重金属铅镉对玉米生长及土壤微生物的影响

采用温室盆栽土培方法,研究了土壤中不同浓度重金属铅（Pb,0-800 mg.kg^-1）、镉（Cd,0-50 mg.kg^-1）单一及其复合处理对玉米（Zea mays L.）生长及土壤微生物（细菌、放线菌、真菌）数量的影响。结果表明,在重金属Pb、Cd单一及其复合处理下,玉米的株高、干重均低于对照,重金属Pb、Cd处理对玉米的生长存在负面影响。重金属Pb、Cd单一处理抑制细菌、真菌的生长,中低浓度Pb（≤300 mg.kg^-1）、Cd（≤10 mg.kg^-1）单一处理促进放线菌数量的增加,高浓度（Pb≥800 mg.kg^-1、Cd≥50 mg.kg^-1）则呈现抑制效应;Pb、Cd复合在高中低浓度下都抑制土壤微生物生长,减少微生物数量。玉米株高同土壤微生物之间相关性不显著;玉米干重同土壤细菌、真菌显著相关,同土壤放线菌之间相关性不显著。     

菲降解菌的分离鉴定及其在污染土壤生物修复中的应用

采用室内培养方法,从吴江市郊长期被多环芳烃污染的土壤中富集到以菲为唯一碳源和能源的菲降解复合微生物菌群,复合菌群在7d内对无机盐液体中菲（含量100mg·L^-1）的降解率达到99%。从复合菌群中分离纯化获得两株菲高效降解菌B1和L2,经过菌体形态特征、生理生化特征和16SrDNA序列分析,鉴定菌株B1为百日咳博行特氏菌（Bordetella petrii）,菌株L2为墨西哥假黄单胞菌（Pseudoxanthomonas mexicana）。这两株菌在菲含量为100mg·L^-1的无机盐培养液中,7d内对菲（含量100mg·L^-1）的降解率大约为80%,9d内的降解率可达到99%。将复合菌群和菲污染土壤混合,在光照培养箱中进行培养修复。结果表明,修复88d后,接种复合菌群的低污染浓度（8.22mg·kg^-1）处理和高污染浓度（39.65mg·kg^-1）处理的菲去除率分别达到95.74%和98.06%。     

车前草根际土壤细菌的筛选鉴定与功能初探

从车前草(Plantago asiatica L.)根际土壤中筛选发现潜在的具有活硒能力、抑镉能力或二者能力兼之的细菌菌株。首先,采用稀释涂布平板法从车前草根际土壤中分离纯化出耐硒耐镉细菌;将分离得到的耐硒耐镉细菌进行16S rRNA基因鉴定;然后,利用土壤固体培养基对细菌进行培养,并用氢化物发生原子荧光光谱法和电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法分别测定不同细菌对应土壤的有效硒和有效镉,计算出菌株活硒率和抑镉率;最后,初步评价菌株对土壤硒或镉活化或抑制的能力。试验结果从车前草根际土壤中分离鉴定二级细菌8株,其中活硒率超过100%的菌株有CQC-3、CQC-8、CQC-11、CQC-12,抑镉率超过20%的菌株有CQC-7、CQC-8、CQC-12、CQC-13,活硒抑镉能力兼具的菌株有CQC-8和CQC-12,此研究结果为后续解决土壤和植物硒镉伴生问题、活硒抑镉机理研究和菌剂的开发提供基础资料。     

4株苯磺隆降解菌的分离鉴定及其生长特性

从长期受农药苯磺隆污染的土壤中通过采用富集培养分离技术得到4株以苯磺隆为唯一碳源生长的细菌,分别将其命名为B1、B2、B3和B4。通过观察这4种菌株的形态学特征,研究其生理生化特性以及分析其16S rDNA序列,初步鉴定菌株B1为铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa),B2为戴尔福特菌(Delftia sp.),B3为微杆菌(Microbacterium sp.),B4为产碱杆菌(Alcaligenes sp.)。并通过研究温度、初始pH值、接种量、苯磺隆初始浓度、培养基体积、氮源、碳源、Mg2+浓度等因素对4种菌株生长情况的影响,确定了菌株的最佳生长条件。结果显示,B1菌株的最适温度为35℃,其他3株菌株均为30℃。菌株B3最适pH为8.0,其余3株菌株均为pH7.0。B1和B3菌株最适接种量为15%,B2和B4最适接种量为10%。菌株B3最适苯磺隆初始浓度为100mg·L-1,其余菌株最适苯磺隆初始浓度均为200mg·L-1。4株菌株最适培养基体积均为75mL,最适氮源均为硝酸铵,最适碳源均为葡萄糖。B2菌株最适Mg2+浓度为100mg·L-1,其余3株菌株均为200mg·L-1。B1和B4菌株最适NaCl浓度为20g·L-1,B2菌株NaCl浓度为5~30g·L-1,B3菌株最适NaCl浓度为50g·L-1。该结果为利用微生物对农药苯磺隆污染的土壤进行原位生物修复提供理论依据。     

耐镉邻苯二甲酸二辛酯降解菌的筛选及特性研究

为获得既耐受重金属镉又能高效降解邻苯二甲酸二辛酯(DOP)的微生物菌株,利用选择培养基从污染土壤中分离高效降解微生物,并对其菌种分类和降解特性进行分析。共筛选获得5株耐镉的DOP降解菌株,其中PD-2对DOP的降解效率最高,120 h后降解率可达93.1%。结合形态学特征和16S rDNA序列分析,鉴定该菌为生丝微菌属(Hyphomicrobium sp.)。菌株PD-2对液体培养基中DOP的降解依赖于其生物量的增加,其对DOP的作用浓度和耐镉浓度范围广,可高效降解100～800 mg·L~(-1)范围的DOP(降解率大于80%),并在镉浓度0～600 mg·L~(-1)的培养基中生长良好。PD-2可利用邻苯二甲酸二甲酯(DMP)、邻苯二甲酸二乙酯(DEP)、邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)、邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯(DEHP)、邻苯二甲酸二辛酯(DOP)和邻苯二甲酸(PA)作为底物生长,底物种类范围广。添加PD-2到镉和DOP复合污染土壤中,其对DOP具有显著的降解作用,PD-2在镉和DOP复合污染土壤的修复方面具有潜在的应用价值。     

牛繁缕对镉的积累特性研究

以牛繁缕为试材,采用盆栽试验研究其在不同镉浓度条件下的镉积累特性。结果表明:牛繁缕根系生物量、地上土壤部分生物量和总生物量均随土壤镉浓度的升高而降低。在土壤镉浓度小于100 mg kg-1时,牛繁缕的抗性系数均大于0.5;当土壤镉浓度为25 mg kg-1时,抗性系数最大,为0.931。在不同镉浓度条件下,牛繁缕光合色素的合成会受到一定程度的抑制,叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素和叶绿素总量均随镉污染浓度的增加而逐渐降低,但叶绿素a和a/b值则表现为波动变化的趋势。随土壤镉浓度的增加,牛繁缕根系及地上部分镉含量呈增加的趋势;当土壤镉浓度为100 mg kg-1时,牛繁缕地上部分镉含量为118.94 mg kg-1,大于镉超富集植物临界值(100 mg kg-1)。牛繁缕根系和地上部分富集系数均大于1,但转运系数小于1。牛繁缕根系、地上部分和整株的镉积累量最大分别能达到449.05、126.07、532.83μg plant-1,生物富集量系数及转运量系数均随土壤镉浓度的增加而降低。在土壤镉浓度不高于75 mg kg-1时,牛繁缕生物富集量系数大于1 g plant-1,但各个镉处理下的转运量系数均小于1。由此可见,牛繁缕是一种镉富集植物,具有较强的镉富集能力,可用于镉污染农田的修复。     

