Effects of cadmium and sewage-sludge on soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities

doi:10.1016/0960-8524(95)00186-7

Bioresource Technology

Volume 56, Issues 2–3, May–June 1996, Pages 141-145

https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-8524(95)00186-7 Get rights and content

Abstract

The effects of Cd and sewage-sludge on microbial biomass and enzyme activities in three soils were studied during two months incubation at 30±1°C. The sewage-sludge amendment enhanced soil microbial biomass by 8–28%, with the greatest affect in clay-loam and the least in sandy-loam soil. The soil dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and arginine-ammonification activities were enhanced by 18–25, 9–23 and 8–12%, respectively, by sludge. Cadmium addition at 10 μg g⁻¹ caused no significant changes in these parameters. However, 50 μg Cd g⁻¹ soil detrimentally influenced the soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities; more in sandy-loam than in loam or clay-loam soil. Cadmium adsorption in soils was 31–56%, high in clay-loam and low in sandy-loam soils. A significant negative correlation (r = −0.58∗ to 0.80∗, P ≤ 0.05) was observed between DTPA-extractable Cd and microbial biomass. The changes in soil microbial biomass were interpreted as cell death and correlated well with soil dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activities. However, no correlation existed between microbial biomass and arginine-ammonification activity. Sewage-sludge amendment did not mitigate the inhibitory effects of Cd.

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Citation Excerpt :
As with cumulative net ammonification, the arginine ammonification rate in Cd- and NaCl-amended soils was generally lower than that in unamended soils, particularly in Cd-polluted soils treated with NaCl (Fig. 2). Similarly, stresses induced by salt (Rietz and Haynes, 2003; Yuan et al., 2007) and Cd (Dar, 1996) decreased the soil arginine ammonification rate. However, the arginine ammonification was significantly greater in residue-amended than unamended soils for all the treatments with or without Cd and NaCl additions throughout the incubation.
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^∗: Present address: Microbiology Section, Division of Plant Pathology, S. K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shalimar, Srinagar-191 121 (Kashmir), India.

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Effects of cadmium and sewage-sludge on soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities

Abstract

Biol. Biochem.

Soil Biol. Biochem.

Soil Biol. Biochem.

Soil Biol. Biochem.

Experiments on Soil Bacteriology

Effects of heavy metals in soils on microbial processes and populations (a review)

Water, Air & Soil Pollut.

Microbial metabolic activity in soil as measured by dehydrogenase determination

Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

Accumulation of heavy metals in sludge-treated soils

J. Environ. Qual.

Factors affecting the sorption of cadmium by soils

Soil (Turang)

Effect of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb) on soil microbial biomass, C mineralisation and enzyme activities

Int. J. Ecol. & Environ. Sci.

Impact of nickel and sewage sludge on soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities