The Effects of Different Uranium Concentrations on Soil Microbial Populations and Enzymatic Activities

Bagherifam, S; Lakziyan, A; Ahmadi, S.J; Fotovvat, A; Rahimi, M.F

The Effects of Different Uranium Concentrations on Soil Microbial Populations and Enzymatic Activities

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

S Bagherifam

A Lakziyan

S.J Ahmadi

A Fotovvat

M.F Rahimi

Abstract

Uranium is an ubiquitous constituent of natural environment with an average concentration of 4mg/kg in earth crust. However, in local areas it may exceed the normal concentration due to human activities resulting in radionuclide contamination in groundwater and surface soil. The effect of six levels of uranium concentration (0, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000mg kg^-1) on soil phosphatase activities and microbial populations were studied in a completely randomized design as a factorial experiment with three replications. The results showed a significant decrease in phosphatase activity. The result of the experiment suggests that soil microbial populations (bacteria, funji and actinomysetes) decrease by increasing the uranium levels in the soil. Therefore, assessment of soil enzymatic activities and microbial populations can be helpful as a useful index for a better management of uranium and radioactive contaminated soils.

Highlights

1. J. Entray, N. Vance, M. Hamilton, M. Zabowask, D. Zabowask, L. Watrud, D. Adrino, “Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with low concentrations of radionuclides,” Water Air and Soil Pollution. 88, 167-172 (1996).

2. C.M.D. lamas, “Factors affecting the uranium availability in soils,” PhD Thesis. Fall Agricultural Research (2005).

3. R.P. Dick, “Soil enzyme activities as indicator of soil quality,” Spec. Pub, 35, Madison. WI, 107-124 (1994).

4. E. Hofmann, A. Seegrer, “Soil enzymes as measure of biological activity,” Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 321, 97-98 (1950).

5. M.A. Tabatabaei, J.M. Bremner, “Use of p-nitrophenylphosphate for assaying of soil phosphatase activity,” Soil biology and biochemistry, 1, 301-307 (1969).

6. F.J. Stevenson, “Cycles of soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfure, micronutrients:wiley inter science publication,” John wiley and sons: New York (1986).

7. S.P. Deng, M.A. Tabatabaei, “Cellulase activity of soils; effects of trace elements,” Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 27, 977-979 (1995).

8. A.K. Bandick, R.P. Dick, “Field management effects on soil enzyme activities on soil biological characteristics,” Agriculture, Ecosystem and Environment, 66, 241-249 (1999).
9. R.Q. Maguire, J.T. Sims, f.J. Coale, “Phosphorus solobility in biosolid-amended farm soils in the mid-atlantic region of the usa,” Journal of environmental quality, 29, 1225-1233 (2000).

10. S.C. Sheppard, W.G. Evnden, A.G. Anderson, “Multiple assays of uranium toxicity in soil,” Environmental Toxicology and Water quality, 7, 275-294 (1992).

11. B. Julius, “Practical organic chemistry,” Kjeldal method to measure nitrogen (1910).

12. L. Metzger, “The effect of sewage sludge on soil structure,” Soil Science Society of America Jurnal, 51, 346-351 (1987).

13. A. Klute, “Method of soil analysis part 1: Physical and Mineralogical methods, ASA,” Soil Science Society of America Madison. Wisconsin, USA (1986).

14. A. Walkli, I.A. black, “An examination of the degtareff method for determinating soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method,” Soil Science, 37: 29-38 (1934).

15. K. Alef, P. Nannipiery, “Methods in applied soil microbiology and biochemistry,” Academic Press. 124-200 (1995).

Keywords

Uranium

Soil Microbial Populations

Enzime Phosphatase Activity

1. J. Entray, N. Vance, M. Hamilton, M. Zabowask, D. Zabowask, L. Watrud, D. Adrino, “Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with low concentrations of radionuclides,” Water Air and Soil Pollution. 88, 167-172 (1996).

2. C.M.D. lamas, “Factors affecting the uranium availability in soils,” PhD Thesis. Fall Agricultural Research (2005).

3. R.P. Dick, “Soil enzyme activities as indicator of soil quality,” Spec. Pub, 35, Madison. WI, 107-124 (1994).

4. E. Hofmann, A. Seegrer, “Soil enzymes as measure of biological activity,” Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 321, 97-98 (1950).

5. M.A. Tabatabaei, J.M. Bremner, “Use of p-nitrophenylphosphate for assaying of soil phosphatase activity,” Soil biology and biochemistry, 1, 301-307 (1969).

6. F.J. Stevenson, “Cycles of soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfure, micronutrients:wiley inter science publication,” John wiley and sons: New York (1986).

7. S.P. Deng, M.A. Tabatabaei, “Cellulase activity of soils; effects of trace elements,” Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 27, 977-979 (1995).

8. A.K. Bandick, R.P. Dick, “Field management effects on soil enzyme activities on soil biological characteristics,” Agriculture, Ecosystem and Environment, 66, 241-249 (1999).
9. R.Q. Maguire, J.T. Sims, f.J. Coale, “Phosphorus solobility in biosolid-amended farm soils in the mid-atlantic region of the usa,” Journal of environmental quality, 29, 1225-1233 (2000).

10. S.C. Sheppard, W.G. Evnden, A.G. Anderson, “Multiple assays of uranium toxicity in soil,” Environmental Toxicology and Water quality, 7, 275-294 (1992).

11. B. Julius, “Practical organic chemistry,” Kjeldal method to measure nitrogen (1910).

12. L. Metzger, “The effect of sewage sludge on soil structure,” Soil Science Society of America Jurnal, 51, 346-351 (1987).

13. A. Klute, “Method of soil analysis part 1: Physical and Mineralogical methods, ASA,” Soil Science Society of America Madison. Wisconsin, USA (1986).

14. A. Walkli, I.A. black, “An examination of the degtareff method for determinating soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method,” Soil Science, 37: 29-38 (1934).