一株苯酚降解菌的筛选、鉴定及其降解特性

本研究采用逐量分批驯化的方法,从造纸废水中分离得到一株能够以苯酚为唯一碳源生长的苯酚降解菌株F5-1。经形态观察、生理生化特性鉴定及16S rDNA序列分析,将该菌株鉴定为克雷伯菌（Klebsiella sp.）。该菌株能够在7h时完全降解初始浓度为100mg/L的苯酚,降解苯酚主要发生在生长对数期;在pH5.0～9.0,NaCl浓度0～80g/L,温度20～40℃范围内,菌株F5-1均可有效降解初始浓度为100～1200mg/L的苯酚;能够耐受的最大苯酚浓度为1500mg/L。本研究结果表明,F5-1菌株对处理环境条件复杂的含酚废水具有潜在的应用前景。     

土壤耐硒菌株筛选及其硒活化能力评价研究

  目的  从湖北省恩施市双河镇新塘乡渔塘坝硒矿床采集矿渣、淤泥、农田土壤,从中筛选分离出耐硒菌株,并对筛选出菌株的活化土壤硒的能力进行评价。  方法  采用稀释涂布平板法和平板划线法分离、筛选出耐受亚硒酸钠浓度较高的菌株,根据菌株形态学特征和用分子生物学方法对其进行分类鉴定,再将分离得到的耐硒菌株分别接种于酸性富硒赤红壤中进行培养,通过测定培养后土壤中的硒含量评价两菌株活化土壤硒的能力。  结果  筛选出了细菌B-1和真菌B-2两耐硒菌株;细菌B-1被鉴定为嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌（Stenotrophomonas maltophilia）,其可耐亚硒酸钠浓度为17000 μg mL?1,在温度20 ~ 35 ℃、pH 5 ~ 9、盐浓度0 ~ 3%条件下可正常生长;真菌B-2被鉴定为聚多曲霉（Aspergillus sydowii）,该菌株可耐亚硒酸钠浓度为6000 μg mL?1,在温度25 ~ 30 ℃、pH 4 ~ 7、盐浓度2% ~ 5%条件下可正常生长。添加两耐硒菌株培养后土壤的可溶态硒和可交换态硒含量均显著提高。  结论  筛选出具有较高的硒耐受性和较强的活化酸性富硒土壤中硒的能力的菌株,可为富硒土壤资源开发利用提供生物种质资源和技术手段,对富硒微生物肥料研发、富硒农产品生产和硒污染土壤环境修复也有重要意义。     

一株耐镉细菌的分离鉴定及其吸附条件的优化

从镉污染场地筛选分离得到一株耐镉细菌F7,经过形态学观察以及16S r DNA同源性对比分析,鉴定菌株F7属于芽孢杆菌(Bacillus),最大耐Cd~(2+)浓度为50 mg/L。实验研究了Cd~(2+)初始浓度、pH及投菌量对菌株吸附Cd~(2+)的影响,利用FTIR探究菌株吸附的机理。结果表明:菌株F7在Cd~(2+)初始浓度为1.0 mg/L、投菌量为1.0 g/L、pH为6.1时,对Cd~(2+)的吸附率达到93.9%;吸附符合Langumir模型,最大吸附容量为1.83 mg/g。对比分析吸附前后的红外光谱图,发现菌株F7表面的官能团羟基、胺基、烷基、蛋白酰胺Ⅱ带及磷酸基团在吸附过程中起主要作用。     

一株耐盐解磷菌的解磷能力及对玉米敏感期生长的影响

从黄河三角洲盐碱化土壤中筛选了一株高效解磷真菌QL1501,经鉴定为草酸青霉菌,菌株QL1501对无机磷的解磷能力远大于对有机磷的解磷,解无机磷最大浓度达85.21 mg/L。菌株QL1501的最适生长pH值为8时菌体生长极好。当NaCl浓度为1%～5%时,菌株解磷能力变化不大,溶液中有效磷浓度为76.08～65.37 mg/L。当溶液中NaCl浓度高于7%时,菌体生长受到较大影响。接种解磷真菌QL1501处理的玉米株高、根干重和植株干重均显著高于未接种的对照处理,说明该解磷菌作为解磷生物肥料具有良好的效果。     

Interactions of Denitrifying Bacteria, Actinomycetes, and Fungi on Nitrate Removal in Mix-Culturing Systems

Bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi are the dominant components of the soil microflora, and some of their species can perform denitrification. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions of three kinds of denitrifiers in mix-culturing systems. Three denitrifying strains, i.e., one bacterial strain (strain B5), one actinomycete strain (strain A2), and one fungal strain (strain F1), were isolated from a rice paddy soil. Denitrifier interactions were examined by analyzing the population dynamics and metabolic substance in the mix-culturing systems with two and three strains and by estimating the effects of cell-free culture filtrates on the strains. Results showed that the growth of B5 was enhanced by F1 and A2, respectively, and nitrate removal proportions in the culture systems increased from 52% (B5) to 64% (B5 + F1) and 67% (B5 + A2), and the nitrate removal was further enhanced in the three strain mix-culturing system (74%, A2 + F1 + B5). Strain B5 stimulated the cell growth of A2 directly and indirectly. The existence of A2 was lethal for cell growth of F1, while A2 was also suppressed by F1. The suppressive interaction reduced nitrate removal rates from the single systems of 12.8 (F1) and 11.5?mg?L^?1?day^?1 (A2) to 8.75?mg?L^?1 day^?1 (A2 + F1). Likewise, F1 was inhibited by B5. The results also showed that the cell-free culture filtrates of other strains suppressed the cell growth of B5 and F1, respectively, but enhanced the cell growth of A2. In addition to the direct effect of cell-free culture filtrates, other indirect relationships could affect the denitrifier spatial distributions and balance of the suppression or promotion effects, which were beneficial to maintain the microbial structure and function stability with a low nitrous oxide emission in the soil.     

Chromium-Resistant Bacterial Populations from a Site Heavily Contaminated with Hexavalent Chromium

Chromium-containing industrial effluents are primarily responsible for environmental contamination by toxic and highly mobile, hexavalent chromium. The dilution plate-count method, using media amended with Cr(VI) at concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 mg L^-1, was used to compare the sizes of Cr(VI)-resistant bacterial populations from a soil contaminated with 25 100 mg kg^-1 total Cr [12 400 mg kg^-1 Cr(VI)] to those isolated from a slightly contaminated soil (99.6 mg kg^-1 total Cr) and two other soils without any history of Cr contamination. Bacterial populations resistant to 500 mg L^-1 Cr(VI) were isolated from all soils except the heavily contaminated soil. To determine whether Cr-resistant bacterial populations were indigenous to both the contaminated and the uncontaminated soils, enrichment cultures containing Cr(VI) at concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 mg L^-1 were employed. Bacterial populations, as high as 10⁵ (colony forming units) CFU g^-1 soil, tolerant of 500 mg L^-1 Cr(VI) were isolated from all soils within 48 h of enrichment suggesting that the presence of aerobic Cr(VI)-resistant bacterial populations is unrelated to contamination levels or contamination history. However, identification of these resistant bacteria using fatty acid profiles was unsuccessful suggesting that these populations may have unique characteristics. Fungal colonies resistant to 1000 mg L^-1 Cr(VI) were routinely isolated from both uncontaminated and contaminated soils. The results suggest that Cr-resistant microorganisms may be present in soils, even those with no history of Cr contamination.     

Chromium-resistant microorganisms isolated from evaporation ponds of a metal processing plant

Chromium occurs naturally at trace levels in most soils and water, but disposal of industrial waste and sewage sludge containing chromium compounds has created a number of contaminated sites, which could pose a major environmental threat. This study was conducted to enumerate and isolate chromium-resistant microorganisms from sediments of evaporation ponds of a metal processing plant and determine their tolerance to other metals, metalloids and antibiotics. Enumeration of the microbiota of Cr-contaminated sediments and a clean background sample was conducted by means of the dilution-plate count method using media spiked with Cr(VI) at concentrations ranging from 10 to 1000 mg L^?1. Twenty Cr(VI) tolerant bacterial isolates were selected and their resistance to other metals and metalloids, and to antibiotics was assessed using a plate diffusion technique. The number of colony-forming units (cfu) of the contaminated sediments declined with increasing concentrations from 10 to 100 mg L^?1 Cr(VI), and more severely from 100 to 1000 mg L^?1 Cr(VI). The background sample behaved similarly to 100 mg L^?1 Cr(VI), but the cfu declined more rapidly thereafter, and no cfu were observed at 1000 mg L^?1 Cr(VI). Metals and metalloids that inhibited growth (from the most to least inhibitory) were: Hg > Cd > Ag > Mo = As(III) at 50 μg mL^?1. All 20 isolates were resistant to Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Se(IV), Se(VI), Zn, Sn, As(V), Te and Sb at 50 μg mL^?1 and Pb at 100 μg mL^?1. Eighty-five percent of the isolates had multiple antibiotic resistance. In general, the more metal-tolerant bacteria were among the more resistant to antibiotics. It appears that the Cr-contaminated sediments may have enriched for bacterial strains with increased Cr(VI) tolerance.     

