Abstract
Chemical characteristics and some parameters related to biological components were determined in 16 soils from a fairly homogeneous area in the north of Italy, contaminated with different levels of heavy metals. Correlation analysis of the parameters studied showed close positive relationships among the metals and with the organic C content in the soils studied. Negative relationships were observed among the heavy metals, soil respiration, and the ratio between evolved CO2−C and microbial biomass C per unit time (specific respiratory activity). This was ascribed to an adverse heavy metal effect on the soil microflora, which appeared to increase the accumulation of organic matter as the heavy metal content increased, probably because the biomass was less effective in mineralising soil organic matter under these conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson JPE (1982) Soil respiration. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties, 2nd edn. Am Soc Agron, Soil Sci Soc Am, Madison, Wis, pp 831–871
Anderson TH, Domsch KH (1986) Carbon link between microbial biomass and soil organic matter. In: Megusar F, Gantar M (eds) Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Microbial Ecology. Slovene Society of Microbiology, Ljubljana, pp 467–471
Anderson TH, Domsch KH (1989) Ratios of microbial biomass carbon to total organic carbon in arable soil. Soil Biol Biochem 21:471–479
Anderson TH, Domsch KH (1990) Application of eco-physiological quotients (qCO2 and qD) on microbial biomasses from soils of different cropping histories. Soil Biol Biochem 22:251–255
Anderson TH, Domsch KH (1993) The metabolic quotient for CO2 (qCO2) as a specific activity parameter to assess the effects of environmental conditions, such as pH, on the microbial biomass of forest soils. Soil Biol Biochem 25:393–395
Berg B, Ekbohm G, Söderström B, Staaf H (1991) Reduction of decomposition rates of scots pine needle litter due to heavy-metal pollution. Water Air Soil Pollut 59:165–177
Brookes PC, McGrath SP (1984) Effects of metal toxicity on the size of the soil microbial biomass. J Soil Sci 35:341–346
Brookes PC, Heijnen CE, McGrath SP, Vance ED (1986) Soil microbial estimates in soils contaminated with metals. Soil Biol Biochem 18:383–388
Brookes PC, Ocio JA, Wu J (1989) The soil microbial biomass: Its measurement, properties, and role in soil nitrogen and carbon dynamics following substrate incorporation. In: Marano B, Miano TM (eds) Fertilità del terreno e biomassa microbica. Congedo, Potenza, pp 29–44
Chander K, Brookes PC (1991a) Microbial biomass dynamic during the decomposition of glucose and maize in metal-contaminated and non-contaminated soils. Soil Biol Biochem 23: 917–925
Chander K, Brookes PC (1991b) Effects of heavy metals from past applications of sewage sludge on microbial biomass and organic matter accumulation in a sandy loam and silty loam UK soil. Soil Biol Biochem 23:927–932
Chander K, Brookes PC (1991c) Plant inputs of carbon to metal-contaminated soil and effects on the soil microbial biomass. Soil Biol Biochem 23:1169–1177
Chander K, Brookes PC (1993) Residual effects of zinc, copper and nickel in sewage sludge on microbial biomass in a sandy loam. Soil Biol Biochem 25:1231–1239
Genevini PL, Sommariva F, Del Fabbro D (1995) Distribuzione dei metalli in treccie nel comprensorio della Roggia Certosa (MI). Acqua Aria (1):91–100
Grodzinski W, Greszta J, Laskowski R, Maryanski M, Rozen A (1990) Effect of the chemical composition of industrial dusts on forest floor organic matter accumulation. Water Air Soil Pollut 53:169–178
Hassink J (1993) Relationship between the amount and the activity of the microbial biomass in Dutch grassland soils: comparison of the fumigation-incubation method and the substrate-induced respiration method. Soil Biol Biochem 25:533–538
Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (1992) Approvazione dei “Metodi ufficiali di analisi chimica del suolo”. Suppl ord Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana 121
Insam H, Parkinson D, Domsch KH (1989) Influence of macroclimate on soil microbial biomass. Soil Biol Biochem 21:211–221
Jenkinson DS (1988) The determination of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in soil. In: Wilson JR (ed) Advances in nitrogen cycling in agricultural egosystems. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International, Wallingford, pp 368–386
Jenkinson DS, Ladd JN (1981) Microbial biomass in soil: measurement and turnover. Soil Biochem 5:415–471
Jenkinson DS, Powlson DS (1976) The effects of biocidal treatments on metabolism in soil. V. A method for measuring soil biomass. Soil Biol Biochem 8:209–213
McGrath SP (1986) Long-term studies of metal transfers following application of sewage sludge. In: Coughtrey PJ, Martin MH, Unsworth MH (eds) Pollutant transport and fate in ecosystems. Br Ecol Soc, Spec Publ 6. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford, pp 301–317
McKeague JA (1967) An evaluation of 0.1 M pyrophosphate and pyrophosphate-dithionite in comparison with oxalate as extractants of the accumulation products in podzols and some other soils. Can J Soil Sci 47:95–99
Pochon J, Tardieux P (1962) Techniques d'analyse en microbiologie du sol. Ed de la Tourelle, St Maudé, Seine
Tyler G (1981) Heavy metals in soil biology and biochemistry. Soil Biochem 5:371–414
Vance ED, Brookes PC, Jenkinson DS (1987) An extraction method for measuring microbial biomass C. Soil Biol Biochem 19:703–707
Walkley A, Black IA (1934) An examination of Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 37:29–38
Wolters V, Joergensen RG (1991) Microbial carbon turnover in beech forest soils at different stages of acidification. Soil Biol Biochem 23:897–902
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Valsecchi, G., Gigliotti, C. & Farini, A. Microbial biomass, activity, and organic matter accumulation in soils contaminated with heavy metals. Biol Fertil Soils 20, 253–259 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336086
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336086