7070 of the fungi isolated from necrotic roots in RNP tests. BothFusarium were obtained from all soils. AllF. oxysporum andF. oxysporum var. redolens isolates tested were highly virulent on asparagus seedlings in inoculation experiments.F. solani, Penicillium verrucosum var.corymbiferum, andRhizoctonia violacea were isolated less frequently but were also highly virulent. It is concluded that soil RNP indicated a risk of decline caused by fusaria, but other soil factors were likely to be involved in the aetiology of decline. The study of these factors is necessary to develop a method for the prognosis of decline associated with fusaria.     

设施土壤盐分的累积、迁移及离子组成变化特征

通过对我国不同地区设施栽培现状的野外调查和取样分析,研究了设施栽培条件下土壤盐分的累积、迁移及离子组成变化特点。结果表明:1)设施栽培条件下,土壤含盐量的变化幅度大,且均明显高于露地土壤,各研究区域内已有40%8～9%的土壤含盐量超过了作物正常生长的临界浓度。2)设施栽培的可持续利用周期较短,连续种植到4年左右的设施土壤,其耕层盐分的累积量可达到作物的生长障碍临界点,之后因设施使用率的下降以及采取的措施而有所降低,但仍高于露地土壤。设施连续使用会导致土壤环境质量的不断恶化。3)设施土壤剖面(0100.cm)盐分含量均高于相邻露地,盐分含量随土层深度增加而降低,其中耕层(020.cm)的盐分含量显著高于其下各层;盐分离子在土壤剖面的运移同时存在着明显的向底层迁移和向表层聚集两种方式,但以表聚为主;此外,盐分离子的大量累积和向底层迁移,特别是NO3-的淋溶已严重影响到部分地区的地下水水质。4)设施栽培后,土壤中的NO3-、SO42-、Cl-、Ca2+、Mg2+、K+、Na+均有不同程度的累积,阴离子以NO3-和SO42-为主,阳离子以Ca2+为主。盐分的大量累积以及某些离子的相对富集在一定程度上引起了作物养分的供需失衡、土壤酸化、棚室内CO2供应不足等生产问题。     

Degradation of estrogenic hormones in a silt loam soil

Estrogenic hormones are endocrine-disrupting compounds, which disrupt the endocrine system function of animals and humans by mimicking and/or antagonizing endogenous hormones. With the application of sludge biosolid and animal manure as alternative fertilizers in agricultural lands, estrogens enter the soil and become an environmental concern. The degradation kinetics of 17beta-estradiol, an estrogenic hormone of major concern, in a silt loam soil were investigated in this study. It was found that 17beta-estradiol degraded rapidly in nonsterilized soil with a half-life of 0.17 day. The degradation rate constant was proportional to the percentage of nonsterilized soil, indicating that microorganisms are directly responsible for the rapid degradation of 17beta-estradiol in soil. The half-life of 17beta-estradiol in 20% nonsterilized soil was slightly shortened from 1.3 to 0.69 day with the increase of soil moisture from 10 to 20% and was greatly decreased from 4.9 to 0.92 day with the increase of temperature from 15 to 25 degrees C. The coexistence of 40 micromol kg (-1) sulfadimethoxine, a veterinary antibiotic, decreased the degradation rate constant of 17beta-estradiol from 0.750 +/- 0.038 to 0.492 +/- 0.016 day (-1). The degradation kinetics of another three estrogenic hormones, including 17alpha-estradiol, estrone, and estriol, were also investigated and compared. Estrone was identified as a degradation product of 17beta-estradiol and the most persistent hormone among the four investigated estrogens. Estriol was observed in the degradation of estrone and 17alpha-estradiol.     

土壤中多环芳烃的微生物降解: 降解途径及其影响影子

Adverse effects on the environment and high persistence in the microbial degradation and environmental fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are motivating interest. Many soil microorganisms can degrade PAHs and use various metabolic pathways to do so. However, both the physio-chemical characteristics of compounds as well as the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils can drastically influence the degradation capacity of naturally occurring microorganisms for field bioremediation. Modern biological techniques have been widely used to promote the efficiency of microbial PAH-degradation and make the biodegradation metabolic pathways more clear. In this review microbial degradation of PAHs in soil is discussed, with emphasis placed on the main degradation pathways and the environmental factors affecting biodegradation.