Effect of land use on the abundance and diversity of autotrophic bacteria as measured by ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) large subunit gene abundance in soils

Elucidating the biodiversity of CO₂-assimilating bacterial communities under different land uses is critical for establishing an integrated view of the carbon sequestration in agricultural systems. We therefore determined the abundance and diversity of CO₂ assimilating bacteria using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and quantitative PCR of the cbbL gene (which encodes ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase). These analyses used agricultural soils collected from a long-term experiment (Pantang Agroecosystem) in subtropical China. Soils under three typical land uses, i.e., rice–rice (RR), upland crop (UC), and paddy rice–upland crop rotation (PU), were selected. The abundance of bacterial cbbL (0.04 to 1.25?×?10⁸ copies g^?1 soil) and 16S rDNA genes (0.05–3.00?×?10¹⁰ copies g^?1 soil) were determined in these soils. They generally followed the trend RR?>?PU?>?UC. The cbbL-containing bacterial communities were dominated by facultative autotrophic bacteria such as Mycobacterium sp., Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Ralstonia eutropha, and Alcaligenes eutrophus. Additionally, the cbbL-containing bacterial community composition in RR soil differed from that in upland crop and paddy rice–upland crop rotations soils. Soil organic matter was the most highly statistically significant factor which positively influenced the size of the cbbL-containing population. The RR management produced the greatest abundance and diversity of cbbL-containing bacteria. These results offer new insights into the importance of microbial autotrophic CO₂ fixation in soil C cycling.     

EFFECT OF ZINC ON CADMIUM TOXICITY IN WINTER WHEAT

This nutrient solution experiment investigated the effects of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) on winter wheat growth and enzymatic activity. Twelve nutrient solution treatments were prepared of four zinc levels (0, 0.5, 5 and 50 mg L^?1) and three cadmium levels (0, 5 and 50 mg L^?1). Cadmium concentrations ≥5 mg L^?1 decreased plant growth, superoxide dismutase activity, and leaf and stem zinc concentrations, but increased plant cadmium concentrations, proline content, and peroxidase and catalase activities. Root activity and zinc concentration were highest in the 5 mg L^?1 treatment and lowest in the 50 mg L^?1 treatment. Zinc concentrations ≥5 mg L^?1 inhibited plant growth, but increased proline content and cadmium concentration in stems and leaves. Low levels of zinc (0.5 mg L^?1) increased cadmium-induced toxicity in wheat plants but high levels of zinc (50 mg L^?1) reduced. In conclusion, these results indicated that the addition of zinc alleviated cadmium toxicity if the zinc/cadmium ratio was >10/1. Additional study needs to be done to quantify zinc content before zinc is supplied to alleviate cadmium toxicity.     

Biological characterization of a southeast Kansas mining site

Soils from a heavy metal contaminated southeast Kansas mining site were characterized for microbial resistance to zinc, cadmium, and lead. Plant availability indices (DTPA-extractable) for zinc were very high in the waste material (610 Μg g^?1), while levels of lead and cadmium were more moderate, 45 and 4.3 Μg g ^?1, respectively. Soil contamination decreased with distance from the mine tailings or ‘chat’. In the rhizosphere, bacterial resistance to zinc and cadmium increased as the DTPA-extractable plant availability indices increased. Mycorrhizal root colonization was not affected by the heavy metal concentration in the soil. The established vegetation in the contaminated area included warm- and cool-season grasses as well as forbs and sedges.     

Biodegradation kinetics of monosaccharides and their contribution to basal respiration in tropical forest soils

Low molecular weight (LMW) organic compounds in soil solution are easily biodegradable and could fuel respiration by soil microorganisms. Our main aim was to study the mineralization kinetics of monosaccharides using ¹⁴C-radiolabelled glucose. Based on these data and the soil solution concentrations of monosaccharides, we evaluated the contribution of monosaccharides to basal respiration for a variety of tropical forest soils. Further, the factors controlling the mineralization kinetics of monosaccharides were examined by comparing tropical and temperate forest soils. Monosaccharides comprised on average 5.2 to 47.7% of dissolved organic carbon in soil solution. Their kinetic parameters (V _max and K_M ), which were described by a single Michaelis-Menten equation, varied widely from 11 to 152?nmol?g^?1?h^?1 and 198 to 1294?µmol?L^?1 for tropical soils, and from 182 to 400?nmol?g^?1?h^?1 and 1277 to 3150?µmol?L^?1 for temperate soils, respectively. The values of V _max increased with increasing microbial biomass-C in tropical and temperate soils, while the K_M values had no correlations with soil biological or physicochemical properties. The positive correlation between V _max values and microbial biomass-C indicates that microbial biomass-C is an essential factor to regulate the V _max values in tropical and temperate forest soils. The biodegradation kinetics of monosaccharides indicate that the microbial capacity of monosaccharide mineralization far exceeds its rate at soil solution concentration. Monosaccharides in soil solution are rapidly mineralized, and their mean residence times in this study were very short (0.4–1.9?h) in tropical forests. The rates of monosaccharide mineralization at actual soil solution concentrations made up 22–118% of basal respiration. Probably because of the rapid and continuous production and consumption of monosaccharides, monosaccharide mineralization is shown to be a dominant fraction of basal respiration in tropical forest soils, as well as in temperate and boreal forest soils.     

Remediation of Metal Contaminated Soil by Organic Metabolites from Fungi I—Production of Organic Acids

Investigations were made on living strains of fungi in a bioremediation process of three metal (lead) contaminated soils. Three saprotrophic fungi (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium bilaiae, and a Penicillium sp.) were exposed to poor and rich nutrient conditions (no carbon availability or 0.11 M d-glucose, respectively) and metal stress (25 µM lead or contaminated soils) for 5 days. Exudation of low molecular weight organic acids was investigated as a response to the metal and nutrient conditions. Main organic acids identified were oxalic acid (A. niger) and citric acid (P. bilaiae). Exudation rates of oxalate decreased in response to lead exposure, while exudation rates of citrate were less affected. Total production under poor nutrient conditions was low, except for A. niger, for which no significant difference was found between the poor and rich control. Maximum exudation rates were 20 µmol oxalic acid g^?1 biomass h^?1 (A. niger) and 20 µmol citric acid g^?1 biomass h^?1 (P. bilaiae), in the presence of the contaminated soil, but only 5 µmol organic acids g^?1 biomass h^?1, in total, for the Penicillium sp. There was a significant mobilization of metals from the soils in the carbon rich treatments and maximum release of Pb was 12% from the soils after 5 days. This was not sufficient to bring down the remaining concentration to the target level 300 mg kg^?1 from initial levels of 3,800, 1,600, and 370 mg kg^?1in the three soils. Target levels for Ni, Zn, and Cu, were 120, 500, and 200 mg kg^?1, respectively, and were prior to the bioremediation already below these concentrations (except for Cu Soil 1). However, maximum release of Ni, Zn, and Cu was 28%, 35%, and 90%, respectively. The release of metals was related to the production of chelating acids, but also to the pH-decrease. This illustrates the potential to use fungi exudates in bioremediation of contaminated soil. Nonetheless, the extent of the generation of organic acids is depending on several processes and mechanisms that need to be further investigated.     

ALLEVIATION OF CADMIUM-TOXICITY BY APPLICATION OF ZINC AND ASCORBIC ACID IN BARLEY

ABSTRACT

Effect of cadmium (Cd) on biomass accumulation and physiological activity and alleviation of Cd-toxicity by application of zinc (Zn) and ascorbic acid in barley was studied, using semisolid medium culture including 15 treatments [four Cd concentration treatments: 0.1, 1, 5, 50?µmol?L^?1, four treatments with addition of 300?µmol?L^?1 Zn or 250?mg?L^?1 ascorbic acid (ASA) based on these four Cd concentrations, respectively, and three controls: basic nutrient medium, and with Zn or ASA, respectively]. Cadmium addition to semisolid medium, at a concentration of 1, 5, and 50?µmol?L^?1, inhibited biomass accumulation and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content of barley plants, while the addition of 0.1?µmol?L^?1 Cd increased slightly dry mass. There was a tendency to a decrease in Zn, copper (Cu) concentrations both in shoots and roots and iron (Fe) in shoots of barley plants exposed to 1 to 50?µmol?L^?1 Cd. In addition, there were indications of a stress repose characterized by increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities relative to plants not subjected to Cd. The physiological changes caused by Cd toxicity could be alleviated to different extent by application of 300?µmol?L^?1 Zn or 250?mg?L^?1 ASA in Cd stressed plants. The most pronounced effects of adding Zn or ASA in Cd stressed medium were expressed in the decreased MDA and increased biomass accumulation, e.g., MDA contents were reduced (p≤0.01) by 4.8%–17.8% in shoots and 0.5%–19.7% in roots by adding 300?µmol?L^?1 Zn, in 50?µmol?L^?1 Cd stressed plants, and by 1.3%–7.4% in shoots and 2.6%–4.5% in roots by application of 250?µmol?L^?1 ASA, respectively. However, ASA addition may enhance Cd translation from root to shoot, accordingly, ASA would be unsuitable for the edible crops grown in Cd contaminated soils to alleviate phytotoxicity of Cd.     

Effect of 7-year application of a nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD), on soil microbial biomass, protease and deaminase activities, and the abundance of bacteria and archaea in pasture soils

Purpose

The nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) has been shown to be highly effective in reducing nitrate (NO₃ ^?) leaching and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions when used to treat grazed pasture soils. However, there have been few studies on the possible effects of long-term DCD use on other soil enzyme activities or the abundance of the general soil microbial communities. The objective of this study was to determine possible effects of long-term DCD use on key soil enzyme activities involved in the nitrogen (N) cycle and the abundance of bacteria and archaea in grazed pasture soils.

Materials and methods

Three field sites used for this study had been treated with DCD for 7 years in field plot experiments. The three pasture soils from three different regions across New Zealand were Pukemutu silt loam in Southland in the southern South Island, Horotiu silt loam in the Waikato in the central North Island and Templeton silt loam in Canterbury in the central South Island. Control and DCD-treated plots were sampled to analyse soil pH, microbial biomass C and N, protease and deaminase activity, and the abundance of bacteria and archaea.

Results and discussion

The three soils varied significantly in the microbial biomass C (858 to 542 μg C g^?1 soil) and biomass N (63 to 28 μg N g^?1), protease (361 to 694 μg tyrosine g^?1 soil h^?1) and deaminase (4.3 to 5.6 μg NH₄ ⁺ g^?1 soil h^?1) activity, and bacteria (bacterial 16S rRNA gene copy number: 1.64?×?10⁹ to 2.77?×?10⁹ g^?1 soil) and archaea (archaeal 16S rRNA gene copy number: 2.67?×?10⁷ to 3.01?×?10⁸ g^?1 soil) abundance. However, 7 years of DCD use did not significantly affect these microbial population abundance and enzymatic activities. Soil pH values were also not significantly affected by the long-term DCD use.

Conclusions

These results support the hypothesis that DCD is a specific enzyme inhibitor for ammonia oxidation and does not affect other non-target microbial and enzyme activities. The DCD nitrification inhibitor technology, therefore, appears to be an effective mitigation technology for nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions in grazed pasture soils with no adverse impacts on the abundance of bacteria and archaea and key enzyme activities.